The American Humane Hero Dog Awards® is an annual, nationwide competition that searches out and recognizes America’s Hero Dogs – often ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things, whether it’s saving lives on the battlefield, lending sight or hearing to a human companion, or helping people achieve their goals. Dogs compete in seven different categories for the Hero Dog Awards:
- Law Enforcement and First Responder Dogs – This category broadly includes dogs that are critical to first responders, that safeguard the public, and that find the missing and victims of disasters. Law enforcement dogs’ ability to help protect their human handlers, thwart lawbreakers, and find evidence makes them true partners to first responders. Scent detections dogs can accurately detect a variety of targets, including correctly identifying a multitude of diseases and flora and fauna, and are used to detect illicit substances, drugs, fire accelerants, firearms, or explosives. Search and Rescue dogs are trained to find the missing, from those lost in the wilderness or city to victims of accidents and natural disasters.
- Service and Guide/Hearing Dogs – Service Dogs are trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They can be trained to work with people with physical mobility needs or limitations or people who need alerts to medical conditions. They can also serve as the “eyes and ears” for the blind and/or deaf or perform tasks for those with psychiatric disabilities such as Post Traumatic Stress or Traumatic Brain Injury. These specially trained dogs can even help by retrieving or manipulating objects that are out of their person’s reach, alerting bystanders and retrieving help for their handler, leading while avoiding distractions and obstacles, and many other individual tasks as needed by a person with a disability. These heroes not only improve the lives of the people with whom they work, but also keep them safe every day.
- Therapy Dogs – Credentialed Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) Dogs are part of a therapeutic plan to aid with physical, social, emotional and cognitive challenges for persons other than the dog’s owner/handler. AAT has been shown to help enhance the lives of people in need such as children who have experienced abuse or neglect, patients undergoing chemotherapy or other difficult medical treatments, and military veterans and their families who are struggling to cope with the effects of wartime military service. Studies have found that AAT lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and enhances a patient’s ability to achieve physical and psychological wellness.
- Military Dogs – Military working dogs first entered the service in 1942 to serve in the Army’s K-9 Corps. Today, these dogs are still playing an active role in searching for explosives and seizing enemies. Military working dogs have been used by the U.S. armed forces since World War I. In World War II, 436 scout dogs walked combat patrols overseas, often detecting the enemy at 1,000 yards, long before the enemy became aware of them. Dogs continued to serve with distinction in other conflicts, such as Korea, where the Army used about 1,500 dogs, primarily for guard duty. During the Vietnam War, nearly 4,000 dogs were employed and, officially, 281 were killed in action. Today’s conflicts include dogs at every level, still serving our country, helping to protect our troops.
- Emerging Hero and Shelter Dogs – Just as our understanding of animal behavior and science is ever expanding, so too do the amazing stories of the human animal bond in action. Dogs in this category can be nominated for doing heroic deeds, large or small; for overcoming difficult odds; or by having a remarkable rescue story like the millions of homeless dogs in shelters, on the streets, or needing help from unfavorable situations. Whether it was a second chance and a new “leash” on life or just a perfect fit that was meant to be, these dogs highlight what it means to be human’s best friend.
After voting, winners in each category are honored at the star-studded American Humane Hero Dog Awards Gala in Palm Beach.
Founded in 1877, American Humane is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and well-being of animals. Our leadership programs are first to serve in promoting and nurturing the bonds between animals and humans. You can help make a difference – learn how by visiting www.americanhumane.org today.
