Hero Dogs of 2025
By Conner McClain | Reviewed by Pawrade Team
Law Enforcement and First Responder This category
Bloodhounds. This category’s winner is:
K9 Bo K9 Bo, a 17-month-old Bloodhound from Kentucky, began his remarkable journey with North Carolina’s Gastonia Police Department in April 2023. After intense training, young Bo began working as a Police K9 in October 2023, quickly proving his invaluable skills by locating an elderly dementia patient and an 11-year-old autistic child who had gone missing. He didn’t stop there. In one case, Bo tracked down robbery suspects despite heavy scent contamination, which led to their capture. On a particularly cold January night in 2024, Bo showcased
broadly includes
dogs that are critical to first responders, helping to safeguard the public and find victims of disasters and others who are missing. Law enforcement dogs’ ability to help protect their handlers, thwart lawbreakers, and find evidence makes them true partners to first responders. Scent-detection dogs can accurately locate a variety of targets, including correctly
The American Humane Hero Dog Awards® is an annual, nationwide competition that seeks out America’s Hero Dogs and gives them the recognition that they deserve! Often, these are ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things, whether saving lives, lending service to a human companion with a disability, or helping people achieve their goals. Dogs compete in seven different categories for the Hero Dog Awards: Military, Emerging Hero and Shelter, Law Enforcement and First Responder, Therapy, and Service and Guide/ Hearing. After voting, nominees in each category are honored at the star- studded American Humane Hero Dog Awards Gala in Palm Beach, before announcing the winner. So, without further ado, let’s meet this year’s winner for the Hero Dog Award, along with the other four finalists!
identifying a multitude of diseases, flora, and fauna. They are often 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. Commonly, they include breeds such as German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Labrador Retrievers, and
2024 Hero Dog winner Bo with his handler David.
Missouri Pet Breeders Association | Page 17
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