Introducing America’s bravest dogs, who are winning admiration, wagging their tails, and even saving lives.

The finalists for this year’s American Humane Hero Dog Awards have been announced, showcasing Penny, Bo, Nikki, Sampson, and Dayo in various categories. Each category features five nominees, and now these finalists are vying for the coveted title of 2024 American Humane Hero Dog, as determined by a distinguished panel of judges.

“While we celebrate five brave pups, only one will take home the title of American Hero Dog,” shared American Humane.

The winners in each category will be celebrated at the Hero Dog Awards Gala in Palm Beach, Florida, this winter. The joyful participants will strut their stuff down the red carpet, as stated by the American Humane Society.

What are the American Humane Hero Dog Awards?

The American Humane Hero Dog Awards is an annual competition that honors outstanding dogs across the nation, often highlighting regular dogs that perform extraordinary acts—whether that means saving lives, assisting those with disabilities, or helping people reach their aspirations, according to American Humane’s website.

For its 14th edition, the awards saw hundreds of inspiring dog nominations across the country starting in June. Five semi-finalists in each category were selected to connect with the American public, who voted for their favorite hero dogs in five categories including:

• Law Enforcement and First Responder Dogs
• Service and Guide or Hearing Dogs
• Therapy Dogs
• Military Dogs
• Emerging Hero and Shelter Dogs

“This year’s group is one of the most inspiring yet,” remarked Robin Ganzert, president of American Humane, in an exclusive interview with YSL News. “Each of these brave dogs exemplifies the traits of resilience, selflessness, and the unconditional love we seek in America’s next top dog.

“We are honored to recognize these often-overlooked heroes,” he added.

Here’s an exclusive preview of the top five finalists for the 2024 American Humane Hero Dog Awards.

Dayo

• Age: 9
• Breed: Rhodesian Ridgeback (male)
• Handler: Liz Stewart
• Location: Dublin, California
• Hero Dog Awards Category: Therapy Dogs

Dayo, whose name means “joy arrives” in Afrikaans, started as a puppy companion to a cheetah named Pancake at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon. Following Pancake’s death in 2018 from health issues, Dayo found a new home with Liz, who saw his great emotional understanding and friendly nature as ideal qualities for a therapy dog. Together, they trained to become a certified therapy dog team, bringing comfort and happiness to children facing health challenges or loss.

Niki

• Age: 5
• Breed: Belgian Malinois-German shepherd mix
• Handler: Petty Officer Alicia Horn
• Location: Seattle, Washington
• Hero Dog Awards Category: Military Dogs

Niki is a detection dog for explosives with the U.S. Coast Guard, working alongside her human partner, Petty Officer Alicia Horn. To date, she has participated in over “250 high-stakes operations and has logged more than 4,000 hours of duty helping protect the American public.” Niki has also played a role in securing significant events, such as the Rose Bowl and the Seattle Seafair Festival, alongside the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, according to American Humane.

Niki plays an essential role in securing the Washington State Ferries and other critical maritime facilities, having completed over 25,000 vehicle inspections. On one of her assignments, Niki successfully identified a firearm, which was instrumental in catching a dangerous criminal who had evaded capture for two years, according to American Humane.

In her downtime, Niki engages in educational outreach at schools, serving as a representative for military dogs and their human partners.

Sampson

• Age: 11
• Breed: Golden Retriever (male)
• Owner: Joey Ramp-Adams, neuroscientist and inclusion advocate
• Location: Sierra Vista, Arizona
• Hero Dog Awards Category: Service Dogs

Known as the “Science Service Dog,” Sampson has dedicated his life to supporting his owner Joey Ramp-Adams, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and multiple broken bones from an accident in 2006. Sampson has learned over 245 commands to assist Joey with her mobility challenges and managing her brain injury. His skills include calming her during stressful times and retrieving medicine along with a bottle of water when needed.

After her accident, Ramp-Adams decided to pursue a neuroscience degree to assist others dealing with traumatic brain injuries. She faced challenges bringing Sampson into clinical and laboratory settings due to concerns about contamination, but she fought for the right for him to accompany her. They now advocate for the inclusion of service dogs in scientific fields, according to American Humane.

The duo has even educated members of Congress on the importance of removing obstacles for others like them.

Recently, Ramp-Adams has allowed Sampson to retire due to his age, so he can enjoy his later years officially off duty.

Penny

• Age: Approximately 4
• Breed: Mixed breed (female)
• Owner: Lindsey Peetz, high school educator
• Location: Louisville, Kentucky
• Hero Dog Awards Category: Shelter Dogs

Penny, a “super mutt” comprising six different breeds, was rescued in 2020 after being discarded from a moving vehicle and left by the roadside. A veterinary examination uncovered signs of past abuse and injuries from her previous life. Nevertheless, Penny did not let her past define her. After undergoing multiple surgeries, including a leg amputation, Penny made a complete recovery and found her forever home with two high school teachers who fell in love with her at first sight.

The Peetz family was excited to adopt the three-legged dog, and even though she had medical issues, they supported her through her recovery, which involved carrying her in a backpack or stroller for over a year while she learned to walk again.

“Penny has bravely moved past her abusive past, showing resilient spirit,” noted American Humane, adding that her family describes her as a “trusting, loving, and gentle dog who wants.

Penny has become a therapy dog, helping children of various ages. She teaches them the importance of compassion towards animals and pushes for tougher laws against animal abuse. Alongside her owner Lindsey, Penny frequently visits the state capitol in Kentucky to advocate for these changes with lawmakers.

Bo

• Age: 18 months
• Breed: Bloodhound (male)
• Handler: Sergeant David Rowland, Gastonia Police Department
• Location: Gastonia, North Carolina
• Hero Dog Awards Category: Law Enforcement & First Response

K-9 Bo made history as the first bloodhound to join the Gastonia Police Department in North Carolina. Selected from a litter of puppies, he started his career in law enforcement in 2023 and has been serving since he was just 8 months old, “solving cases, working on crimes, and saving lives.”

Unlike his more intense colleagues, Bo is known for his gentle demeanor and provides comfort to those he assists. In his first assignment, he successfully tracked down a missing child, an 11-year-old with autism, and helped to soothe him while they awaited help. Since then, he has also found several senior citizens who were lost, a 7-year-old kidnapping victim, and even pursued a four-hour-old scent trail to apprehend robbery suspects.

Interesting tidbit: According to his handler, Sgt. David Rowland, Bo has a phobia of Halloween decorations.