Hero Dogs

For most of us, “all in a day’s work” chiefly
involves running out the door somehow
already slightly behind schedule, putting
in a marathon day at the office, attempting
to get dinner on the table at a reasonable
hour, and somewhere squeezing in a
couple dog walks between the myriad other
demands of our day. “Heroic” relates to our
attempts at keeping our eyes open past 10
pm. For the inspiring nominees in the second
annual Hero Dog Awards, though, their
day’s work more accurately reflects the true
meaning of the word.

It was for these exceptional canines,
dogs that perform exceptional tasks with
unwavering dedication, that The American
Humane Association’s Hero Dog Awards
was created. (Unfortunately, eating dinner
really fast does not count or our dogs
would be a shoo in.) 2012’s winner was
definitely deserved of the title “hero.” From
humble beginnings in a Texas pound to his
deployment as a Specialized Search Dog
in Iraq, Gabe rocked the vote with support
from his thousands of fans and strong
social media presence. During his impressive
career with his handler Charles Shuck
by his side, Gabe completed over 210
combat missions, visited wounded troops,
and toured schools. Now retired, this
heroic canine continues to spread goodwill
and promote the importance of staying in
school, while demonstrating that there are
absolutely amazing dogs sitting in shelters
waiting to show you what they’re capable
of. Way to go, Gabe. 2013’s Hero Dog has
some big shoes to fill. We can’t wait to see
who it’s going to be.