To hardworking dogs for making significant contributions to an individual or entire community. Winners will be highlighted in a made-for-tv special created by AKC productions.
Anyone, including the dog’s owner or handler, may submit a nomination. Past nominations are eligible for resubmission for these awards. Submissions for the AKC Humane Fund℠ Awards for Canine Excellence must include:
PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept posthumous nominations.
Eligibility: Full-time working K-9s in the realms of city, county, state, or federal law enforcement; the military; firefighting; customs and border patrol; emergency services.
Eligibility: Dogs without formal training or certification that have nonetheless distinguished themselves in some way and have made a meaningful contribution to their owners or communities.
Eligibility: Dogs certified to assist in one of two sub-categories: 1. Disaster Response (natural disasters, building collapses, etc.) 2. Human Detection (remains, missing persons, and/or gravesite detection)
Eligibility: Certified therapy dogs working in hospitals, schools, disaster sites, war zones, and wherever else the affection of a good dog can provide comfort.
Eligibility: Service dogs who enrich the lives of physically or mentally disabled owners, including, but not limited to, guide dogs for the blind, seizure-alert dogs, hearing dogs, balance dogs.
Eligibility: dog teams certified to assist in search and rescue (human detection and disaster response), therapy and/or K9 police work.
Winston was rescued by his owner, Jeff Wells, after being discovered living in a ditch after the ‘Great Texas Freeze’ in 2021. Wells is a U.S. Army veteran who served from 2001-2009, including a tour in Baghdad, Iraq, and struggled for years with the mental toll of intensive combat. Both Winston and Wells were struggling physically and mentally, respectively, when they discovered the sport of Agility. After regaining his strength, Winston demonstrated great athleticism and decided to start participating in the sport, ordering books on Agility and building obstacles in the backyard to practice. In 2022, Wells registered Winston as an All-American dog and began participating in trials. Since then, Wells and Winston have been competing consistently in AKC Agility. The mental stimulation has provided healing for Wells and an unbreakable bond between Wells and Winston. In 2023, Winston earned his first MACH (Masters Agility Champion) and is on his way to his second MACH.
Besa is a multipurpose search & rescue dog, certified in human remains searches (both land and water) and live persons through area search and successful trailing. She has helped with university studies by working unmarked gravesites from the early 1900s. Besa is the first in the nation to test and receive USPCA certification in Human Scent/Human Trafficking. She has been featured in digital media and on local TV news for her accomplishments and a local talk show demonstrating her skills. Besa is nationally prepared through her certifications to assist as needed but continues to be an asset to her local community, making a positive difference in people’s lives.
Kissable Katie is a seeing-eye guide dog and medical alert dog for her owner, Jill Dempsey. Kissable Katie warns Dempsey before an epileptic seizure and helps ease her anxiety. Dempsey couldn’t leave the house for years, afraid that her blindness, anxiety and seizures would cause problems. That all changed with Kissable Katie. Dempsey is now a civilian Citizen Observer Patrol Dispatcher. She also participates in Western reenactments and gunfights, even taking first place in the 2017 Florida State Ladies Champion Cowboy Fast Draw competition with Kissable Katie by her side. They both volunteer to help with service dog groups for veterans and first responders who need service dogs. Kissable Katie has given Dempsey the confidence to live her life to the fullest.
Wallace is a licensed therapy dog, working with many different organizations and in many situations. For the past two years, he has worked as a therapy dog at Brook Army Medical Center, working with active and retired military, hospital patients, and hospital staff who are undergoing procedures and tests. Wallace attends practice at Alamo Heights Natatorium, working with the military veteran community and amputees at swim practice. He is also a seizure detection dog for his owner, Joy Allison LaField, notably saving her life when a seizure caused her to fall into a pool. He was part of the therapy dog team deployed to comfort survivors of the Uvalde school shooting in 2023, where he worked in the command center housing several units including the police, the FBI, immigration, sheriff, military, fire, etc., going from trailer to trailer comforting those who were working around the clock in the aftermath of the tragedy. Wallace provided comfort to the members of the community.
Rosco works on the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and is on the Homeland Security Investigation Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force. Rosco is trained to find electronic devices that are hidden. These hidden devices help save the lives of children who are being abused as well as involved in the sex trade, where even the smallest devices in a search warrant could make or break a case. Rosco was the first K9 in Oklahoma and serves the state and any agency that needs his help. He was the first Electronic Scent Detection (ESD) K9 from a local agency to help a law enforcement agency in South America.Rosco works on the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and is on the Homeland Security Investigation Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force. Rosco is trained to find electronic devices that are hidden. These hidden devices help save the lives of children who are being abused as well as involved in the sex trade, where even the smallest devices in a search warrant could make or break a case. Rosco was the first K9 in Oklahoma and serves the state and any agency that needs his help. He was the first Electronic Scent Detection (ESD) K9 from a local agency to help a law enforcement agency in South America.
Your support helps us provide grants to shelters, fund rescue groups, and award scholarships that shape the future of compassionate care. Together, we can strengthen the bond between people and their dogs.
