Congratulations to Eddie, a 3-year-old, 70-pound Labrador retriever, who has won top honors at the 16th annual American Humane Society’s Hero Dog Awards. His victory was announced Nov. 4 on TODAY.
As NBC’s The Today Show reports, awards recognize “America’s standout 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,” according to a statement from the organization.
The Hero Dog Awards feature five categories:
● Law Enforcement and First Responder Dogs
● Service and Guide or Hearing Dogs
● Therapy Dogs
● Military Dogs
● Emerging Hero and Shelter Dogs
Dogs were initially nominated in June, with the field pared down to 25 pooches and then knocked down again to five finalists, including one in each category. In December, those dogs will be feted at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Here’s what you need to know about Eddie and his road to victory, along with the four other finalists:
Winner: Service and Guide (or Hearing) Dog Eddie
Nominated in the guide & service dogs category, Eddie is the first guide dog for his owner, Luis Rodriguez, in Miami. “As his first guide dog, Eddie gave his introverted handler the confidence to speak out and share their journey with others, educating people about blindness and the remarkable work guide dogs do,” the AHS said in a statement.
“Whether it’s an outdoor adventure or quiet time on the sofa, Eddie is always ready to support Luis with a devoted heart and a wagging tail,” the statement added.
Rodriguez lives with his wife and their two daughters. Eddie has served as his guide dog for the last 18 months. Rodriguez was born with a Retinitis pigmentosa, a “type of rare, inherited genetic eye diseases that cause a slow breakdown of light-sensitive cells in the retina, leading to progressive vision loss,” according to the AHS. His vision has deteriorated over the last five years, and he is now considered legally blind.
Rodriguez, who was encouraged by his wife to get a guide dog, can’t point to one particular heroic act by Eddie, but credits him for helping him make the most out of life. He cites using a ride share to take a spur-of-the-moment day trip to Key Largo to go fishing with his brother, an act that couldn’t have happened without Eddie. “He finds obstacles and avoids obstacles for me, finds stairs, finds elevators. But what that leads to is more independence and the ability for me to to live independently on my own,” Rodriguez said.
“Before Eddie came into my life, I had a lot of anxiety. I was afraid to go out on my own, and he’s given me so much independence, and it’s just amazing,” he said. Rodriguez then encouraged others who are losing their vision to consider getting a guide dog to help them live an “independent life.”
After hearing that his furry friend had won the award, Rodriguez took a moment to applaud all the other nominees, saying they were all “winners” with “incredible stories.”
The Runners Up
Military Dog Sage
Known as Capt. Sage, she is a 6-year-old Labrador retriever who works as an expeditionary facility dog for the Navy in Norfolk, Virginia, and helps service members deal with the stress of deployment. She’s handled by Eric Snitzer, a command climate specialist on the USS Gerald R. Ford.
Sage serves as the Expeditionary Facility Dog aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, where she just completed a record-breaking deployment of more than 11 months at sea. Rather than detection work, her mission is entirely focused on the ship’s crew. Sage enhances resiliency among Sailors and Marines, strengthens operational readiness, breaks down barriers around mental health, and bridges the gap for those hesitant to seek professional support. She’s proof that even on one of the world’s most advanced warships, kindness is essential equipment.
Law Enforcement and First Responder Rozi
Rozi, 12, is a German Shorthaired Pointer with the Chicago Police Department who is an elite explosives-detection K-9, more commonly known as a bomb-sniffing dog. She is handled by Officer Gina Ibarra, who has worked with Rozi for all 11 of those years. She’s been working for 11 years, and she’s in explosive detection and canine.
“We spend our time patrolling the CTA platforms, the buses, anywhere our public transportation goes. Now aside from that, we’ve done a couple of deployments for the Super Bowls (two Super Bowls), a Final Four and the 2021 presidential inauguration,” said Ibarra.
Therapy Dog Goosey
A 4-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Goosey is handled by Southern food cookbook author and blogger Aimee Broussard, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Goosey visits elementary schools, nursing homes, hospitals, airports, college campuses and more, and has a knack for helping people who may be lonely, anxious or need a friend, with a special focus on older adults and those in hospice.
Broussard said the rescue dog “uses his second chance to make others feel valued and seen. In elementary schools, that looks like boosting confidence to reluctant readers. With our cancer patients, it’s a moment of joy and comfort during some pretty hard struggles. And in our nursing homes and with our elderly, which happens to be Goosey’s main lane, he provides much-needed companionship and a visitor from a friendly and furry face,” she said.
Emerging Hero and Shelter Dog Bubbles
Bubbles is a 5-year-old beagle from Otisville, Michigan, that was born blind. He’s owned by Stacie Elliott, who lives with Bubbles, her husband, and their two sons.
Elliott also founded the nonprofit Bubbles the Blind Beagle. Bubbles, who was subject to cruel comments online after Elliott shared pictures of him, visits schools around Michigan with Elliott, who talks about compassion, empathy, and inclusion.
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Photo Credit: Africa Studio / Shutterstock.com
