Meet America’s most heroic dogs, who are winning hearts, wagging tails, and sometimes saving lives.
Penny, Bo, Nikki, Sampson, and Dayo are the finalists of the annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards in their respective categories, American Humane revealed exclusively to USA TODAY. Each winner in the five different categories was chosen from a group of five nominees. The top five will now compete to take home the title of 2024 American Humane Hero Dog, which will be selected by a blue-ribbon judging panel.
“Five courageous canines will be featured, but only one dog will be awarded the American Hero Dog title,” American Humane says.
The winners in each category will be honored at the American Humane Hero Dog Awards Gala in Palm Beach, Florida, this winter, where the “canine celebrants will walk, zoom, and sniff their way down the red carpet,” the American Humane Society said.
What are the American Humane Hero Dog Awards?
The American Humane Hero Dog Awards is an annual, nationwide competition that recognizes “America’s standout dogs,” described as “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,” American Humane says on its website .