Not one, but two of our narcotics detection dogs have been nominated for a Hero Dog Award!

Celebrating heroes on “both ends of the leash,” the Hero Dog Awards is put on by American Humane. The organization will fly seven finalists and their humans to a gala in Hollywood. The ceremony will be broadcast on the Hallmark Channel.

The best part is that American Humane will donate $2,500 to each finalist’s charity partners. The charity partner of the winner of the American Hero Dog Award will receive an additional $5,000.

K9 KANO

K9 Kano works in Stafford, Kansas with Officer Mason Paden. The hero wasn’t on the job long before he sniffed out over $7,500 in illegal marijuana! Because of this bust, the police dog had a meteoric rise to fame and received lots of press for his good work. This press changes people’s perception of dogs labeled “pit bull” and provides a springboard for the conversation that it’s a dog’s individual nature that determines their destiny, not their heritage or history.

VOTE FOR KANO

K9 SHEEVA

K9 Sheeva is from Harris County Animal Shelter in Texas. Now she has a very important job with the Littleville Police Department in Alabama. She is the first non-specific breed police dog in the state. Her partner, Officer John Cantrell says that Sheeva is “living the American Dream” because she “came from nothing and become something” – and that something is a hero who keeps her community safe.

You can follow K9 Sheeva on Instagram @K9_Sheeva.

Her charity partner is K9s4Cops and her sponsor is the K-9 Courage Program from Zoetis.

VOTE FOR K9 SHEEVA

Both K9 Sheeva and K9 Kano are proof that shelter dogs have the potential to do the same work as purebred, purpose-bred dogs. We should never make assumptions about a dog based on their appearance, heritage, or history. We should always look at the dog in front of us and ask “Who are you?”