Finalists named for American Humane's 2023 Hero Dog Awards

Members of the public have voted and now there are five furry finalists for American Humane's 2023 Hero Dog Awards.

Voting closed Aug. 24 and the finalists in each of the five categories will be showcased at the 13th annual Hero Dog Awards Gala — presented by Lois Pope and the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation — which is scheduled for Nov. 10 at The Breakers.

The event will be televised on the fyi network on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23) and on A&E on Nov. 26, according to a release from American Humane, which has an office in Palm Beach.

There were five nominees in each of the five categories: Service and Guide/Hearing; Emerging Hero and Shelter; Therapy; Military; and Law Enforcement and First Responder.

One of the five finalists will be named the 2023 American Humane Hero Dog at the gala event.

More: Voting open for 2023 American Humane Hero Dog Awards

Meet this year's finalists:

Therapy Dog: Maverick

Breed: European Blue Great Dane

Age: 6

Hometown: Saint Robert, Missouri

Military Rank: Honorary Chief Warrant Officer Five (CW5)

United Service Organizations therapy dog Maverick brings comfort and solace to our nation’s military heroes and their families. His unconditional love uplifts the spirits of the military community stationed at the Fort Leonard Wood post in Missouri, where he supports service members on suicide watch; escorts children to military funerals for their parents; and helps men and women cope with trauma, injuries and stress.

When not supporting our troops, this 150-pound hero dog — who is a canine cancer survivor — offers snuggles and strength to his owner in her own ongoing battle with cancer.

MAVERICK’S SUPERPOWER: According to his owner, Kelly Brownfield, Maverick’s superpower is his ability to comfort people and ease their souls. He has an intuitive knack for immediately finding the person in a room who is feeling stressed or emotional, and uses touch to calm them. Maverick’s go-to move? Placing his paw on the person he’s comforting.

Service and Guide or Hearing Dog: Moxie

Breed: Mini goldendoodle

Age: 5

Hometown: Ballwin, Missouri

Lifesaving service dog Moxie helped her handler, Katie Harris, find hope and purpose again when a rare disease robbed her of the ability to walk for several years, leaving her suicidal. Moxie’s unconditional love and dedication have since helped Katie get through countless hospital visits, surgeries and painful medical episodes.

Moxie provides invaluable assistance on a daily basis, performing tasks such as picking up dropped items, opening and closing doors, and alerting her handler to low blood pressure and other medical crises. This hero dog lives up to her name, bringing spirit and courage to everything she does.

MOXIE’S SUPERPOWER: According to her handler, Moxie’s superpower is her deep sense of empathy and ability to connect with people. She says Moxie has an innate ability to make someone happy and bring a smile to their face, even on their toughest days.

Military Working Dog: Buda

Breed: German shorthaired pointer

Age: 4

Hometown: Oceanside, California

Military Rank: Chief K-9 Buda

Military working dog Buda bravely serves our country as one of only 18 certified explosives-detection canines in the U.S. Coast Guard. Buda and his handler, a Maritime Enforcement Specialist named Chase Leamer, work together as a team to protect their local community both on the water and on land.

Since graduating from his elite training program in 2021, Buda has participated in more than 185 operational deployments and engagements. His work includes performing safety sweeps of vessels, providing security at events such as Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles, responding to bomb threats, and more. This extraordinary hero dog is even trained to be hoisted out of helicopters to drop down to vessels at sea.

BUDA’S SUPERPOWER: Forget his powerful nose, dedication to service, and fearless ability to be hoisted in and out of military helicopters. According to his handler, Buda’s superpower is his adorable, floppy ears.

Emerging Hero and Shelter Dog: Raina

Breed: Australian shepherd

Age: 13

Hometown: Perkasie, Pennsylvania

Emerging hero Raina came into this world blind, deaf, and with a contagious sense of joy. Her owner, Kristen Strouse, adopted Raina from a rescue when she was six months old. Ever since, this 13-year-old hero dog has served as a beautiful advocate for people and pets with special needs. Raina and Kristen are passionate about using public education, awareness events and fundraisers to help rescue blind and deaf dogs, who often struggle to find their forever homes. While teaching middle school music, Kristen used Raina as an example to show kids that it’s all right to be different.

Raina offered comfort and inspiration to Kristen when a painful autoimmune deficiency forced her into retirement due to disability. Her owner credits Raina with saving her life and getting her through her darkest days.

RAINA’S SUPERPOWER: According to her owner, Raina’s superpower is her infectious positivity. We all have our bad days, but it’s tough to stay down whenever Raina is around. Her joy, despite being blind and deaf, inspires everyone who gets the chance to meet her.

Law Enforcement and First Responder Dog: Poppy

Breed: Black Labrador

Age: 5

Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina

Law Enforcement Rank: Lieutenant K-9 Poppy

Law enforcement canine Poppy courageously protects students and faculty as an invaluable member of the University of South Carolina Police Department. Poppy is an award-winning explosives and firearms detection dog who serves alongside her handler, Sgt. Mark Tevepaugh.

Poppy is a regular fixture at school and community events, providing security sweeps, crowd screening, and safety presentations to help empower students. She can also be found roaming the sprawling USC campus, where she brings smiles and comfort to stressed and homesick college students. When this hero dog is off duty, Poppy loves to spend time at home with her handler’s son, a two-and-a-half-year-old named Noah.

POPPY’S SUPERPOWER: According to her handler, Poppy’s superpower is her ability to protect people every day while putting a smile on their faces. Today, police officers aren’t always trusted or greeted with smiles. However, Poppy’s presence and enthusiasm help the community feel more comfortable around law enforcement, allowing them to help reach more people and ultimately keep them safe.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Meet finalists for American Humane's 2023 Hero Dog Awards.