A Rescue Dog Turned Catastrophe Search Canine Is This 12 months’s ASCPA Dog Of The 12 months

Typically, life will take you locations you don’t anticipate, however completely deserve.

We will say the identical for Harper when her life took a 180 diploma flip – from being a uncared for dog rescued by an animal shelter, to being a catastrophe search dog, and now to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Dog Of The 12 months.

The ASPCA unveiled Harper as its 2024 Humane Awards Dog Of The 12 months recipient on September 18 together with this yr’s different heroic winners.

As this yr’s Dog Of The 12 months award recipient, ASPCA shares what made Harper the cream of the crop.

In accordance with ASPCA, Harper is a Black Labrador combine and was one of many 22 canines confiscated in a hoarding and neglect case years in the past.

He was initially positioned with the Humane Society of the Black Hills in South Dakota earlier than being accepted into the Search Dog Basis (SDF)’s program on January 2020.

ASPCA revealed that SDF is “a corporation whose mission is to strengthen catastrophe response in America by rescuing and recruiting canines and partnering them with firefighters and different first responders to seek out folks buried alive within the wreckage of disasters.“

They additional revealed that SDF decided that among the many 22 canines rescued from neglect, Harper “confirmed nice potential for changing into a catastrophe search dog.“

Harper then grew to become a candidate within the pilot program to coach to turn out to be a Human Stays Detection (HRD) canines for California Activity Pressure 2 (CA-TF2).

In accordance with ASPCA, “CA-TF2 is the West Coast’s solely internationally deployable job power comprised of physicians, HAZMAT specialists, rescue specialists and canine search specialists.“

And harper was one of many three HRD canines for the duty power and he or she graduated with flying colours on Could of 2021.

After commencement, Harper was paired with firefighter Edward Ruiz of the Los Angeles County Hearth Division.

CA-TF2, together with Harper and Ruiz, educated diligently till they achieved FEMA certification on July 2022.

After Harper’s certification as a catastrophe search canine in 2022, she and Ruiz have been serving to save lives and bringing closure to family members.

ASPCA reveals that the pair have been deployed a number of occasions, together with to Hurricane Ian in Florida in 2022 and extra lately to the Lahaina fireplace in Hawaii.

“Alongside practically 40 different canine groups, they searched by way of ash and particles for these misplaced within the devastating wildfire that swept by way of the Lahaina neighborhood on Aug. 8, 2023,” ASPCA wrote.

Hoomans noticed the potential Harper had in her all these years in the past and he or she has proved to them, time and time once more, that she is a gifted, devoted, and hardworking dog able to serving to save lives.

And for her numerous contributions, the ASPCA honored her with an award solely the goodest of ladies and boys deserve – the ASPCA Dog Of The 12 months award.

Matt Bershadker, President and CEO of the ASPCA mentioned, “Our 2024 ASPCA Humane Award honorees are supporting weak animals and elevating crucial protections throughout the nation, exemplifying the ASPCA’s imaginative and prescient of a compassionate nation the place all animals are handled with respect and kindness.”

“From engaged on the frontlines of disasters, to advocating on behalf of animals who’re unable to take action for themselves, this yr’s Humane Award recipients are heroes and we’re grateful for his or her service,” he added.

The 2024 Humane Awards by the ASPCA honors “each folks and animal heroes from throughout the nation who’ve gone above and past to deliver consideration to animal welfare and higher the lives of these round them.”

Harper, together with different honorees, will probably be formally celebrated for his or her excellent contributions at a luncheon in New York Metropolis on Thursday, October 10.