We all know what an important role dogs play in our lives - but some canines go above and beyond their duties as loyal pets. Every year, Crufts celebrates the amazing relationships people have with their four-legged friends by choosing five inspiring finalists to go forward for the Kennel Club Hero Dog Award.
Their stories are always incredibly moving, and this year is no different. Tomorrow, on Sunday 12 March, the winner will be crowned and specially recognised for their bravery and dedication. Crufts will also honour the dogs involved with search and rescue missions in Turkey and Syria after the horrific earthquake.
The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award finalists for 2023 are:
Bertie the springer spaniel
Ashley Owens, 13, and his dog Bertie, from Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, have spent over 650 nights camping out in a tent as part of their 'sleep out to help out' fundraising campaign.
The duo are sleeping under the stars to raise £30,000 to help a volunteer-run charity, Paws2Rescue, who are on the Ukraine border, helping find refuge for pets and owners and providing essential supplies to the sheltering Ukrainians.
"There are nights that are really difficult and I don't want to go out," Ashley said.
Bertie gives Ashley a reason every night to continue his challenge.
At times when Ashley has felt low or wavering, Bertie is there to support him through, and when temperatures dropped to the minus', he kept Ashley warm too!
Stella the retired police dog
Police dog Stella has just retired from Gloucestershire police after serving eight and a half years as a police drugs, cash and firearms recovery dog.
Despite her sad start to life, as an RSPCA rescue dog, Stella overcame the odds in 2014 to become the first Staffordshire bull terrier police dog in the UK.
In her working career, alongside her owner PC Claire Todd, Stella has found weapons and thousands of pounds worth of drugs and cash, making her a true canine hero, working to keep the nation safe.
Outside of her vital work with the police bringing criminals to justice, she has also helped people overcome their fear of dogs during school and community talks.
Claire said: "I'm so very proud of Stella. She is an amazing ambassador for the breed, showing how loving, loyal and intelligent they are. She's well and truly earned her retirement."
Albert the assistance dog
Jemima Banks, 24, from Warwickshire, has suffered from debilitating health conditions and chronic pain, which cannot be treated with surgery, since she was 16.
Rapid and overwhelming changes to her life meant that her dream of going to University was no longer viable and she became isolated from friends who were now living the life she'd hoped to be able to experience herself.
She had no independence and her invisible illness made her world feel small.
But her assistance dog, Albert, who she was matched with by Dogs for Good, has made a huge difference to her everyday life, restoring her independence and enabling her to thrive – both professionally and personally.
"Chronic pain destroys you from the inside," Jemima said. "It's 24/7, relentless, and it's easy to decide not to do anything with the day because you don't want to deal with the pain.
"But now, for the first time since my health deteriorated, I feel positive about the future."
With Albert by her side, Jemima's professional life is flourishing and she now works for a top global law firm, where Albert is the star of the office.
Asher the medical detection dog
Asher, a 10-year-old cocker spaniel, was taken on by Medical Detection Dogs as a rescue, having been rehomed multiple times by the age of three.
He was deemed 'naughty' and 'neurotic', but it was soon realised he just needed to be busy.
Asher happily found a home, and a life-saving job, with Dr Claire Guest, founder of Medical Detection Dogs, which uses the amazing power of the dog's nose to detect human diseases.
"Asher is just the sort of dog we love," says Claire. "The reason he was bouncing off the walls is that he just wanted to 'do'. We give them something to do!"
Asher has played a huge part in helping to prove that dogs can detect the odour of disease and be a fast, accurate and non-invasive method of diagnosis for some of the world's biggest killers.
Much has been learnt from his twitchy, brown nose – over the years Asher has detected Parkinson's disease, malaria and Covid-19.
Beauty the Labrador retriever
Beauty the Labrador retriever has got the Bellamy family, from Swansea, through the toughest of times.
Lily, 11, was diagnosed with leukaemia, just two months after Beauty joined the family.
She is the only one who can make Lily laugh when she is undergoing weekly chemotherapy, or taking steroids which can really impact her mood.
Wayne, Lily's dad, also has epilepsy, which has worsened with the pressure and stress of the situation with Lily.
But Beauty can sense what is happening and barks to alert Wayne and the family before the onset of a seizure.
On numerous occasions she has even put herself in the way, to break his fall, which have meant fewer hospital visits for stitches or head injuries, and less stress and worry during what is already a difficult time for the whole family.
"I fail to find the words to express how pleased we all are that Beauty has been recognised as a hero," Wayne said.
"The smile on Lily's face when she found out would have lit up a very dark room."
The winner will receive £5,000 for the dog charity of their choice. You can vote for your favourite until 4pm on Sunday by visiting Crufts website.
