The Kennel Club and broadcaster Kay Burley have today (22 February 2023) revealed the five finalists shortlisted for the prestigious Kennel Club Hero Dog Award, urging the public to vote for the four-legged friend they want to see crowned as the UK’s most heroic dog at Crufts 2023. They are:
- A Spaniel who has spent hundreds of nights camping out with his teenage owner to raise money for rescue dogs and an organisation helping Ukrainian dogs and owners
- A Staffordshire Bull Terrier police dog who has protected the nation from criminals and changed perceptions of the breed
- A special assistance dog who has helped his young owner overcome chronic, debilitating pain – and the isolation which comes with an invisible illness – to become a high-flying lawyer
- A rescue Cocker Spaniel who has overcome the odds – having been passed through multiple owners and deemed ‘naughty’ – to become a life-saving Bio Medical Detection Dog
- And a pet Labrador Retriever who has seen her owners through hard times, including the youngest family member who has leukaemia.
