The most heroic dog in Britain is a search and rescue Belgian Malinois who hunted for survivors in Turkey and Morocco after devastating earthquakes.
Four amazing pups were made the final of Crufts’ Hero Awards, with the public crowning their favourite from the shortlist.
The beloved animals proved that dogs really are man’s best friend as they supported their owners through their hardest times, to give them a life they never knew they could have or even to work hand in hand with their human pals to save lives.
Four-year-old Vesper only went into the noble profession after failing to become a police dog – preferring to cuddle the criminals rather than collar them.
But at 18 months the pup – who was originally named Venom – instead bonded with Niamh Darcy, a dog handler from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service – performing flawlessly as she was put through her paces to become her search partner.
A Belgian Malinois named Vesper who hunted for survivors in Turkey and Morocco after devastating earthquakes has been named Britain’s most heroic dog
Vesper bonded with Niamh Darcy, a dog handler from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service – performing flawlessly as she was put through her paces to become her search partner
In the wake of the natural disaster that killed more than 55,000 people in Turkey and Morocco in 2023 Vesper used her nose to rescue people trapped under the rubble with her partner
And in the wake of the natural disaster that killed more than 55,000 people she used her nose to rescue people trapped under the rubble.
‘Vesper is now an experienced and mature search dog who is leading the way within the field of search and rescue,’ a proud Niamh said.
‘She’s a true hero and living proof that every dog can exceed their potential.’
Golden Retriever Phoebe was also nominated as a hero support dog after her vital role in helping her owner, Jazz Turner, 25, to achieve her dreams as she competes for Team GB as a Para Sailor.
Although she admitted it can sometimes be a challenge to get the amazing pup out of the water and into the boat – when she is aboard amazing Phoebe alerts Jazz to when she is going to have a fainting episode or seizure, brought on by her hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
The condition – which the athlete was diagnosed with when she was 18 – causes her to have seizures and her joints to dislocate.
But with rescue-pup Phoebe sitting in the boat in her own lifejacket she is able to sail, paddleboard and even climb. She alerts Jazz to when she needs to get to shore – which can happen twice a race.
Jazz, who won a Silver at the World Championships alongside sailing partner Adam Billany, 24, told : ‘She literally saves my life and is also just my best friend.
Golden Retriever Phoebe was also nominated as a hero support dog after her role in helping her owner, Jazz Turner, 25, compete for Team GB as a Para Sailor
Phoebe alerts Jazz to when she needs to get to shore – which can happen twice a race
Jazz, who won a Silver at the World Championships alongside sailing partner Adam Billany, 24, told : ‘She literally saves my life and is also just my best friend.’
‘She’s always agreed to do whatever I’ve asked of her – we’ve been paragliding, we’ve been mountain biking, surfing, hoverboarding, mountain climbing. She’ll follow me wherever I go.
‘Any Gold Medal that I get is as much hers as mine. I wouldn’t be able to do it without her.
‘We were nominated by the therapy dog charity we work for, Canine Concern, but to me she’s just my crazy bog dog! The fact that she’s here at Crufts alongside all these amazing dogs – for me she’s just my partner in crime.
Phoebe also protects Jazz if she has a faint or a seizure, regulating her body temperature and putting herself between her head and the ground to stop her banging her head, and even travels to hospitals or meets with children with disabilities as a therapy dog.
Para Sailing does not have the funding to be a sport at the Paralympics, but she hopes it will show people the importance of accessible sport – as she can’t take part in many of the more mainstream sports, such as wheelchair basketball or rugby.
Jazz’s proud father said, the people at their sailing club said they were ‘glad’ they were not there this weekend – because it might give them a chance to win some races. He said: ‘I’m very proud. Whatever she puts her mind to she does really well.’
She added: ‘I think when people see you on land they make assumptions. I race alongside able-bodied people and once I get on the water!’
The two dogs were joined by hearing dog Gordon, who helped his 12-year-old owner Elyana Kuhlemeier, from East Sussex, to become more confident after being bullied for being deaf.
Gordon was also nominated for his work helping his 12-year-old owner Elyana Kuhlemeier, from East Sussex, to become more confident after being bullied for being deaf
Elyana was bullied after discovering she had hearing problems and was her tearing her own hair out in clumps or spending the day vomiting because of the cruel abuse
But now Gordon helps wake Elyana up in the morning and is waiting at the window for her to come home from school – ‘He’s my best friend’ she told
Elyana was bullied after discovering she had hearing problems at just two-and-a-half years old, leaving her tearing her own hair out in clumps or spending the day vomiting after a cruel day of abuse.
But this was transformed after Gordon arrived, waking her up in the morning by pulling her duvet off and waiting at the window for her to come home from school.
Elyana told : ‘He’s my best friend – I can’t really explain it. He does help me every single day.
‘In the morning when my alarm goes of he will wake me off. Sometimes we set a timer for my homework and he’ll tell me when that’s up.
‘I don’t really mind if he doesn’t win – technically everyone’s a winner. We’re doing this to raise awareness for hearing dogs.’
And she also shows him love in return – she brushes his teeth every day with chicken-flavoured tooth paste. They live close to the sea and he is able to swim every day.
He regularly goes out with the family – accompanying them on walks, to the library, Tesco and even a Van Gough exhibition.
Silvie, Elyana’s mum, said: ‘Gordon has brought support, comfort, and reassurance not just to Elyana’s life, but to our whole family.
n Shepherd Echo was nominated after helping eight-year-old Freya Harris after she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2021
The gentle dog helped her pull through following surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy – ‘She got us through the bad times’ Freya’s mum Gemma said
The winner of The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award received £5,000 from The Kennel Club Charitable Trust for the dog charity of their choice
‘Thanks to Gordon, she is positive and excited for the future, and doesn’t feel that her deafness will stop her from achieving what she wants to.
‘Every single day we see the bond between him and Elyana grow stronger.’
And n Shepherd Echo rounded out the fantastic four pups, after helping eight-year-old Freya Harris after she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2021.
The gentle dog helped her pull through following surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy – and just three years on from her horror diagnosis incredible Freya exhibited her for the first time this year in Crufts.
Freya told : ‘We read lots of books together – or at least I read books to her! I give her lots of cuddles.
‘She’s always there when I need her and feeling sad. She makes me smile.’
Her mother, Gemma, added: ‘Freya was showing in the rings yesterday. No placement but they did really well – both showed their socks off!
‘We’re incredible proud, just the awareness they’re bringing to the specific type of cancer Freya had and the support that dogs can give in that time. It’s an incredibly proud moment.
‘Freya lost the ability to walk during treatment. She was a very outdoorsy girl, always on walks, always on adventures – so for her to go from that to stationary, she couldn’t move.
‘Then we got Echo, and she said: ‘I want to take him on a walk.’ Even if she was in a wheelchair she was going out with him and it helped her mood, which in turn helped our mood.
‘She got us through the bad times.’
A final hero pup – rescue Husky Balto – sadly died before the final. He had worked visiting care homes, hospitals, schools and mental health units.
A final hero pup – rescue Husky Balto – sadly died before the final. He had worked visiting care homes, hospitals, schools and mental health units
Bill Lambert, a spokesperson for Crufts, said he was a very special dog
‘Balto was a very special dog, who made a difference to so many, and much deserves this special recognition as our Rescue Dog Hero 2024,’ Bill Lambert, a spokesperson for Crufts, said.
‘Even though he had a difficult start to life, he went from underdog to hero dog, alongside his owner, Sandra, and together they changed lives of humans and dogs alike.’
The winner of The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award received £5,000 from The Kennel Club Charitable Trust for the dog charity of their choice, with the other finalists receiving a £1,000 donation to their chosen canine charity.
Libby Clegg, the ambassador for The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award 2024, said: ‘These special dogs are all heroes and are being recognised the difference they make – whether that’s providing unwavering love and companionship to their owner, making a difference for others in need, or bravely saving lives in a disaster zone.
‘We would encourage people to vote for their favourite hero dog to show their support for these incredible four-legged friends and to celebrate their bravery, loyalty and friendship.
‘Dogs are known as man’s best friend and our five finalists go to show exactly why that is.’