Sgt. Bo Named Winner of 15th Annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards
Sgt. Bo, a therapy dog who provided crucial emotional support to Nashville students after the Covenant School shooting, has been honored as the 2025 American Humane Hero Dog, highlighting the vital role animals play in community healing and crisis response.
Sgt. Bo, a four-year-old mixed breed therapy dog who recently retired after years of comforting children alongside a School Resource Officer in Nashville, Tennessee, has been named the winner of the 15th Annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards. The nationwide competition recognizes standout dogs across five categories: Therapy Dogs; Service and Guide Dogs; Military Dogs; Law Enforcement and First Responder Dogs; and Shelter Dogs. After hundreds of nominations and a competitive public voting process that narrowed 25 semi-finalists to five finalists, Sgt. Bo was selected and announced live on the TODAY Show.
Sgt. Bo's journey from stray to hero began when he was rescued in Florida in 2022 and paired with Faye, a Metropolitan Nashville School Resource Officer who advocated for a program training homeless pets as therapy dogs. Their bond formed quickly during training, and Sgt. Bo became her trusted partner, teaching students that appearances can be deceiving. Three months later, following the Covenant School shooting, Sgt. Bo and Faye provided steady comfort and safety for students in crisis, climbing onto buses, letting frightened children rest against him, and remaining a calming presence during the community's darkest hours.
Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane Society, stated that Sgt. Bo and Faye have brought comfort and emotional support to many children and adults in the Nashville community during profoundly difficult times, serving as a powerful beacon of hope and safety. Sgt. Bo tore his ACL in January 2025, prompting the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department to retire him, with Faye retiring soon after to remain with him. He continues to visit Covenant weekly and other local schools monthly, helping shy children open up and bringing smiles while enjoying retirement with Faye and her husband.
The four other Hero Dog Award finalists represent diverse roles in service and protection. Donald, a six-year-old Labrador Retriever finalist in the Service and Guide/Hearing Dog category, changed the life of his veteran handler after she lost her central vision following 25 years of military service. His instinctive decision to disobey commands once prevented her from stepping onto torn-up sidewalk, demonstrating how service dogs protect beyond obedience. Harrison, a two-year-old Labrador Retriever finalist in the Law Enforcement and First Responder Dog category, serves as Caldwell County's first electronics scent detection K-9, playing a critical role in uncovering digital evidence for criminal investigations with a focus on Internet Crimes Against Children cases.
K-9 Ultra, a four-year-old Dutch and German Shepherd mix finalist in the Military category, proved her reliability during a vice-presidential motorcade where her precise detection cleared the route under strict time constraints. Lieutenant Dan, a seven-year-old Treeing Walker Coonhound finalist in the Emerging Hero/Shelter Dog category born with severe limb deformities, shows the world what it means to be handicapable through his joyful spirit that inspires people of all abilities. Sgt. Bo and the four other finalists will be honored at the 15th Annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards and Gala on January 9 in Palm Beach, Florida. For more information about the American Humane Hero Dog Awards, visit https://americanhumane.org.