WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, October 12, 2017 — A fearless Black Lab who uncovered IEDs in Afghanistan and Iraq; a pound puppy who became a Specialized Search Dog and saved countless lives during his 210 combat missions; a Chocolate Lab who protected our troops and survived deadly ambushes by the Taliban; a four-footed warrior who was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and safeguarded 26,000 U.S. servicemembers; and a brave Explosive Detection Dog who served overseas on the frontlines of the War on Terror and now protects Americans on the home front have all been chosen as the 2017 recipients of American Humane’s Lois Pope K-9 Medal of Courage.
The awards, presented at a Capitol Hill ceremony last night, are the nation’s highest honor for military dogs for extraordinary valor and service to America. They were created under the aegis of American Humane, which has worked with the U.S. military for 100 years, and internationally renowned philanthropist and veterans advocate Lois Pope.
The awards were conferred upon the courageous canines by some of the country’s foremost military and homeland security leaders, including Marine Lieutenant General Beaudreault, Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations; TSA Administrator David Pekoske; retired Marine Colonel Scott Campbell, former Commanding Officer of the Wounded Warrior Regiment in Quantico, Va.; and retired Marine Corporal Jeff DeYoung, military dog handler. Twelve members of Congress and more than 200 Congressional staffers attended the packed event. B-roll of the honorees and event is available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B_wJI2bXDdTgbzRXZ25XcEg2eHc.
“These remarkable dogs work side-by-side with the men and women of our Armed Forces, performing vitally important and life-saving work, while putting their own lives on the line for our country,” said Mrs. Pope, who conceived and spearheaded the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, which was dedicated in Washington D.C. in October 2014 as the nation’s first and only permanent public tribute to the four million living disabled American veterans and all those who have died. “It is high time that their valiant sacrifices and contributions to our nation and our men and women in uniform are properly recognized at the highest levels.”
“It is important to recognize and honor the remarkable accomplishments and valor of these courageous canines,” said Rep. Gus Bilirakis, co-chair of the Congressional Humane Bond Caucus, which hosted the event. “By helping locate enemy positions, engage the enemy, and sniff out deadly IEDs and hidden weapons, military dogs have saved countless lives in the fight for freedom.”
“Soldiers have been relying on these four-footed comrades-in-arms since the beginning of organized warfare and today military dogs are more important than ever in keeping our service men and women safe,” said American Humane President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert. “At American Humane, which has been working with the U.S. military and military animals for 100 years, we feel it is time to recognize and honor the extraordinary feats and acts of devotion these heroic animals perform every day.”
Meet this year’s medal winners
Military Working Dog Coffee
Most military dogs have anywhere from two to seven handlers over the course of their military careers. Coffee only had one: U.S. Army Sergeant First Class James Bennett. Coffee started and ended her military career at SFC Bennett’s side. The two became partners almost a decade ago, when Coffee entered training at Lackland Air Force Base in 2006, where the Chocolate Lab learned to become a specialized explosives-detection dog.
Together, Coffee and SFC Bennett served three tours of duty in Afghanistan, working together to locate lethal bombs and other security threats. Coffee faced full-on attacks and deadly ambushes by the Taliban, who specially targeted her because of her lifesaving value to our troops and the danger she posed to them, but she refused to waver. She never once failed to bring home all the soldiers she was sent to protect. Coffee supported her fellow Army comrades off the battlefield, too, boosting morale and bringing love and comfort to the brave soldiers fighting far away from home. Coffee, now 13, retired in December 2016, concluding nine-and-half-years of military service. SFC Bennett was honored to adopt his best friend and battle buddy when Coffee retired, welcoming her into his family, including his wife, Lindsay, and their three children.
It was Lindsay who first encouraged SFC. Bennett to nominate Coffee for American Humane’s Lois Pope LIFE K-9 Medal of Courage. Her reason? In SFC Bennett’s own words, “Without Coffee, I wouldn’t have come back.”
Explosive Detection Dog Alphie
Explosive Detection Dog Alphie worked under some of the most dangerous conditions during his two tours in Afghanistan, entering and clearing villages for IEDs, making vital finds of weapons and communications equipment, and working with our warriors to surprise the Taliban and take out processing plants for illegal narcotics used to finance the war against our troops. Alphie and his handler at the time, Marine Lance Corporal William Herron, served in Helmand Province, one of the most perilous areas in the country, and Alphie had his share of close calls, being shot at numerous times, and once almost falling out of a V-22 Osprey that was part of a group of military aircraft under fire. This heroic Black Lab, now seven years old, retired from military service in 2014, but he continues to work to keep America safe here at home.
Today, Alphie works as a member of the TSA’s elite Canine Explosives Detection Program, together with his partner and TSA handler, Lesley Runnels. In keeping with his previous distinguished service, Runnels reports that this courageous canine is extraordinarily dedicated, never tiring in his focus and vigilance. During their three years together, the team has served in airports across the country—including Chicago, New York, Orlando, Seattle, Tampa, Denver, and Fort Meyers — joining the 60,000 men and women of the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation and Security Administration to fight terrorism on the home front, and tirelessly working to keep us all safe.
Military Working Dog Capa
Ten-year-old Military Working Dog Capa has been awarded the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal for meritorious service, was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from Japan while serving as an explosives/patrol working dog, and was tasked to provide security for four missions protecting the President of the United States, another protecting the First Lady, and yet another helping safeguard the U.S. Secretary of Defense. Capa protected literally thousands of American troops during his nine years of Navy service as a highly trained explosives-detection dog. Capa’s lifesaving contributions were essential in providing safety and security for a fleet of a dozen U.S. Naval ships and 26,000 personnel, including his handler, U.S. Navy Master-at-Arms Second Class Megan Wooster. Capa’s superior performance has always been the hallmark of his career and this award highlights nine years of honorable and dedicated naval service. Capa is now living in well-deserved retirement with MA2 Megan Wooster.
Military Working Dog Ranger
Military Working Dog Ranger saved uncounted lives—and risked his own—in service to our country. The eight-year-old Black Lab bravely served in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he worked as an explosives-detection dog specializing in improvised explosive devices, or IEDS—the leading cause of death of American and allied troops in the War on Terror
While working, Ranger suffered heat stroke and retired from military service in 2012, finding the loving forever home he so deserves. Kirk Adams, a retired police sergeant, and his wife were proud to adopt the four-legged veteran and welcome him into their Raleigh, N.C., home.
Even though Ranger is no longer on duty and is now battling cancer, Adams says his work ethic is undiminished: whenever a car comes down the driveway, whether it’s a friend, neighbor or relative, Ranger is on the case and diligently checks out the vehicle for bombs.
Military Working Dog Gabe (in memoriam)
A true hero, Gabe was a life-saving Specialized Search Dog who served our country by completing more than 210 combat missions with 26 explosive and weapons finds in Iraq, saving countless American soldiers’ lives on the battlefield. He passed away in the arms of his adopted Dad, Army SFC Chuck Shuck (Ret.) in Columbia, S.C, , February 13, 2013.
Gabe was a pound puppy languishing in a Houston, Texasanimal shelter when he was adopted and trained by the United States Military. Proving beyond a doubt that adoption saves lives, Gabe began his service as a Specialized Search Dog for the United States Army in 2006 and after three years of active duty retired in 2009 having earned more than 40 awards and coins of excellence. He was selected as the American Kennel Club Heroic Military Working Dog in 2008, and won the top title of American Hero Dog at the annual national American Humane Hero Dog Awards ™ in 2012 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKkRWDlwn0o).
“Chuck and Gabe became part of the American Humane family,” said the organization’s president and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert. “They were truly a perfect hero team. Their love for each other, this country, and their community was genuine. They spent almost all of their free time volunteering at local retirement homes, schools and community events bringing cheer, love, education, and compassion. Gabe exemplified what the American Humane Hero Dog Awards are all about and I am so proud to have had the privilege of knowing them both.”
After receiving the top honor at the American Humane Hero Dog Awards, Gabe, a yellow Lab, and Sgt. Shuck traveled across the country as ambassadors for American Humane serving as advocates for shelter pets and promoting the importance of the human-animal bond, a bond they clearly possessed and cherished. Sgt.Shuck recently completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and now works as a member of the 701st Military Police Group (CID). In an interview, Sgt.Shuck described the special bond he shared with Gabe: “He’s my life. I can’t sugarcoat it or sound manly about it. He’s everything,” he said. “The dog is with you 24/7. The dog lives with you, sleeps with you…you’re thousands of miles away from home, you don’t have the comforts of home, and your best friend is that dog.”
About American Humane
American Humane is the country’s first national humane organization, founded in 1877. They began working with the American military in 1916 when the U.S. Secretary of War requested they help rescue wounded war horses on the battlefields of World War I Europe. Following World War II, American Humane helped pioneer the use of animal-assisted therapy to aid returning veterans. Today, through its Lois Pope LIFE Center for Military Affairs, the organization works to help active-duty members of the military, military families, and military animals. For more information, please visit www.AmericanHumane.org.
About Lois Pope, The Lois Pope LIFE Foundation, Inc., and LIFE (Leaders in Furthering Education)
As one of America’s leading philanthropists, Lois Pope has positively impacted the lives of individuals at the local, national and international levels. She has established three separate organizations dedicated to helping those in need. These organizations are the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation, Inc., Leaders In Furthering Education (LIFE), and the Disabled Veterans’ Life Memorial Foundation. For more than 20 years she has been the driving force behind the Lois Pope LIFE Center at the University of Miami School of Medicine, The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, and a groundbreaking new program with American Humane in Palm Beach County. Lois Pope has recently donated three Lois Pope Red Star Rescue Vehicles. Each rescue vehicle is a 50-foot long response unit, complete with a Ford F-350 truck and trailer, which is specifically designed and outfitted to provide an array of animal emergency services and cruelty responses within the region.
Mrs. Pope recently saw the completion of a decade’s long dream – the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, which was dedicated by President Obama in Washington, D.C., on October 5, 2014. The Memorial will forever stand as a reminder to the public and legislators of the courage and sacrifices of the four million living disabled veterans and all those who died before them for the need to be vigilant in assuring their support, as well as being aware of the human cost of war. More recently, she secured a major victory when, on December 16, 2016, President Obama signed a resolution designating October 5 each year as a day for all Americans to pay special honor to American Veterans Disabled for Life.
The sacrifices and heroism of disabled veterans, past and present, were chronicled and illuminated in the widely acclaimed PBS film “Debt of Honor,” a documentary conceived, funded and executive produced by Mrs. Pope and directed by award-winning filmmaker Ric Burns. She also conceived, through LP LIFE Productions, the film “VA: The Human Cost of War,” also directed by Mr. Burns, to shed light on the controversial history and current day problems plaguing the Veterans Administration.
A mother and a grandmother, Lois has trained for and completed five New York City Marathons.
