We are so excited to share that SDF Search Dog Harper has been selected by the ASPCA Humane Awards committee as the 2024 Dog of the Year!
Since the 1980s, The ASPCA Annual Humane Awards have recognized animal heroes who have demonstrated extraordinary efforts to better the lives of those around them, as well as individuals who have shown a great commitment to animal welfare.
“Our 2024 ASPCA Humane Award honorees perfectly exemplify the mission of the ASPCA to support the most vulnerable and bring the critical protection of animals to the forefront of all of our minds. From working on the front lines of disasters, to using their platform to advocate on behalf of animals who are unable to advocate for themselves, we couldn’t be more grateful for the service of this year’s Humane Award recipients.”
—Matt Bershadker, president and CEO of the ASPCA
As this year’s recipient of the Dog of the Year award, Harper—recruited from the Humane Society of the Black Hills by our longtime recruitment partners at the South Dakota Canine Center—is recognized for her dedicated service as a human remains detection (HRD) dog. She and her handler, first responder Ed Ruiz of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, have deployed multiple times with their California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) teammates, including to Hawaii in the aftermath of the devastating Maui wildfires of 2023, and to the New Mexico wildfires that swept through the state earlier this year.
As an HRD dog, Harper is trained to locate victims in the aftermaths of disasters, providing much-needed closure to the loved ones of those lost. This important work isn’t always easy, but Harper is no ordinary dog, and she brings the same dogged determination to her work today that she did as an eager SDF candidate!
On October 10, 2024, Harper and Ed attended the ASPCA Humane Awards Ceremony in New York, New York, where Harper was officially presented with the esteemed Dog of the Year award. We’re so incredibly proud of Harper and thrilled to see her devotion and hard work honored in this way. We thank the ASPCA Humane Awards committee for choosing Harper as their 2024 Dog of the Year, and we congratulate Harper on this remarkable achievement!
Harper was also featured in People Magazine and made an appearance on Good Day New York during her whirlwind week in the city!
To learn more about Harper’s story, watch the ASPCA’s video about her life here!