Alice, a German shepherd, performs heroic acts every day as she serves a 12-year-old boy whose life was dramatically altered in 2015 when he nearly died in a random act of gun violence.
But now her status is official. Alice is the 2019 American Humane Hero Dog.
We’ve never had a local winner in this contest, but Alice has a local connection. Although she lives and works in Kentucky, Alice was trained by Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs Inc., which trained and teamed dogs with more than 29 veterans in the Pittsburgh area.
More than 1 million people cast votes and Alice came out on top over six other finalists. To say she beat them would not be correct because each of those dogs is a hero. You can see all seven finalists — and touching videos that tell their stories — on Monday from 8 to 10 p.m. on the Hallmark Channel.
Get out your handkerchiefs, because there are many tender moments. Some of the dogs are brought up on stage in wagons or carts, but they still seem so happy to be there. The love between the dogs and their partners is always evident.
The dogs and their categories are Alice, service; German shepherd Dax, law enforcement; hound mix Gus, shelter dog; black Labrador retriever Lady, guide dog for the blind; Catahoula leopard dog Piglet, search and rescue; Pomeranian/Yorkie/poodle/papillon mix Jeanie, therapy; and black Labrador retriever Yeager, military.
If you watch the show, you will see Alice, 5, having the time of her life, said her trainer, Carol Borden, who traveled from Williston, Fla., to be with the dog, her partner Antonio and his mother, Tara. Ms. Borden is founder and CEO of Guardian Angels.
“Alice was totally smitten with Dax,” Ms. Borden said.
She walked the red carpet, met people at cocktail parties and receptions, wagged her tail constantly, and seemed to enjoy the standing ovation she and Antonio received on stage. Alice even enjoyed the airplane, riding in the cabin with her family.
Shame on anyone who takes a “fake” emotional support animal on a plane. You make airline staff question dogs that are providing life-saving service.
Alice needed two years of training to meet all of Antonio’s needs. He was not expected to survive the gunshot wound to the back of his head. Despite five brain surgeries, he has a permanent traumatic brain injury. An artificial flap covers a large portion of his skull, so a fall could be life-threatening. He does not have good balance, and he has frequent seizures.
Since October 2016, Alice has been physically supporting Antonio and helping with his balance issues when he walks. The dog gives Antonio and his mother 15 minutes notice that a seizure is coming so he can get to a safe place before it happens. Without Alice, Antonio would not be able to attend a school.
“Alice has saved Antonio’s life many times,” his mother said in the application to the American Humane contest. “She is his Guardian Angel.”
Don’t worry that dogs like Alice don’t have any fun or down time. When she and other service dogs are not on duty, “They are normal dogs. Alice loves to play, including playing soccer with Antonio,” his mother said.
Ms. Borden has a staff of 34, including 10 trainers. Every year there are 80 to 100 dogs in training in Williston, Fla., and 50 dogs are teamed with partners. About 80 percent of the dogs go to military veterans who are dealing with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and other medical issues.
Training costs $25,000 per dog, but Antonio and other recipients pay nothing. Costs are covered by donations. There’s a four-year waiting list for these dogs. That’s why Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs has bought 100 acres in Robinson, Washington County, and is raising $15 million to $20 million to build a training facility there.
“We have made significant progress, but at this point in time we are not ready to put the shovel in the ground,” said Jack Wagner, regional development director for the project. He’s a Vietnam veteran who has served as Pennsylvania auditor general and in the state Senate and on Pittsburgh City Council.
Pittsburgh was picked for Guardian Angels’ second training center because so much money has been raised here. Local individuals, companies and organizations have raised enough money to train 80 to 100 dogs, most of which will go to veterans in the Pittsburgh area, Mr. Wagner said. That includes Life Changing Service Dogs for Veterans, which has raised over $1 million to fund more than 60 dogs. Twenty-nine have been teamed with local veterans.
PNC Bank has raised enough money for more than 30 dogs, and Armstrong Cable has funded 10 dogs, Mr. Wagner said.
For more information, go to MedicalServiceDogs.org. Donations can be made online or mailed to 3251 N.E. 180th Ave., Williston, FL 32696.
Linda Wilson Fuoco: lfuoco@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3064 or at PG Pets on Facebook.
First Published: October 18, 2019, 12:00 p.m.
