3rd Annual First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award

Welcome to the 3rd Annual First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award! We begin accepting applications on Monday, June 16!

The Award

The winner of the first-ever, annual First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award will receive the following prize:

$5,000 check in support of their work
$1500 in paid social media promotion
Free national publicity, including a feature blog that reaches more than 100,000 people on social media and a press release announcing the news
A “Top Paws Therapy Dog Award” badge for placement on their website or blog in recognition of their status as one of 10 finalists
A $2,500 donation made in their honor by FHE Health to our partner organization First Responders Pack Foundation, which exists to train more therapy dogs for first responders

What’s New? Two New Winner Categories!

This year we’ve added two new winner categories:

2nd Place Award – $1000 check in support of their work
Top Non-Dog Award – $1000 in support of their work; last year’s applicant, Zayne the Cat, inspired us to think more broadly about animal therapy. This year, we’re inviting more non-dog applicants like Zayne to compete in their own category. If there are at least five contestants, we’ll award the top animal and handler with a $1000 check.

Meet Our Past Winners:

Sgt. Bo – 2023 Winner

Officer Kora – 2024 Winner

The Cause – Why Participate

It’s not every day that we get to honor a therapy dog for its excellence in service or support our first responders and their mental health. Now we’re doing both, by offering the “First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award.” This nationwide contest will showcase therapy dogs everywhere in the many roles they fill, while also shining the spotlight on therapy dogs that assist first responders—and the critical need for more such dogs, both in South Florida and in communities across the U.S.

The Need for More Therapy Dogs for First Responders

America’s first responders are on the frontlines of danger every day, saving lives and keeping our communities and nation safe. That can take a toll on their mental health.

Therapy dogs help these heroic men and women rebound from emergencies and reset between calls. The calming, healing presence of these dogs enables first responders to process the on-the-job traumas they’ve experienced and cope better with stress, grief, and anxiety.

As indispensable as they are in this capacity, therapy dogs can also be expensive to acquire and take time to train. This contest shines a light on the critical role they play in supporting America’s public safety professionals. By recognizing one therapy dog for its excellence in service and by sharing their story with a national audience, we hope to advocate for more such therapy dogs in more communities across America.

Who Can Apply?

Any owner/handler/trainer and their therapy dog in any context can apply for this award. Any person who wants to apply on behalf of a therapy dog that has made a difference in their life and/or community can also apply.

Be mindful that the selection committee would like to see some evidence of your impact on the first responder population. You and your therapy dog do not need to work exclusively with first responder populations in order to apply.

“One Dog Per Organization”

In the spirit of a fair playing field, we are requesting a limit of one application (one dog) per organization. Your accommodation of this request can help to ensure that together, we are able to represent as many dogs and organizations as possible. We appreciate that in some contexts, such as with a large, sprawling organization that has many dogs in various agencies or branches, it may be hard or impossible to enforce this rule. However, blatant violations of this request will also be taken into account during the selection process, in accordance with our request for one dog per organization.

Deadline for Applications and Timeline for 2024 Award

We will begin accepting applications for the 2025 award on Mon, June 16th
The deadline for applications is Mon, September 1st
A public vote to determine 10 finalists will occur September 3rd-12th
10 finalists will be announced on Mon, September 15th
The final winner will be announced on Thurs, September 18th

Dates are subject to change

Application Requirements

All applicants are required to complete a form on this website page. All applicants will be required to submit the following materials:

A short typed essay (at least one paragraph in length) about the dog you are nominating and the dog’s story, as well as why you believe it should be awarded the First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award
Any proof of training such as therapy dog certification, enrollment in a certification course, or course(s) that qualifies the dog to serve in whatever context(s) it serves (hospital, nursing home, fire departments, etc.)
A photo of the dog
Any links to news or media reports about the dog
A completed application form

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Contest Details

The Selection Process

The finalists and first-place winner will be chosen by a small committee with representatives from FHE Health and FHE Health’s partner organization First Responders Pack Foundation. The Broward County-based non-profit is officially recognized by the American Kennel Club as a Certified Therapy Dog Organization and exists to train more therapy dogs to support the mental and emotional health of first responders in the aftermath of trauma.

Firefighter Dean Moreno, the founder of First Responders Pack Foundation, will help lead the selection committee. Moreno is a certified AKC evaluator for Star Puppy, Canine Good Citizen, Community Canine, and Urban Canine Good Citizen and can issue the Therapy Dog Certificate to eligible dogs. He is currently in the process to become a professional dog trainer.

The 10 finalists will be chosen by public vote on our official voting page, which will provide a photo and profile for each competing dog. The voting page will go live at the close of the application period, at which point contestants will be alerted by email that their dog can now start taking votes.

The Voting Process

Anyone who wishes to vote can vote and will be allowed one vote. Your email address will be required in order to vote but will not be retained or used to contact you for any other purpose.

Last year, we ensured a fair voting process by implementing measures to prevent vote tampering and manipulation (such as multiple or spammy emails). This year, we are doing the same but are implementing an even more stringent voting system to ensure the integrity of the voting process.

Non-Discrimination Policy Disclaimer

FHE Health does not discriminate on any basis, whether by age, race, sex, religion, disability status or sexual orientation. All qualified applicants are given equal consideration and are assessed strictly based on the strength of their application and essay. It is at the sole discretion of our team to select the dog we feel is most deserving of this award. By applying for the First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award, you agree to FHE Health’s privacy policy and disclaimer.

About FHE Health

FHE Health, a national behavioral health provider, has been serving adults (ages 18 and up) with mental health and substance use needs for more than 20 years. From its headquarters in Deerfield Beach, Florida, our state-of-the-art facility serves men and women from around the country with integrated care, specialized treatment programs, and evidence-based therapies and innovations.

FHE’s specialized treatment program “Shatterproof at FHE Health” is nationally recognized for its work with first responders, many of whom have achieved quicker, more comprehensive recovery through cutting-edge neuroscience-based treatments, trauma therapies like EMDR, peer support groups, and … the occasional visit from a therapy dog.

How to Reach Our Team

We are not able to take or return phone calls. However, this page contains all of the information necessary to apply. If you have a question, you may email us at marketing@fhehealth.com, and one of our team will respond when able.