Pocket to be awarded Search and Rescue Dog of the Year by the American Kennel Club
LOUISVILLE, KY (Dec. 8, 2023) – K9 Pocket, an exceptional Kentucky search dog, has achieved the highest distinction by being named the Search and Rescue Dog of the Year by the esteemed American Kennel Club (AKC).
The announcement will air on ESPN2 during the “AKC Heroes: 2023 Awards for Canine Excellence” special, premiering on Sunday, Dec.10, at 10:30 pm EST.
The one-hour special will take a deep dive into the stories of five remarkable dogs and why they were selected as this year’s honorees, including K9 Pocket, each chosen as the pinnacle of excellence in their respective categories from a noteworthy pool of over 600 nominations. The five award categories encompass Exemplary Companion, Search and Rescue, Service Dog, Therapy Dog, and Uniformed Service K-9. Sportscaster Carolyn Manno will host the broadcast.
K9 Pocket, 10, is a nationally certified search dog who finds missing persons and human remains on land and water. K9 Pocket had her first live find when she was just 2 years old, when she found a missing child in the woods. K9 Pocket excels at finding archaeological human remains and has found Native American burials dating back 2,000 years. She also loves to work on the water and has searched on many different boats including a canoe, a pontoon, and a large United States Coast Guard vessel.
K9 Pocket, who is based in Louisville, Ky., with KYK9 Search and Reunite, will be honored with the 2023 AKC Award for Canine Excellence (ACE) in the Search and Rescue category. A nationally certified search dog, K9 Pocket has demonstrated unparalleled proficiency in locating missing persons and human remains on both land and water. Pocket’s search efforts have spanned across the Midwest and the United States, including a feature in a “Cold Justice” episode in Oregon. Notably, Pocket has also received a national award of merit from the International Police Working Dog Association (IPWDA) for her outstanding contributions to a cold case.
K9 Pocket is based in Louisville, KY with KYK9 Search and Reunite
“Pocket is a Parson Russell Terrier, which is not a typical breed associated with search and rescue. She loves to work, and her terrier tenacity and intelligence make her an excellent search dog,” said Jennifer Jordan Hall, Director and K9 Handler, KYK9 Search and Reunite. “Over the years, K9 Pocket has worked tirelessly and shared her special gift to help many families and we are truly honored by this national award recognizing her for canine excellence.”
To download photos of Pocket, click here.
Each ACE award recipient in every category will receive a donation to a pet-related charity of their choice. The 2023 AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence are proudly sponsored by YuMOVE™, the official joint sponsor of the AKC, and EUKANUBA™, a premium dog nutrition brand.
“Every year, dogs continue to show us how important they are in our lives, and these five dogs are the perfect example,” said Gina DiNardo, AKC Executive Secretary. “Their impact can be felt throughout their communities, and we are proud to share their stories.”
“AKC Heroes: 2023 Awards for Canine Excellence” premieres on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 10:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2 and will re-air on Sunday, Dec.17, at 8 p.m. EST, and Sunday, Dec. 31, at 11 p.m. EST.
To learn more about KYK9 Search and Reunite, visit https://www.kyk9.org/.
About KYK9 Search and Reunite:
KYK9 provides professional scent detection and search dog services to families of the missing, law enforcement, governmental agencies, archaeologists, and tribal nations. As a 501(c)(3) organization, KYK9 deploys search dog teams to locate lost or missing persons, find forensic evidence, and locate human remains on land and water. The organization is dedicated to working on missing person cases, cold cases, and homicides. KYK9 provides archaeological human remains detection (HRD) services, also known as K9 HRD surveys, to help locate and protect historic and pre-contact burials. Based in Kentucky, this non-profit organization extends its search dog services throughout the Midwest and the United States.
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