Rhode Island State Police K-9 Ruby Named Search and Rescue Dog of the Year
Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety, is pleased to announce that K-9 Ruby, a member of the Rhode Island State Police Canine Unit, has been selected as the national Search and Rescue Dog of the Year. She also is now a finalist for the 2018 American Humane Hero Dog Award, to be named in September.
“This is a tremendous honor for both K-9 Ruby and her handler, Trooper Daniel O’Neil,” Colonel Assumpico said. “It also is a tribute to the entire Rhode Island State Police Canine Unit, showcasing some of the vital work they do to serve and protect Rhode Islanders every day.”
K-9 Ruby and Trooper O’Neil were nominated for the award based on a search and rescue case they were involved in last fall. They found a young man alive but barely conscious in the woods of Glocester two days after his family had first reported him missing. Trooper O’Neil later learned that the young man’s mother was a volunteer at the local animal shelter, where Ruby had been returned several times and declared unadoptable. This woman had fostered Ruby after numerous failed placements. In fact, Ruby was scheduled to be put down hours before the Rhode Island State Police agreed to adopt her as a member of the Canine Unit. She was overwhelmed to learn it was K-9 Ruby, the former shelter dog, who helped save her son’s life.
As Trooper O’Neil said on the American Humane website: “You can think what you may, but I believe that was Ruby’s way of saying thank you to the boy’s mother for taking care of her during her rough beginning. Ruby was given a chance at life and ended up saving a life. With the efforts of two organizations (RISP and RISPCA) and a handful of amazing and dedicated people, great things can happen.”
Colonel Assumpico said this story generated a groundswell of public support for K-9 Ruby and Trooper O’Neil, leading to their nomination and selection as Search and Rescue Dog of the Year. K-9 Ruby also was named as one of The 25 Most Heroic Dogs in America in a story in USA today earlier this month. (The story of Ruby’s adoption also is featured in Search Dog, an award-winning documentary by Mary Healey Jamiel, a professor at the University of Rhode Island.)
K-9 Ruby and Trooper O’Neil are among seven winners selected as finalists for the 2018 Hero Dog Award. They were chosen from among 266 nominees in seven categories, including Search and Rescue Dog of the Year; Law Enforcement/Arson Dog of the Year; Emerging Hero Dog of the Year; Guide/Hearing Dog of the year; Military Dog of the Year; Service Dog of the Year; and Therapy Dog of the Year.
Voting is now underway for the 2018 Hero Dog Award, which will be revealed at the Hero Dog Awards Gala in Hollywood on September 29, 2018. Ruby and Trooper O’Neil will travel to Hollywood for the event, which will be broadcast as a two-hour special on the Hallmark Channel later this fall.
Upon learning of K-9 Ruby’s selection as Search and Rescue Dog of the Year, Governor Gina Raimondo issued the following statement: “Ruby is Rhode Island’s top dog. If not for her efforts, a young man’s life could have been lost. Ruby really is a hero. I commend the Rhode Island State Police for rescuing Ruby and training her for this important work. I also encourage anyone looking to bring a pet into their homes to consider visiting a local animal shelter as my family did when we adopted our dog, Sparky.”
To learn more about the American Humane Hero Dog Award and to vote, visit the American Hero Dog Award website at www.herodogawards.org.