State Farm® Salutes Hero Dogs

He’s a true hero. He was deployed to Iraq in 2006 and completed more than 210 combat missions with 26 finds of explosives and weapons, saving countless American soldiers’ lives. He is also — a yellow lab.

Gabe, the life-saving military working dog serving with Sergeant First Class, Charles Shuck, has been named the top American Hero Dog at the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™.

State Farm® joined forces with the American Humane Association to celebrate the powerful relationship between dogs and people with the sponsorship of the “Law Enforcement & Arson Dog” category for the 2012 awards.

The annual national competition searches out and recognizes America’s Hero Dogs – often ordinary dogs doing extraordinary things. Hundreds of dogs from all 50 states were nominated and more than 3 million votes were cast by the American public. Each of the eight finalists received $5,000 to be donated to one of the American Humane Association’s charity partners. Gabe received an additional $10,000 for the United States War Dog Association.

“Dogs enrich and protect our lives every single day and we use the Hero Dog Awards to tell the powerful story of the human – animal bond,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of the 135-year-old American Humane Association. “We are deeply gratified that our corporate partners like State Farm recognize the important role that animals play in our lives every day and join with us in celebrating dogs and the people who love them.”