PIT PAWS therapy dog buddy “Boone” wins national Hero Dog award

PITTSBURGH — A round of “ap-paws” and tons of treats are in order for the Pittsburgh International Airport therapy dog as he is the recipient of national recognition.

Boone won American Humane’s 2021 American Hero Dog award.

Boone, a two-legged special needs hound-mix from Butler Township, was named the 2021 American Humane Hero Dog on Friday in an awards ceremony Friday in Palm Beach, Fla.

He appeared as a finalist in the 2021 American Humane Hero Dog Awards competition broadcast Oct. 20 on The Hallmark Drama Channel.

At Friday’s ceremony, “he enjoyed walking the red carpet and wore a brand new formal feathered bow tie,” said his owner Tanya Diable. “He really enjoyed meeting the new people there.”

Boone was awarded two medals: one for winning the therapy dog category and one for being the overall winner.

“There’s no cash prize or anything — just the honor of winning,” Diable said.

Despite the challenges he was forced to overcome, Boone’s sweet nature and enthusiasm for life never quit, and he inspires those around him every day.

The American Humane Hero Dog Awards® is an annual nationwide competition that searches for and recognizes America’s Hero Dogs – often ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things, whether it’s saving lives on the battlefield, lending sight or hearing to a human companion, or simply providing the tail-wagging welcome a pet owner relishes at the end of a hard day.

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