Six Extraordinary Dogs, Six Stories of Courage, The Burns Bravery Awards 2026
Not all heroes wear capes. Some have four paws, wagging tails and absolutely no idea how extraordinary they are.
On 3 November, six remarkable dogs were honoured at the inaugural Burns Bravery Awards, held at Woolwich Works in London and hosted by Strictly Come Dancing star and devoted dog lover Karen Hauer.
Organised by Burns Pet Nutrition, which has supported Britain’s Search & Rescue dogs for almost a decade, the awards celebrate the courage, loyalty and unconditional love of dogs who make an extraordinary difference to people’s lives.
And what wonderful stories these six winners have to tell.
Meet the Six Canine Heroes
Olive, Burns Service Award
A five-year-old working cocker spaniel with Surrey Search & Rescue, Olive helped locate a vulnerable missing person in a remote Surrey valley in the middle of the night. She had qualified as an operational search dog just five months earlier. Her handler, Jonathan Cole, believes her remarkable discovery saved a life.
Mouse, Burns Bravery Award
Abandoned on a rubbish tip as a tiny puppy, seven-year-old rescue lurcher Mouse was given a second chance at life. At just six months old, he bravely protected his family when a stranger threatened them. A dog who had once needed rescuing became a rescuer himself.
Spring, Burns Assistance & Support Dog Award
Five-year-old Spring is a medical alert dog trained by Medical Detection Dogs. By recognising subtle changes in his owner Michelle’s body, he warns her of potential medical episodes, giving her confidence and independence. To Michelle, Spring is quite simply her lifeline.
Maya, Burns Search & Rescue Award
Seven-year-old German Shepherd Maya has completed an astonishing 150 search callouts across Hampshire and neighbouring counties alongside her handler Conor. After five years of working together, their extraordinary partnership demonstrates the remarkable bond between a working dog and handler.
Yogi, Burns Community Impact Award
Three-year-old therapy dog Yogi has a rather different mission. At Forest Lodge Academy, he helps children feel calmer, gain confidence and discover the joy of reading. Sometimes all a child needs is a patient listener with four paws and a wagging tail.
Dory, Burns Companion Award
Rescued at 18 months old, Dory was once a nervous dog learning to trust again. But when her owner, Justine, faced difficult times, Dory returned the favour, bringing companionship, laughter, and a reason to smile. Sometimes the greatest act of bravery is simply helping someone face another day.
Every Dog Makes a Difference
More than 1,000 members of the public voted for their favourite canine heroes, with each winner receiving six months’ worth of Burns dog food.
Speaking at the ceremony, Karen Hauer, who has rescued four dogs of her own in the UK, reflected on how much our dogs give back.
And isn’t that the wonderful thing about dogs?
Some are trained to find missing people. Others can detect medical emergencies or bring comfort to children. Others change our lives in quieter, less visible ways.
As someone whose life has been immeasurably enriched by three very special dogs, I know that heroism doesn’t always involve a dramatic rescue.
Sometimes it is simply a dog sitting beside you when the world feels overwhelming: a reassuring paw, a familiar face, or a reason to get up in the morning.
To Olive, Mouse, Spring, Maya, Yogi and Dory, congratulations! You may never understand why you received an award, but the people whose lives you’ve touched certainly do.
And to all the other dogs who quietly make our world a better place every day — you are heroes too.
For more information about the awards, visit Burns Pet Nutrition.
