The American Kennel Club Humane Fund recently announced the winners of the 24th annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence. Among the five loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities is New Mexico State University’s beloved Wave the Wonder Dog, owned and trained by Steve Stochaj, Computer and Electrical Engineering department head.
Wave took the top honor in the Exemplary Canine category. Wave is tasked with retrieving the kicking tee during NMSU football games. He has grown into a campus and community celebrity and even has thousands of followers on social media. Stochaj also brings Wave to spring and summer practices so he can meet the players and the players can get accustomed to them being around. Wave is not only keeping busy on campus, but he has AKC titles in agility, rally, obedience, tracking, trick dog, dock diving, and canine good citizen. He also is a member of the Mesilla Valley Search and Rescue Organization. Click here to see Wave in action.
The five winners were carefully chosen from a pool of more than 600 impressive nominations. An award is presented in each of the following five categories: exemplary companion, search and rescue, service dog, therapy dog, and uniformed service K-9.
The winners in each category are featured in a special broadcast AKC Heroes: 2023 Awards for Canine Excellence, which premiered earlier this month on ESPN2 and will re-air at 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31.
Click here to learn more about the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence. The AKC Humane Fund, Inc. unites animal lovers in promoting the joy and value of responsible pet ownership through education, outreach and grant-making. The fund provides financial grants to domestic violence shelters and breed rescue organizations and awards scholarships to students pursuing professions that strengthen the human-animal bond.
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CUTLINE: Wave the Wonder Dog practices for his on-the-field job of retrieving the kicking tee at New Mexico State University football games. Wave was named the exemplary canine at the 24th annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence. (NMSU photo by Vladimir Avina)