Massachusetts and Illinois police K9s receive national courage award

The American Kennel Club (AKC^®), the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for all dogs, has recognize K9 Vishu of Kankakee Sheriff’s Department in Kankakee, IL., and K9 Biza of Auburn Massachusetts Police Department in Auburn, MA., with the American Kennel Club’s DOGNY Paw of Courage Award.

The AKC DOGNY Paw of Courage demonstrates appreciation for the work that dogs do in the service of humankind. This award recognizes dogs who serve their communities, making great impacts on the lives of their human counterparts.

“These two canines have demonstrated their dedication and commitment to keeping their communities safe every day,” says AKC Executive Secretary, Gina DiNardo.” The American Kennel Club is proud to honor these two incredibly deserving canines, K9 Vishu and K9 Biza.”

K9 Vishu, Kankakee Sheriff’s Department, Kankakee, IL

Over K9 Vishu’s career, she has assisted on open water searches for drowning victims as well as missing persons searches for many surrounding police departments. Vishu has assisted multiple agencies in the Midwest to help locate evidence and remains in various states and stages of decomposition.

She has been certified numerous times through United States Police Canine Association as both a tracking dog and detector dog. She is trained to track and indicate on articles for live persons and find human remains in various stages and states of decomposition.

Vishu eats a raw meat diet and is referred to as “The Hamburgler” here, earning the name through many acts of thievery over the years.

K9 Biza, Auburn Massachusetts Police Department, Auburn, MA.

According to police, in late January, the Auburn Police Department learned that a 12-year-old child left their home at approximately 8:30 p.m. The child was last seen in the Pakachoag Hill area of Auburn and their whereabouts was unknown.

Due to the freezing temperatures and nature of the incident, numerous Auburn Police Officers and Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police converged on the area in an attempt to locate the child. Detectives from the Auburn Police Department, Detective Bureau responded to assist as well.

Officer Ljunggren and his K9 partner Biza were deployed. K9 Biza was able to pick up a scent and began to track the scent. K9 Biza tracked for a length of over two miles and led Officers to an area where evidence showed that the child had been present a short time earlier. Officers converged on this area and located the child a short time later. The child was reunited with their family and is safe.

She is 3 years old and in her down time, she enjoys long walks, playing fetch and swimming.

To learn more and nominate a dog for a Paw of Courage award, click here.