Mid-Missourians support their local hero dogs.
They voted early and often, and made Olive a finalist in the annual American Hero Dog Awards. She won her category, and became the nation's top therapy dog of the year on 2020.
Olive didn't compete this year, but Sobee, a boxer mix, who became a semi-finalist in the Service Dogs category in 2020, took a shot at the title again this year.
And, Sobee won the category.
She will now compete as a finalist for the title of American Hero Dog of the Year.
"I'm in shock. It's just an amazing feeling, knowing where I was - I was at my rock bottom," Sobee's handler Jason Howe said. "And Sobee being two days away from being euthanized. Now we're doing great things together."
Sobee was two days away from euthanasia when K9s on the Front Line rescued her and paired her with Howe, a U.S. Navy veteran. Howe struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction after returning home from two deployments.
He found himself in Maine, speaking with a friend, who connected him with the nonprofit.
Brought together in 2016, the dog and the man created a bond instantly.
She's super sweet and caring, Howe said.
Sobee is trained to assist Howe with panic attacks. The two now assist other veterans. Howe started a K9s on the Front Line chapter in Missouri and has assisted more than 50 veterans with service dogs.
Sobee now faces the challenge of defeating Boone, a beagle mix in Pennsylvania who won as the top Therapy Dog; Little Man, the Search and Rescue Dogs winner from Oklahoma; Summer, the Military Dogs winner from Maryland; K-9 Hansel, the Law Enforcement and Detection Dogs winner from New Jersey; Deputy Chance, the Shelter Dogs winner from Florida; and Henna, the Guide/Hearing Dogs winner from New Mexico.
Vote for Sobee daily at the American Hero Dog Awards.
"Sobee just brings a bunch of joy to anybody that she meets," Howe said. "She brings joy to anybody that's struggling in daily lives. It hasn't always been easy. We have our stumbles. As long as we keep moving forward, we can do great things."