Therapy Dog Rudy Nominated for National Hero Award for Wildfire Support

Rudy's Role as a Therapy Dog

• 🐶 Rudy, a six-year-old poodle, is a certified therapy dog trained to support first responders.
• 👨‍⚕️ His owner, Steven Zonis, a retired engineer, trained Rudy and another dog, Ella, to combine his passion for dogs with his desire to help.
• 🚨 Rudy's training involves responding to critical incidents like homicides, suicides, and catastrophic events to help alleviate stress for emergency personnel.

Support During Wildfires

• 🔥 Rudy and Zonis were deployed for over nine days during the January Palisades and Eaton wildfires.
• 📍 They provided comfort at various locations, including command centers, lifeguard stations, break rooms, and relief stations.
• 😭 One first responder was deeply moved by Rudy's presence, finding solace by burying his head and crying.

National Hero Therapy Dog Nomination

• 🏆 Rudy is a semi-finalist for the American Humane Society's 2025 Hero Therapy Dog title.
• 🗳️ The deadline to vote for Rudy on the American Humane Society website is September 15th.
• ❤️ Regardless of the award, Zonis is proud of Rudy for being a hero to those who are heroes themselves, acknowledging the emotional toll of their work.