Kent Rescue Dog Named As Finalist In Crufts Hero Award
A local rescue dog, who was found abandoned on a roundabout but has gone on to become a therapy dog who visits care homes, schools and prisons, has been announced as a finalist in the prestigious Kennel Club Hero Dog Award.
Photo Rescue Dog Hero, Tilly. The Kennel Club, Eleanor Riley
Launching the world’s biggest celebration of dogs, Crufts, today (18th February), The Kennel Club announced the five hero dogs that will compete in the public vote for the award, with the winner being announced at Crufts 2025.
Two-year-old Tilly, who has today been named as finalist in the Rescue Dog Hero category of The Kennel Club award, was rescued by Emily Washington, from Strood, Kent, after she was found abandoned in a plastic washing basket in the middle of a roundabout at just four weeks old. Tilly and three other puppies were taken in by New Hope Animal Rescue, where they were hand-reared in a foster home until they were old enough to be adopted.
In less than a year, alongside owner Emily, Tilly made a remarkable turnaround – at nine months old, she passed the temperament assessment in order to become a Pets as Therapy dog, and now regularly visits care homes, schools, colleges and prisons for therapy visits.
Tilly has also helped Emily through a challenging recovery after spinal surgery and has been trained to alert her to oncoming migraines and when her anxiety is high, as well as to interrupt stress-related behaviours.
“Tilly has overcome everything life has thrown at her,” Emily says. “She absolutely shows that rescue dogs can go on to do amazing things. From a dumped puppy to a therapy and assistance dog, she deserves the recognition for what she has done for so many people.”
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Bill Lambert, spokesperson for Crufts, which unveiled this year’s five finalists in Green Park, London, today, said: “This award is an opportunity to celebrate our unsung canine heroes – those dogs that quietly go about changing people’s lives in their own unique and special way, those who keep us safe in society and show extraordinary courage, and those best friends who are by our sides through it all.
“We urge those across the region and beyond to vote for Tilly and show their support for this extraordinary little dog who has overcome all the odds and now makes a remarkable difference for others.”
The annual Kennel Club Hero Dog Award celebrates the unique relationships people have with their dogs and the important role man’s best friend plays throughout our lives and in society. Judges from The Kennel Club, one of the UK’s largest dog welfare organisations, selected the five inspiring finalists to go forward for the public vote, with the winner being announced in the bp pulse LIVE arena at Birmingham NEC, and on Channel 4, on the final day of Crufts, the world’s greatest dog show, on Sunday 9th March.
These five canine heroes are just some of the dogs having their day at Crufts and being celebrated at the event for the ways in which they change our lives.
The winner of The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award will receive £5,000 from The Kennel Club Charitable Trust for the dog charity of their choice, with the other finalists receiving a £1,000 donation to their chosen canine charity.
The public can now watch each of the finalist’s stories, including Tilly’s, in specially-made videos, and vote for their Hero Dog 2025, until 4pm on Sunday 9th March, by visiting crufts.org.uk/herodogaward.
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