Dog o' Day
Fansided

AKC Paw of Courage Award given posthumously to police dog Kuzmo

By Wesley Coburn

EXETER, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Police dog Tag during the Devon and Cornwall Police skills demonstration day on May 18, 2021 in Exeter, England. The Devon and Cornwall police are preparing their teams for a wide variety of potential incidents from demonstrator control to the possibility of sea-based events as the G7 Summit takes place on the Cornish coast in mid June. It will be the largest policing event to have ever taken place in Cornwall and officers and specialist teams will be drafted in from various UK police regions. (Photo by Hugh Hastings/Getty Images)
EXETER, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Police dog Tag during the Devon and Cornwall Police skills demonstration day on May 18, 2021 in Exeter, England. The Devon and Cornwall police are preparing their teams for a wide variety of potential incidents from demonstrator control to the possibility of sea-based events as the G7 Summit takes place on the Cornish coast in mid June. It will be the largest policing event to have ever taken place in Cornwall and officers and specialist teams will be drafted in from various UK police regions. (Photo by Hugh Hastings/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The AKC Paw of Courage Award was recently given out posthumously to Kuzmo, a Texas police dog who worked with the Mesquite Police Department.

Kuzmo was a five-year-old Dutch Shepherd who served for around four years with his human partner, Officer Crawford, working on the streets admirably and educating the public and community at large during his off-duty hours..

In late April 2021, the Mesquite Police Department was assisting another nearby police department in a car chase following a bank robbery, where two suspects were captured and two hours disappeared on foot into some nearby woods.

Officer Crawford and Kuzmo were brought in to chase after the suspects on foot, where Kuzmo fell in the line of duty.

The AKC Paw of Courage Award was recently given to a Texas police dog.

“The American Kennel Club is greatly saddened by the news of Kuzmo’s passing,” AKC Executive Secretary Gina DiNardo said in a press release. “He was an exemplary police dog for the Mesquite Police Department, making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. We are proud to honro him with an AKC Paw of Courage Award to recognize his hard work and valor in the service of his community.”

Mesquite is a suburb on the eastern side of Dallas, and has a population of around 140,000 people. While none of its five high schools have canine mascots, the sports teams of Mesquite Horn are known as the Jaguars, so that’s cool.

In a press release, the Mesquite Police Department said that “While we mourn the loss of our family member, we appreciate [Kuzmo’s] sacrifice and know that his service has made Mesquite a safer place to live and work.”

Any dog of any breed, including mixed breeds, may be nominated for an AKC Paw of Courage award, which is given to dogs who “make the lives of the people around them safer, easier or simply happier.” Nominations can be made through the AKC website.

Next. Cruella Frappuccino a wickedly sweet treat. dark

In other news, the AKC recently partnered with the US Police Canine Association organization as well, and there may be a detection dog championship later this fall as a result.

Home/News