New Yorkers paws-ed yesterday to honor extraordinary animals that have performed remarkable service for humans.
The ASPCA, at its annual Humane Awards luncheon, gave the Presidential Service Award to Stache, 4, a black Lab who specializes in finding cadavers.
Stache joined owner Jim McCans, an EMS director from Havertown, Pa., in search of two missing GIs in Iraq last year.
They had a brush with death in November when an improvised explosive device detonated directly in front of them in Owesat, Iraq.
One soldier in the unit was severely hurt, and Stache suffered a ruptured eardrum and temporary hearing loss. After an eight-week stint, the two returned home.
“I just couldn’t turn down the opportunity to help our troops over there,” said McCans, with Stache by his side, at the Rainbow Room ceremony.
The winner of Dog of the Year was a service dog, Ilia, 5, a black Lab/golden retriever mix. His owner, Cole Massie, 10, suffers from cerebral palsy.
Cole’s dream is to walk his dog like other kids in his Los Angeles neighborhood.
Cole underwent surgery in July 2008 to loosen muscles in his legs, and Ilia traveled over 7,000 miles on six planes to be by Cole’s side for surgery.
“I was apprehensive to get the dog because I figured he would just be another thing to worry about,” said Nick Massie, Cole’s father. “But now I see how much of a bond they’ve formed. He’s more than a dog. He’s Cole’s best buddy.”
McCans said that Stache actually prefers his wife, Kathryn.
When the three of them settle on the couch, he said, “She gets his head, and I get his butt.”