Bea, a 5-year-old Labrador retriever who works alongside U.S. Marine Corps and Air National Guard veteran Buddy Niner of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, is the national winner of the AKC Humane Fund Award for Canine Excellence in the Service Dog category.
Bea is the second Warrior Canine Connection dog to earn the national honor, which recognizes dogs whose extraordinary work has made a profound impact on individuals and communities.
“Bea and Buddy are an amazing Veteran Service Dog Team whose partnership has made a remarkable difference,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director of Warrior Canine Connection. “They are a glowing example of the Warrior-Canine Connection in action, and their ACE Award recognition is a well-deserved celebration of the hope, healing and teamwork they exemplify every day.”
Niner enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2007 and deployed to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010.
“I chose the Marine Corps because my father, who I’ve always looked up to, served as a Marine during Vietnam, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” he said.
Niner later joined the Air National Guard because he wanted to become a firefighter and continue serving both my country and my community. Today, he works as a firefighter at Letterkenny Army Depot, with Bea accompanying him to the fire station.
“She supports me whenever I need her, but she’s also become a big part of the entire crew,” he said. “She greets everyone coming on and going off shift, and if someone is having a rough day, she’s right there — snuggling up, giving kisses, or simply being present. She lifts the whole team.”
Niner explained that Bea instinctively senses when he is in distress. She wakes him from night terrors and provides a calming, grounding reassurance.
“I first considered a service dog when I saw that WCC had named a puppy after one of the Marines we lost overseas,” he said. “I reached out to them, saying that the puppy had some big shoes to fill. WCC invited me to their headquarters in Maryland, where I saw firsthand how their service dogs were changing the lives of veterans being matched with them. That experience made a huge impact on me.”
Since being paired through WCC, Niner said Bea has helped him reclaim stability, purpose and joy.
“Bea helps me feel comfortable in situations I would normally avoid, like large crowds or sporting events,” he said. “She’s always there when I need reassurance, grounding me and helping me navigate moments that would otherwise be overwhelming.”
Niner said it means a lot that Bea won the award.
“She truly is an amazing service dog and deserves to be recognized for how incredible she is,” he said. “I’m hopeful that sharing our story will encourage another veteran to explore this opportunity. It could change their life forever, just like it changed mine.”
WCC’s Luke received the AKC ACE Service Dog Award in 2020.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.