A brave and dedicated beagle from Galway, 5-year-old Jessie, has been honoured for her role as a lifesaving search and rescue dog.
Jessie won the Search and Rescue Dog category at the Golden Paw Hero Dog Awards 2026 from the Irish Kennel Club, and is now in the running for the grand prize.
Jessie is a truly pioneering dog whose work with SARDA Ireland has made a nationally significant contribution to lifesaving efforts.
As Ireland’s first scent-specific trailing search and rescue dog and currently the only dog trained to NSARDA standard across Ireland, the UK and the Isle of Man, Jessie has set a new benchmark in search and rescue capability.
Starting training at just five months old, she mastered the challenging task of following a missing person’s unique scent from personal belongings, and has since applied these skills in real operations, including successful rescues in Co. Galway.
Her exceptional focus, determination, and precision, combined with her breed’s remarkable tracking instincts, make her an invaluable asset in both rural and urban searches.
After receiving hundreds of truly heartwarming nominations from across the country, the Irish Kennel Club announced the seven category winners for the Golden Paw Hero Dog Awards 2026, sponsored by Agria.
The awards aim to find and reward Ireland’s most courageous, brave and life changing canines in order to honour the love, companionship and service they give us on a day-to-day basis.
The esteemed panel of judges now has the incredibly ‘ruff’ job of choosing an overall winner, which will be announced at a glittering award ceremony at The Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, on Saturday. The ceremony will be attended by a panel of judges, the canine winners themselves and their owners.
Category winners will receive a category trophy and a cash prize with the overall winner receiving the coveted overall trophy and an additional cash prize.
A Special Honorary Award will also be presented to recognise a dog whose pioneering contributions have left a lasting legacy.
Commenting on the category winners, Fiona Charles, Country Manager at Agria Petinsure Ireland, said, “Everyone at Agria is incredibly proud to sponsor the Golden Paw Hero Dog Awards alongside the Irish Kennel Club.”
“The stories behind this year’s winners are nothing short of inspiring. From life-saving service dogs to loyal companions who change lives in quieter ways, these heroes remind us why dogs hold such a special place in our hearts and homes.”
The Irish Kennel Club thanked Agria for their generous support and everyone who shared their inspiring stories by nominating their remarkable dogs.
“The nominations are a testament to the deep connections between humans and their canine companions, and to the extraordinary ways these four-legged heroes touch our lives every day,” a statement from the group said.
