Crufts - The Real Hero - A Newfoundland Water Rescue Dog

"A water rescue dog named Bob has been crowned the nation's most heroic canine, alongside his team of lifesaving Newfoundlands who work together to prevent suicides. Pete Lewin, from Leicester, won The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award at Crufts in Birmingham yesterday, after being nominated as a finalist alongside four other hero dogs. Pete, who himself is a long-standing, front-line paramedic for the East Midlands Ambulance Service, runs a non-profit organisation that supports emergency services and military veterans, and those struggling with their mental health. Speaking about the win, Pete said: 'Tonight has been incredible. I can't put into words how amazing it is. I never expected all of this, I'm just a paramedic who helps people by swimming with my dogs.'

He continued: 'The work we do is for the emergency services staff, veterans, disabled children with different needs. 'Getting this award is just amazing - not just for me but the whole team and the breed, it's quite unique what these Newfoundlands do.' Proud Pete and his deserving team of Newfoundlands were presented with their award and a cheque for £5,000 towards a dog charity of their choice by actress and award ambassador, Sally Phillips. The four other finalists also received £1,000 for their chosen dog charity for making it to the prestigious final. Sally Phillips, the award's ambassador, said of the winner: 'These dogs are life-savers, they are heroes, and they are all winners. 'Well done to Pete and the Newfies, what they do is very very touching. It's wonderful to recognise the relationships we have with our dogs through this award. The five dogs who were shortlisted were selected by a panel of judges from The Kennel Club, where they were chosen for their remarkable lifesaving capabilities. Alongside Bob the Newfoundland was firefighting dog Simba, therapy dog Ruby, Guide Dog Milo and rescue dog Chewie. Vanessa McAlpine, Crufts Show Manager, commented: 'We congratulate the team of Newfoundlands and Pete on winning this year’s Hero Dog Award. What they do is inspirational. There wasn’t a dry eye in the arena!' 'All the finalists perfectly demonstrated their incredible bond they have and the companionship they provide to their owners, and the wider contribution dogs can make to society. "All the dogs and owners have transformed each other's lives for the better and we thank them all for sharing their deeply personal stories with us all. They are all winners.'"

The Newfoundland - From The AKC Archives

American Kennel Club Library & Archives (May 27, 2021) "Newfoundland puppy photographed by Melvin Sokolsky in 1963. Fashion photographer Sokolsky was actually an exhibitor of Newfies, including 165-pound American-Bermudian-Canadian Champion Newton, who broke all-time win records of any Newfoundland. This pup however was sent to Morocco by private jet alongside two siblings for the King Hassan II. The king's brother had spotted another Sokolsky Newf and sold the royal family - who were breeders of Arabian horses - on the breed's strong bones, musculature, and proud bearing. The royals were right to go to Little Bear Kennels, whose proprieters Vadim and Margaret Booth Chern had produced over 50 champs and had become pivotal figures in the breed's mid-century expansion in American popularity and show ring success since their 1949 founding. By 1963, there were more Newfs at Little Bear Kennels than the whole of their native country. Mrs. Chern authored "The Complete Newfoundland," which pinpointed many milestones in breed history. The Cherns had 1,000 pounds of whale meat shipped in from Iceland twice a month. The pup was also paired in the same photo shoot with and another future movie star Ali McGraw, who served as Sokolsky's stylist for six years before getting into movies. She claimed the image was her first modeling gig and "Dog World" her first magazine cover -- though we have a run of that specific magazine and can't locate such glamour, at least of the human variety."

One Who Knew, Understood, and Cared

May the blessed Mary of the Angels wrap you in her cloak of peace.

Are Newfies Stubborn?

Perhaps, at times.