The American Humane announced the winning dog for its annual Hero Dog Award — and the working pet has a unique story. 

The Hero Dog Awards announced the finalists for the award as a way to shed light on these remarkable animals’ efforts in a variety of areas. 

The organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1877 and is the country’s first national humane organization committed to animals. 

DOGS WHO COMFORT SICK CHILDREN, LEAP OUT OF HELICOPTERS ARE NOMINATED FOR AMERICAN HUMANE AWARD

The annual nationwide competition identifies America’s top dogs in five key categories: military dogs; law enforcement and first responder dogs; service and guide or hearing dogs; therapy dogs; and emerging hero and shelter dogs. 

Beginning in April, hundreds of dog owners across the country submitted the names of their pets for consideration for “Hero Dog.”

This year, the winner of the Hero Dog Award is Bo, a law enforcement and first responder dog.

He’s an 18-month-old bloodhound male from Gastonia, North Carolina, who works with the Gastonia Police Department. 

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Though still young, Bo has been saving lives and solving crimes since he was just eight months old, according to the American Humane. 

He started his career in law enforcement in 2023 after the police department handpicked him from a litter of puppies — and Bo went home with Sgt. David Rowland for further training. 

Bo and Sgt. David Rowland, pictured, have been partners since Bo was a puppy.  (American Humane)

After training the dog and working on bonding, Rowland said his family took a keen liking to the dog. 

WINNER, WINNER! AMERICAN HUMANE ANNOUNCES ITS 2023 HERO DOG AWARD RECIPIENT

The American Humane noted that a bloodhound breed was new for the Gastonia Police Department, as it’s only ever had German shepherds and other classic law enforcement breeds prior to this. 

Bo is known for his unique personality. He’s easily frightened by Halloween decorations — but has been called a gentle giant. 

Bo as a puppy. He was handpicked as a young dog for his current role.  (American Humane)

Bo is able to approach and comfort the people he tracks down — making him a secret weapon for the department.

Since he began working, Bo has tracked down a missing 11-year-old child with autism, plus a 7-year-old kidnapping victim — and he’s found many lost senior citizens as well. 

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Rowland told Fox News Digital that honoring Bo with the Hero Dog Award “means everything” to him and the Gastonia Police Department. 

Bo of North Carolina was named the 2024 Hero Dog by American Humane for his outstanding work in the community.  (American Humane)

“All the hard work we’ve put in together pays off every time he brings a missing loved one back into the arms of their family,” he said. 

He added, “This national recognition for Bo will surely bring comfort to the community we serve, showing them that Bo’s skills are here to help — whether it’s reuniting families or delivering justice to victims.”

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American Humane president and CEO Robin Ganzert, PhD, told Fox News Digital that Bo “has accomplished more in his young life than many do in their entire careers.”

American Humane announced the Hero Dog Award for 2024. The honor has gone to a law enforcement dog who makes a difference in his community.  (American Humane)

“Bo goes above and beyond to track down missing people and offer them love, comfort and kisses during their time of need,” she added. 

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The finalist dogs from each category will be honored at a gala in Palm Beach, Florida, in November — where the animals will walk, sniff and run down a red carpet. 

Six years after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, 90-year-old Zelik (Zel) Bocknek refuses to slow down — and he believes his active lifestyle is key to keeping his symptoms at bay.

Bocknek, a retired business owner in Toronto, Ontario, was 84 when he began experiencing minor memory slips, such as forgetting the day of the week and not knowing the answers to basic questions.

After being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s, he was offered the opportunity to join a clinical trial studying an experimental dementia drug.

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Since the trial ended 18 months ago, Bocknek has continued taking the medication and still enjoys his favorite activities, including downhill skiing, painting and volunteering at the local zoo.

“You have to keep yourself active, both physically and mentally,” Bocknek told Fox News Digital in an interview. “It’s important to stay busy.”

“Last year was the first time in over 70 years that I didn’t ski because it was such a mild winter,” he said. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this year will be better.”

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Bocknek also regularly works out at the gym to stay in prime skiing shape, he and his wife, Gail Bocknek, told Fox News Digital during an interview.

His exercises of choice are stretch classes and strength training with weights.

Painting has become another passion project. Since starting with paint-by-numbers projects, Bocknek has cultivated his skills and now paints complex works of art for his six grandchildren to display in their bedrooms.

“I’m now on my 75th painting,” he said.

Zail Bocknek is pictured with his wife, Gail. “You have to keep yourself active, both physically and mentally,” Bocknek told Fox News Digital in an interview. “It’s important to stay busy.” (Zelik Bocknek)

Volunteering is also part of his regular routine — Bocknek works as a greeter at the Toronto Zoo, where he welcomes and guides visitors, and also puts in hours at a local hospital.

He also regularly plays bridge with three different groups throughout the week.

Bockneck has not experienced any additional cognitive decline, which he attributes to his busy schedule.

“I am what I am today because I have been very active throughout my life, physically and mentally.”

“I am what I am today because I have been very active throughout my life, physically and mentally,” he said. 

“And it’s important to be able to laugh — a sense of humor gets you through a lot of difficult times.” 

Fighting Alzheimer’s with exercise

Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, which preserves the health of neurons, according to Dr. Gail Saltz, associate professor of psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine.

“This includes cognitive functions, memory functions and even centers related to mood,” Saltz, who has not treated Bocknek, told Fox News Digital.

“To be clear, this will not stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, but it may slow its cognitive effect.”

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Beyond cognition, exercise also helps to improve patients’ physical health, including their cardiovascular system, flexibility and muscular systems, Saltz noted.

“Improving or preventing the decline of these body systems also helps the Alzheimer’s patient by allowing them to be continued participants in daily grooming, walking, going to appointments, physically feeling better and extending life,” she added.

Spending time outdoors in the sunshine also increases serotonin, which can be beneficial for Alzheimer’s patients, an expert noted. (Zelik Bocknek)

Physical activity can also help to prevent nighttime wandering, a common danger among Alzheimer’s patients due to dysfunction in their circadian rhythms, according to Sherri Snelling, a gerontologist and spokesperson for Comfort Keepers in California.

“Keeping an Alzheimer’s adult physically active during the day will help to create more natural exhaustion so they can achieve better sleep during the night,” Snelling, who also has not treated Bocknek, told Fox News Digital.

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Spending time outdoors in the sunshine also increases serotonin, the expert noted, which can help to decrease agitation or episodes of “sundowning,” which is when patients have outbursts, delusions and paranoia during dusk.

Any activity that increases heart rate can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, the experts agreed.

“Any movement releases endorphins, which are ‘feel-good’ hormones and natural pain relievers,” Snelling said.

“I’m relaxed and going on with my life as best I can, for as long as I can.”

Snelling recommended several specific activities that are most beneficial for dementia patients.

“Walking is great – and doing it with help is important, because balance issues may cause a loved one to fall,” she said.

Yoga or tai chi are also recommended for older adults with Alzheimer’s.

Bocknek has cultivated his painting skills and now creates complex works of art for his six grandchildren to display in their bedrooms. One of his paintings is displayed here. (Zelik Bocknek)

“Swimming or water aerobics are also wonderful for older adults – the natural resistance of the water is great for muscle strength, and the tactile feel of the water is soothing to AD adults,” Snelling said, adding that it’s important for a companion or caregiver to be present for safety.

Making music is also helpful, she said, as musical memory is retained the longest in an Alzheimer’s brain.

Staying social

Socialization and interaction can also help to slow dementia-related decline, according to Snelling. 

“It has been reported that we can prevent cognitive decline and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s if we keep mentally active and frequently participate in social activities,” she told Fox News Digital. 

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This is another reason that Snelling is a proponent of in-home care. 

“While they are able to do so, it’s important for Alzheimer’s patients to remain at home, in familiar surroundings,” she said. 

Another of Bocknek’s paintings is pictured here. “I’m now on my 75th painting,” he told Fox News Digital. (Zelik Bocknek)

Alzheimer’s cases in the U.S. are projected to rise from six million to 13 million by 2050.

To others who may be experiencing cognitive symptoms, Bocknek says it’s important to take steps to get a diagnosis as soon as possible.

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“As soon as you feel there’s any sort of problem with your memory or your brain, go to get tested,” he advised.

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When asked about whether he’s concerned about worsening symptoms, Bocknek said, “I’m not worried about it.”

“I’m relaxed and going on with my life as best I can, for as long as I can.”

Feeling sleepy during the day could signal a more serious issue for some groups.

A new study published in the journal Neurology revealed a possible connection between daytime sleepiness in older people and dementia risk.

People who lack enthusiasm for activities and feel sleepy during the day were found to have a higher risk of developing a condition called motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR).

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MCR can cause people to walk at slower speeds and experience memory issues – and it can occur before dementia develops.

The study, led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, included 445 participants averaging 76 years of age who did not have dementia. 

Participants were asked about memory issues and walked on treadmills to assess their walking speeds. This was repeated once a year for an average of three years.

The group also completed a sleep assessment to gauge sleeping problems, patterns and medications.

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The researchers also tracked how often people had trouble staying awake while driving, eating or being social, as well as their issues maintaining enthusiasm for daily tasks.

At the start, 42 people had MCR, while another 36 developed the condition during the study.

After adjusting for factors like age, depression and other health conditions, researchers found that people with a lack of enthusiasm and daytime sleepiness were more than three times as likely to develop MCR.

MCR can cause people to walk at slow speeds and have memory issues. It can occur before dementia develops. (iStock)

These findings “emphasize the need for screening for sleep issues,” study author Victoire Leroy, MD, PhD, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, wrote in a press release.

“There’s a potential that people could get help with their sleep issues and prevent cognitive decline later in life.”

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“More research needs to be done to look at the relationship between sleep issues and cognitive decline and the role played by motoric cognitive risk syndrome,” Leroy added.

The study did have some limitations, the researchers noted. 

It did not prove that sleep-related issues cause MCR, but only showed an association.

Participants also self-reported their own sleep information, which left some room for bias.

Sleep-related daytime impairment remained a significant risk factor for MCR even after adjusting for depression. (iStock)

Sleep expert Dr. Wendy Troxel, RAND Corporation senior behavioral specialist and licensed clinical psychologist in Utah, commented on the study in a conversation with Fox News Digital.

“There’s a potential that people could get help with their sleep issues and prevent cognitive decline later in life.”

As sleep problems and depression are “highly related,” it’s “important to disentangle whether their sleep problems uniquely contribute to MCR, over and above the effects of depression,” said Troxel, who was not involved in the study.

“Results showed that people with poor sleep quality had a higher chance of developing MCR, but this link was no longer significant when accounting for depression,” she added.

One study limitation is that participants self-reported their own sleep information, the researchers added. (iStock)

Sleep-related daytime impairment remained a significant risk factor for MCR even after adjusting for depression, according to Troxel.

“These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that promoting sleep health may be an important strategy to reduce the risk of dementia and emphasize the need for better screening and diagnosis for sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnea,” she said. 

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These disorders are “prevalent and treatable” in both men and women, Troxel noted, but they remain “under-diagnosed and under-treated.”

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The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging.

Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for comment.