All too often, risk management focuses on the negative events that can happen in life and in business. This is rarely more apparent than in our year in review issue, which is essentially a laundry list of bad news. So, in an effort to end this issue on a more upbeat note, we present to you these heroic dogs. Each is a winner of a 2018 American Humane Hero Dog Award, created by American Humane to recognize dogs who do extraordinary things. Given their ability to make bad situations better, you might even consider them honorary risk managers. All dogs may be good dogs, but this group has the hardware to prove it.

K-9 FLASH

Law Enforcement/Arson Dog of the Year

K-9 Flash was the first Narcotics K-9 in the Yakima Police Department in Washington. She had more than 2,200 narcotics-related finds and seizures in her career before retiring to become an advocate for retired police and military dogs as part of Project K-9 Hero.

SGT. FIELDY

Military Dog of the Year

Sgt. Fieldy served in the U.S. Marine Corps as part of a special unit tasked with combating improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan. During multiple deployments, he saved countless lives with his IED detection skills and was awarded with the K-9 Medal of Courage in 2016 for his bravery in the field.

FRANCES

Guide/Hearing Dog of the Year

In addition to serving as a guide dog for her blind owner, Frances helps educate children as part of a program in which students interact with the blind/visually impaired community to help diminish stereotypes associated with blindness. …