Over the past three years of this column, I have had the privilege of interviewing hundreds of individuals who have had some connection to Lycoming County government. Though everyone is interesting in their own way, far and away the most intriguing character is one of the four-legged variety. His name is Jedi, and he is a wonderful labrador/golden retriever crossbreed who serves as the Facility Dog with the Lycoming County Courts. This canine companion to the courts is one of 360 other dogs throughout the United States selected to participate in the American Hero Dog Award program.

The American Humane Hero Dog Awards® is an annual campaign that recognizes heroes on both ends of the leash. The general public gets to vote online for their favorite dog in each of the seven categories each day up to May 2nd. The categories are Law Enforcement/Arson Dogs, Search & Rescue Dogs, Military Dogs (often used when searching for explosives), Guide/Hearing Dogs, Service Dogs (which help in ADA areas other than sight and sound), Shelter Dogs (those that have survived incredible odds), and Therapy Dogs.

Jedi falls into this last category. Therapy dogs are Credentialed Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) dogs, which are part of a therapeutic plan to aid with physical, social, emotional and cognitive challenges for persons other than the dog’s owner/handler. Therapy dogs work to enhance the lives of people in need, visiting schools, hospitals, veteran centers, and in Jedi’s case, the courtroom.

Jedi is a trained service dog with a narrow skill set that fits a wide variety of situations. The trauma of children that need to testify or other victims of crimes that must testify against their accused perpetrators can produce enormous stress and anxiety. Jedi sits with the children as they are waiting for their parents who are in a hearing, he accompanies the children into Chambers when they have to speak with the Judge, he plays games with the children while they are waiting for their hearings, and he sits quietly in the witness box with witnesses while they are testifying in a hearing. Jedi stays busy being utilized in the dependency system, the delinquency system, the family law (custody) system and in the criminal system.

But the clock is ticking to make your vote count. Go to the website, http://www.herodogawards.org, and click on the “Vote Now” heading, and type in the word “Jedi” and it will go to his page. Clicking on this will then allow you to vote for him. Voters must be US residents and at least 18 years of age.

At midnight on May 2nd, the vote will be closed, and the top three vote-getters for each of the seven categories will then be eligible for the second round of voting that will begin on May 23rd. This will conclude on July 18th, with a winner declared in each of the seven categories. Starting on August 1st and running to September 9th, these seven will be voted on for the nation’s top dog.

The seven lucky finalists and their human companions will travel to Hollywood for the star-studded awards gala, which will be broadcast nationwide on the Hallmark Channel this fall. Each of the seven courageous canines will be featured, but only one dog will be awarded the 2019 American Hero Dog title.

John Grogan, author of Marley & Me, a best-selling book about the family dog, wrote, “It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.” Jedi embodies that for the entire county, and we can show our appreciation — go to

http://www.herodogawards.org and cast your vote today — and tomorrow — and right up to May 2nd.