Iowa Animal Hall of Fame

Nominate today for Iowa Animal Hall of Fame!
Do you have an exceptional patient?  Maybe it’s a hard-working K9, a service dog or an ordinary pet doing extraordinary things. Whether the animal is saving lives, lending sight or hearing to a human companion or just welcoming your client home with extra love, we want to hear about it!

The Iowa Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) honors animals and their owners who demonstrate an exceptional human-animal bond through the Iowa Animal Hall of Fame. This program recognizes animals that, through their bravery, companionship, or professional contributions, have made a difference in their community and enriched human lives.

The goals of the Iowa Animal Hall of Fame are:

• To honor the outstanding contributions our animal companions, make to human lives.
• To heighten public awareness of the human-animal bond.
• To allow the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association members to share in celebrating their patients’ accomplishments by serving as nominators.

Since 1998, 73 dogs, 3 horses, 1 cat and 1 cow have been inducted into the Iowa Animal Hall of Fame in one of three categories: Companion, Professional or Hero. Any IVMA member (veterinarian or technician) may nominate an animal to the Iowa Animal Hall of Fame.  Winners are chosen by a selection committee comprised of IVMA leadership and sponsor representatives.

The Iowa Animal Hall of Fame is sponsored by the IVMA and Hill's Pet Nutrition.

Nominate for the Iowa Animal Hall of Fame here.

The deadline for nominations is January 15, 2027.

2026 Iowa Hall of Fame Inductees

Companion Category
 
The winner of the Companion Category in the Iowa Animal Hall of Fame is Bozi, a one-year-old Belgian Malinois owned by Monticello Chief of Police, Officer Britt Smith. Bozi was nominated by Dr. Cole Burrack of the Monticello Veterinary Clinic. Bozi’s story is a wonderful example of resilience, second chances, and the powerful bond between people and animals. Adopted from Animal Welfare Friends in Monticello, Bozi was given an opportunity few dogs receive—the chance to serve his community.
 
With dedication and care, Bozi entered training to become a drug detection dog. Throughout the process, he showed an impressive work ethic and a strong desire to do his job well. While he ultimately did not complete the program, his journey is not one of failure, but of commitment, patience, and growth. Not every hero’s path looks the same, and Bozi’s value was never defined by a single role. Today, he stands as a reminder that companionship, loyalty, and heart matter just as much as titles or outcomes.
 
Congratulations to Bozi and Officer Smith, and a special thank you to Dr. Burrack for recognizing and celebrating such an extraordinary companion.
 
Professional Category
 
The Professional category inductee is   Welles, a five-year-old Labrador Retriever who serves as an Electronic Storage Detection K9 with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation’s Cyber Crime Bureau. Welles is handled by Special Agent Hai Tran of Waukee. In her second winning nomination this year, Welles was nominated by Dr. Sarah Lagan of Sullivan Family Pet Hospital.

As cases of child exploitation and cybercrime continue to rise, Iowa created the DCI Cyber Crime Bureau to investigate crimes involving digital devices. Alongside highly trained agents, there is one team member with a very different skill set—and an exceptional nose. That team member is Agent Welles.

Welles is trained to locate hidden electronic devices such as cell phones, hard drives, USB drives, and SIM cards—items often used to store evidence in cybercrimes involving children. These devices can easily be missed by human investigators, but when Welles is part of a search, recovery rates increase dramatically. Since arriving in late 2022, Welles and Special Agent Tran have assisted with more than 250 search warrants tied to child sexual abuse and other serious cybercrimes.

Beyond his detection work, Welles plays another vital role. He provides emotional support to child victims during interviews and court proceedings, helping reduce stress and anxiety during incredibly difficult moments. He also supports the agents themselves, who face emotional strain working these cases. According to Agent Tran, Welles is an exceptional partner, steady, intuitive, and always ready to help. Welles’ work extends beyond Iowa. He has assisted local, state, and federal agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security, contributing to high-profile cases that have removed dangerous offenders from communities and helped protect vulnerable children.

Despite the serious nature of his job, Welles still gets to be a dog. He trains regularly, loves a good game of fetch, enjoys Iowa’s changing seasons, and, like any great partner, balances hard work with well-earned playtime. In 2025, Welles also took on a new role as a training dog, helping prepare the next generation of electronic detection K9s. Whether he’s locating critical evidence, comforting a child, supporting his fellow officers, or simply being part of his family, Agent Welles exemplifies professionalism, compassion, and service. He is a powerful example of the human-animal bond in action—and a true protector of Iowa’s children.

For all these reasons, it is our honor to recognize Welles with the Iowa Animal Hall of Fame Professional Award.
 
Hero Category
 
The inductee in the Hero Category is Bucky, a Labrador Retriever owned by Marc Helm of Prole, as the winner in the Hero Category. Bucky was nominated by Dr. Sarah Lagan of Sullivan Family Pet Hospital, who has cared for him since he was a young dog.

Dr. Lagan shared with us a letter that Marc’s wife wrote shortly after Bucky joined their family as a service dog.  In the letter she perfectly captures why Bucky is so deserving of this honor - describing Bucky’s addition to their family as “life-altering.”  Before Bucky, Marc had spent years fighting the effects of PTSD and a traumatic brain injury following his military service in Afghanistan. He tried countless therapies, each one helping just enough to keep him going. But none of them changed his life the way Bucky did.
 
With Bucky by his side, Marc began to smile again. He laughed. He slept through the night for the first time in years. He felt comfortable going out in public and reconnecting with his family. Even his posture changed. Bucky brought back the man his family knew and loved. Bucky’s role wasn’t dramatic or flashy. He didn’t pull anyone from danger. Instead, he did something far more powerful. He was always there—watching, nudging, comforting, and grounding Marc during moments of anxiety or nightmares. Through his steady presence, Bucky helped heal wounds that once felt permanent.

Today, Bucky continues to be a source of comfort, connection, and joy—not just for Marc, but for his entire family. His impact is a reminder of the profound difference animals can make in our lives, especially when we need them most. Congratulations to Bucky, to Marc and his family, and to Dr. Lagan for bringing this incredible story forward. Bucky is truly a hero.