The PDSA Order of Merit is known as the animals’ OBE. It recognises animals that display outstanding devotion to their owner or wider society, above and beyond normal companionship – and represents an exceptional example of the special relationship between animals and humans.
The inaugural award, in 2014, recognised horses and dogs serving with the Metropolitan Police.
Recipients could include pets or service animals, such as those in the police force, assistance dogs, support dogs or medical detection dogs. By creating the PDSA Order of Merit, we can ensure that all extraordinary animal contributions to society can now be formally recognised and honoured, however and wherever they occur.
Since 2014, the PDSA Order of Merit has honoured animals who have gone above and beyond normal companionship, awarding animals who enrich our lives and make an extraordinary contribution to society. The unbreakable bond between people and animals is demonstrated through the unique emotional connections that form, often in challenging and high-pressure situations. To date, we have awarded the PDSA Order of Merit to 55 animals, including 13 horses and 42 dogs.
Join us as we celebrate their incredible stories:
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Military Working Horse Lord Firebrand
King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery
Date of award: 2 October 2024
'For a ten-year career of distinguished service as a Military Working Horse with the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.'
Read more about Lord Firebrand, also known as Yogi
Police Horse Grace
Metropolitan Police
Date of award: 17 July 2019
'For an exemplary career of tireless devotion and service to society. 2004-2019.'
Police Horse Keston (posthumous)
Metropolitan Police
Date of award: 17 July 2019
'For an exemplary career of tireless devotion and service to society. 2007-2019.'
Read more about Grace and Keston
Metropolitan Police: London Riots
Bow Street Stables
Police Horse no.100 Defender
Police Horse no.97 Judge
Police Horse no.106 Kensington (posthumous)
Police Horse no.81 Livingstone
Kings Cross Stables
Police Horse no.90 Boris
Police Horse no.109 Laurel
Police Horse no.62 General
Police Horse no.16 Deats
Great Scotland Yard Stables
Police Horse no.46 Hector (posthumous)
Police Horse no.96 Intrepid
Date of award: 17 June 2014
‘For their actions during the 2011 London riots.’
Yoyo
B.W.Y Canine Ltd
Date of award: 2 October 2024
‘For a ten-year career of distinguished service as a tobacco detection dog working with Trading Standards across the UK.’
Scamp
B.W.Y Canine Ltd
Date of award: 2 October 2024
‘For a ten-year career of distinguished service as a tobacco detection dog working with Trading Standards across the UK.’
Barra
K9 Search and Recovery Scotland
Date of award: awarded posthumously in July 2024 for service between 2011 - 2022
‘For outstanding devotion to duty and service to society as a Search and Recovery dog across the UK.’
PD Eva
Metropolitan Police Service
Date of award: 24 November 2023
‘For outstanding devotion to duty as an Urban Search and Rescue Dog with the Metropolitan Police Service during the Grenfell Tower fire.’
PD Etta
Metropolitan Police Service
Date of award: 24 November 2023
‘For outstanding devotion to duty as an Urban Search and Rescue Dog with the Metropolitan Police Service during the Grenfell Tower fire.’
PD Vespa
Metropolitan Police Service
Date of award: 24 November 2023
‘For outstanding devotion to duty as an Urban Search and Rescue Dog with the Metropolitan Police Service during the Grenfell Tower fire.’
PD Rio
Metropolitan Police Service
Date of award: 24 November 2023
‘For outstanding devotion to duty as an Urban Search and Rescue Dog with the Metropolitan Police Service during the Grenfell Tower fire.’
PD Rambo
Metropolitan Police Service
Date of award: 24 November 2023
‘For outstanding devotion to duty as a Victim Recovery Dog with the Metropolitan Police Service during the Grenfell Tower fire.’
PD Freddie
Metropolitan Police Service
Date of award: 24 November 2023
‘For outstanding devotion to duty as a Victim Recovery Dog with the Metropolitan Police Service during the Grenfell Tower fire.’
PD Lottie
Metropolitan Police Service
Date of award: 24 November 2023
‘For outstanding devotion to duty as a Victim Recovery Dog with the Metropolitan Police Service during the Grenfell Tower fire.’
PD Ted
Metropolitan Police Service
Date of award: 24 November 2023
‘For outstanding devotion to duty as a Victim Recovery Dog with the Metropolitan Police Service during the Grenfell Tower fire.’
Fire Investigation Dog Reqs
British Fire Service
Date of award: 23 November 2023
'For an 11-year career of distinguished service with Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, 2012-2023.'
Police Dog (PD) Doky
National Police Department of the Balearic Islands
Date of award: awarded posthumously for service between 2009 – 2019
'For a distinguished career and outstanding devotion to duty with the National Police Department of the Balearic Islands, 2009-2019.'
Clive
Medical Detection Dog
Date of award: 14 July 2022
'For life-changing devotion to his owner, Michelle Sutherland, as a Medical Detection Dog and a constant companion.'
Police Dog (PD) Dexter
Metropolitan Police Dog
Date of award: 14 July 2022
'For outstanding devotion to duty as a Wellbeing Dog with the Metropolitan Police Service.'
Jerry
Service Dogs UK
Date of award: 14 July 2022
'For life-changing devotion to his owner, Mark Lanchbery, as a PTSD Assistance Dog and for his work as a veteran mentor with Service Dogs UK.'
Oliver
Justice Support Dogs International
Date of award: 14 July 2022
'For devotion to duty and service to society, as an Assistance Dog providing comfort and support to vulnerable victims throughout the Criminal Justice System.'
Zak
Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs
Date of award: 14 July 2022
'For an 11-year career of distinguished service with Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs, 2009- 2020.'
Skye
Mountain Search and Rescue Dog
Date of award: 31 March 2022
'For an 11-year career of distinguished service with Mountain Search and Rescue Teams in the Lake District, 2009-2020'
AJ
Royal Air Force Police Dog
Date of award: 11 August 2021
‘For a career of exemplary service to society with Number 4 RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron, 2014-2019.’
Alfie
Royal Air Force Police Dog
Date of award: 11 August 2021
‘For a career of exemplary service to society with Number 4 RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron, 2011-2017.’
Max
Date of award: 19 February 2021
‘For providing comfort and support to thousands of people worldwide and promoting the positive contribution animals make to human lives.’
Charlie
Dorset Search Dogs
Date of award: 15 October 2019
'For ten years of tireless service to society, from 2005 to 2015, with Dorset Search Dogs and other partner rescue services.'
Special Operations Canine, Hurricane
US Secret Service
Date of award: 4 October 2019
'For tireless devotion and service to society, protecting the President of the United States, 22 October 2014'
PD Bruno
British Transport Police Explosive Search Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Bruno received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the British Transport Police Explosive Search Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attack on Westminster Bridge, 22 March 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attack on Westminster Bridge, 22 March 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
PD Jax
British Transport Police General Purpose Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Jax received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the British Transport Police General Purpose Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attack on Westminster Bridge, 22 March 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
PD Marci
British Transport Police General Purpose Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Marci received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the British Transport Police General Purpose Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attack on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
PD Bobby
British Transport Explosive Search Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Bobby received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the British Transport Police Explosive Search Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attack on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
PD Delta
Metropolitan Police Firearms Support Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Delta received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the Metropolitan Police Firearms Support Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attack on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
PD Dave
Metropolitan Police Explosive Detection Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Dave received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the Metropolitan Police Explosive Detection Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attack on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
PD Kai
Metropolitan Police Explosive Detection Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Kai received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the Metropolitan Police Explosive Detection Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attacks on London: Westminster Bridge, 22 March 2017, London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attacks on Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
Pal
Medical Detection Dog
Date of award: 17 April 2019
'For life-changing devotion to his owner, Claire Pearson, as a Medical Detection Dog and a constant companion'
Police Dog Mojo
British Transport Police Dog
Date of award: 26 October 2018
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the Manchester Arena terror attack, 22 May 2017.'
Cracker (Lucy)
Fire Service Investigation Dog Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
Date of award: 26 October 2018
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the Manchester Arena terror attack, 22 May 2017.'
Echo
Search and Rescue dog for Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and UK Fire Service Overseas Response Team.
Date of award: 26 October 2018
'For outstanding devotion to duty while deployed with the UK Fire Service Overseas Response Team in Haiti, following the devastating earthquake of 2010'
Bryn
Search and rescue dog for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and UK’s International Search and Rescue Team
Date of award: 16 March 2017
‘For outstanding devotion to duty on behalf of UK International Search and Rescue, 2006 – 2016.’
Police Dog Sweep
Detection Dog for Lothian and Borders Police and Police Scotland
Date of award: 24 February 2017
‘For outstanding devotion to duty in his role as the UK’s only Poison Detection Dog.’
Sabakka (Sabby)
Labrador
Date of award: 24 February 2017
‘For touching the lives of many vulnerable adults in her role as an Occupational Therapy Dog.’
Molly
Springer Spaniel
Assistance Dog
Date of Award: 25 October 2016
“For being a loyal and constant companion and enriching the life of her owner.”
Whizz
Newfoundland
Royal Navy Rescue, Severn Area Rescue Association and Newfound Friends
Date of Award (Posthumous): 22 March 2016
“For lifesaving devotion and outstanding companionship”
Jake
Springer Spaniel
Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police
Date of Award (Posthumous): 29 April 2015
"For outstanding devotion to duty on behalf of Warwickshire and West Mercia Police 2004-2014"
Linpol Luke (Obi)
German Shepherd
Metropolitan Police Service Dog Support Unit
Date of Award: 17 June 2014
Police Dog Linpol Luke (Obi) received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the Metropolitan Police Dogs that served during the London riots in 2011.
Thank you for your interest in the PDSA Animal Awards Programme.
Unfortunately, the Animal Awards Programme is currently closed for nominations.
Please do keep checking back for future updates.