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Sully awarded American Kennel Club's Paw of Courage award for his service for President Bush

Posted at 8:49 AM, Mar 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-15 10:01:45-04

Former President George H.W. Bush’s service dog Sully was given the 2019 Paw of Courage award by the American Kennel Club.

The AKC said the award recognizes Sully’s loyalty, dedication and distinguished service during the president’s final months of his life.

Sully, the yellow Labrador Retriever, was paired with President Bush in June 2018 to provide assistance and companionship. The Bush family worked with America’s VetDogs to find a dog that would meet the president’s needs.

After the president passed away in November, Sully joined the Walter Reed Bethesda Facility Dog Program as a Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class.

In this new position, Sully will provide interactive care for patients and staff during their road to recovery.

“The devotion and comfort that dogs provide their owners goes unmatched,” said AKC President and CEO Dennis Sprung. “Sully served the late President George H.W. Bush honorably; providing him support and assistance, but even more importantly, love and companionship. The 2019 AKC Paw of Courage gives us an opportunity to pay tribute to the devotion that Sully brought to the late President in the final months of his life.”

Sully will be honored a 2019 AKC Paw of Courage medallion and an engraved plaque in honor of his service to the late president.

Shortly after joining the Bush family, Sully received his own Instagram account, which has grown to more than 278,000 followers. To keep up with Sully’s new role as a facility dog, click here.