2025 ANIMALS IN WAR & PEACE CEREMONY - MARCH 11, 2025
The 5th Animals in War & Peace Medal Ceremony recognized and honored seven unsung animal heroes for their accomplishments in both war and peace in Washington, D.C. The Medal Ceremony was hosted by the non-profit Angels Without Wings, Inc./Animals in War & Peace, The Livingood Group, and US War Dogs Association and continues to underscore America’s appreciation of the sacrifices and heroics of our American animals who served our country. Includes interviews with handlers & distinguished guests.
2025 AWP Medalists
2025 AWP Distinguished Service Medal recipients
Mr. Warner: AWP Distinguished Service Medal #8
Mr. Warner - Springfield, MA Police Department (2014-2021), Belgian Malinois/Shepherd mix: Mr. Warner assisted in hundreds of arrests in his 8-year career, including but not limited to over 30 firearms cases, narcotics cases, armed robberies, and assisted multiple law enforcement agencies, including the MA State Police. He is the most decorated K9 in the history of his department, and has received multiple local and national awards throughout his career. During Mr. Warner's final shift, he responded to a call of shots fired involving a police officer. Attempting to escape police, the suspect broke into a nearby home and barricaded himself upstairs. After being deployed into the home, Mr. Warner alerted the officers to the discarded firearm and led officers to the subject in the upstairs closet.
K9 Agir: AWP Distinguished Service Medal #9
K9 Agir - Vineland, NJ Police (2013-2023), German Shepherd: K9 Agir had two key incidents where he saved lives. First, he stopped an individual under a toxic level of PCP who grabbed his handler’s gun during an altercation. Agir’s handler fought hard with this individual to secure his gun when Agir was released. Agir attacked and held the individual until another officer arrived and handcuffed the criminal. Agir also helped officers apprehend a person who charged and stabbed a police officer in the face. While the officer fought with the suspect, Agir was released and apprehended the suspect, holding him while officers subdued and handcuffed the individual.
K9 Mata: AWP Distinguished Service Medal #10
K9 Mata - Constable’s Office, Wood County, TX (2019-2024), Hungarian Shepherd/Malinos mix: K9 Mata was the only police K9 available in his county, and was the primary K9 to respond to assist other agencies across three counties. He assisted in the apprehension of a violent barricaded suspect. Mata was attacked by a pit bull as he tried to apprehend the suspect, but maintained his focus and position until the suspect was in handcuffs, even after the suspect grabbed Mata, choked and kicked him. He has also located small children and elderly persons lost in a large rural area at night. His social skills allowed him to participate in community events educating the public about the vital role of K9s in law enforcement.
2025 AWP medal of Bravery recipients
CAD Spido: AWP Medal of Bravery #20
CAD Spido - US Army, Special Operations Command, Delta Force, Combat Assault Dog (CAD), Shepherd - CAD Spido had numerous deployments overseas and saved the lives of his teammates on numerous occasions. On May 13, 2010, Spido’s unit was supporting an operation near Kunduz, Afghanistan. Upon infill, then assault force received fire. As they cleared a small field, Spido engaged with the enemy and the enemy was captured. As the operation continued, Spido located another enemy personnel who engaged with Spido and fired his automatic rifle, hitting Spido and his handler. Spido succumbed to his wounds, but his actions saved the rest of his teammates, as they would not have had the chance to react had it not been for his selfless act.
MPC Luca X496: AWP Medal of Bravery #21
MPC Luca X496 - US Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) MPC Detachment, Afghanistan (2015-2020); Desoto County Sheriff’s Department, Hernando, MS (2020-2024), Dutch Shepherd: MPC Luca X496 was deployed in support of Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, and participated in over 50 combat missions and found 15 IEDs. With Desoto Sheriff’s Dept., Luca was deployed hundreds of times and assisted SWAT and other local, state and federal agencies. On February 21, 2024, during an encounter with a violent armed felon, Luca was extracting the felon from a car when the suspect started firing at deputies. Luca was struck, and succumbed to his wounds, but his actions saved the lives of the officers on scene.
MWD Mminto V527: AWP Medal of Bravery #22
MWD Mminto V527 - US Army, 95th Military Police Detachment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA (JBLM) (2014-2019), Belgium Malinois: MWD Mminto V527 conducted over 20 U.S. Secret Service missions, 30 VIP sweeps, 3,456 hours of law enforcement to JBLM, and two deployments to Soto Cano Air Base and the Middle East. While conducting a mission in Syria, Mminto tracked down a targeted individual (TI) in a structure. When the TI tried to break-out and run, the TI started shooting at the MWD team. Mminto counter-assaulted and drew the TI’s fire. Mminto was killed, and his handler and other soldiers were injured during the assault, yet they succeeded in taking down the TI.
SOF K9 Conan: AWP Medal of Bravery #10
SOF K9 Conan - US Army, Special Operations Command, Delta Force (2015-2021), Belgian Malinois: While SOF Conan participated in over 50 combat missions during his service, he is best known for the Barisha Raid in Syria on October 27, 2019, which led to the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the then-leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, ISIS) terror organization. Conan chased al-Baghdadi down into a tunnel where the terror leader detonated his suicide vest, killing himself and two children. Conan was injured during the raid due to exposed live electric wires, but recovered and returned to field duty shorty after. On November 25, 2019, President Trump honored SOF Conan at the White House.
Photos
Watch the Live Stream!
Donor Wall 2025
Sponsors/Donors
PLATINUM DONORS $10,000+
GOLD DONORS $5,000+
Timothy Day Family Foundation - Phoenix, AZ
Hydronalix - Green Valley, AZ
SILVER DONORS $2,500+
Lee and Ramona Bass - Ft. Worth, TX
Peterson Family Foundation - Fairfax, VA
Martha and Steven Peterson
Mary & Gary West - Rancho Santa Fe, CA
BRONZE DONORS $1,000+
K9 Hurricane's Heroes - Colorado Springs, CO
Marine Corps League Detachment 1062 - Annandale, VA
MEDVET - Worthington, OH
National Assessment - Athens, GA
Deborah Sergesketter - Greeley, CO
Three Pearls Charities, Inc. - Portland, OR
DONORS
Lisa Roskens - Omaha, NE
Raymond Sims - Sayville, NY
Past & Present Corporate Sponsors
%5B1%5D.png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:370,cg:true){kind=logo}
They had no voice - They had no choice
please join us! donate now
Honoring animal heroes that have served our country on the war and home fronts with Medals of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medals. Please join us and support these great heroes!
All donations are tax deductible.