The ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) recently announced the recipients for its 2026 Humane Awards. These honor heroes, both human and animal, who have made extraordinary contributions to animal welfare and improve the lives of those around them.
This year’s honorees include miniature therapy horses Aiden and Pearl, Kid of the Year Eloise “Lulu” Peck, farm animal welfare advocate Craig Watts, New York City Police Department Mounted Unit’s Detective Kyle McLaughlin, Dog of the Year Canyon and Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment (C-RAD). Their efforts include search-and-rescue deployment in the harshest conditions; exposing harmful animal welfare concerns within the poultry industry; keeping our communities safe; spreading compassion and kindness; and touching the lives of individuals struggling with grief, crisis and terminal illness.
Remarkable people and animals
The 2026 ASPCA Humane Awards will recognize these powerful contributions at its annual luncheon Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026 at The Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York.
“Animals show us extraordinary courage, resilience and an incredible capacity to trust and connect,” said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA president and CEO. “The ASPCA Humane Awards celebrate remarkable animals whose stories inspire us and remind us why protecting and caring for animals matters so deeply.”
The ASPCA selected winners in six categories. These are the ASPCA Equine Welfare Award, ASPCA Kid of the Year, ASPCA Farm Animal Welfare Award, ASPCA Public Service Award, ASPCA Dog of the Year and the ASPCA Henry Bergh Award, named after the ASPCA’s founder. The latter award goes to an individual or institution exhibiting exceptional leadership, compassion and commitment to animal welfare.
This year’s valiant honorees include:
ASPCA Equine Welfare Award—Aiden and Pearl
For more than a decade, Aiden (a 16-year-old gelding) and Pearl (an 18-year-old mare) have brought comfort, connection and joy to thousands across New York as HorseAbility’s beloved miniature therapy horses. HorseAbility is a nonprofit that improves the lives of individuals with special needs through equine-assisted services.
This calm, adaptable pair travels together to hospitals, nursing homes, schools and rehabilitation centers. They provide therapeutic interactions for individuals facing physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. Confidently navigating elevators, wheelchairs and medical equipment, Aiden and Pearl demonstrate the profound impact horses have on human healing, companionship and emotional well-being.
ASPCA Kid of the Year—Eloise Peck
Eloise “Lulu” Peck, named after the beloved character from “Eloise at the Plaza,” touched everyone around her with an extraordinary love for animals, compassion and an open heart. She delighted in befriending every creature she met. That spirit was best captured by her pre-camp lemonade stand sign: “Lemonade is $5. Dogs Drink Free.”
At just 8 years old, Peck was one of the young lives lost in the devastating 2025 floods near Camp Mystic in Texas. To honor her legacy, her family established the Living for Lulu Foundation. Their hope is to continue her mission of inspiring kindness and caring for animals in need.
ASPCA Farm Animal Welfare Award—Craig Watts
Craig Watts is a leading advocate for farm animal welfare and contract poultry farmers. A former contract chicken grower for Perdue, he partnered with Compassion in World Farming USA in 2014 to expose industry practices and animal welfare concerns. This resulted in national coverage in The New York Times and more.
Today, Watts serves as contract grower transition program director for the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project (SRAP). He helps farmers transition away from industrial animal agriculture and toward sustainable, humane alternatives. Watts lives with his wife and three children, two dogs, five goats and several chickens and ducks.
ASPCA Public Service Award—Detective Kyle McLaughlin
Det. Kyle McLaughlin is a 13-year NYPD veteran with the Mounted Unit. He patrols New York City’s five boroughs with his equine partner, Kelly, a rescued Standardbred. Paired in 2020, the duo provides a visible, approachable presence at public events, parades and daily patrols. Together they showcase the powerful impact of giving rescued animals a second chance to thrive.
In April 2026, their remarkable bond drew national attention when they pursued a suspected thief through Manhattan’s Upper West Side. This led to a swift apprehension caught on bodycam. Det. McLaughlin’s dedication to public safety, compassion for animals and extraordinary partnership with Kelly exemplifies the profound bond between humans and animals. Off duty, he lives with his wife, four children, a golden retriever and three adopted cats.
ASPCA Dog of the Year—Canyon
Canyon was rescued as a Mississippi stray and brought to the Hancock County Animal Shelter in 2021. After a handler spotted his exceptional intelligence and drive, he entered the Category 5 K9 program. Following months of medical care, he earned dual certifications in 2023 through FEMA for Human Remains Detection and the International Police Work Dog Association for wilderness operations.
As a premier search-and-rescue canine, Canyon has deployed to major disasters like the Maui wildfires, Hurricane Helene and the 2025 Texas floods. In Texas, he spent over 90 days searching along the Guadalupe River near Camp Mystic. Alongside his handler, he has also assisted in numerous missing persons and homicide investigations. In short, Canyon helps bring answers and closure to families during their most difficult moments.
Canyon exemplifies the resilience, dedication and lifesaving impact that former shelter dogs can have when given a second chance.
ASPCA Henry Bergh Award—Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment (C-RAD)
Founded in Summit County, Colorado in the early 1990s, Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment (C-RAD) is a pioneering nonprofit. It unites canine teams, ski patrols, search-and-rescue organizations, law enforcement and aviation partners. The goal: to improve survival outcomes for people caught in avalanches.
What began as a small coalition of handlers and agencies has grown into a nationally respected organization. C-RAD trains and supports avalanche dog teams throughout the western United States and Canada. Through rigorous cross-agency training and specialized dog handler teams, it sets the standard for alpine search-and-rescue. Its work includes lifesaving deployments in extreme winter conditions. The organization’s success is a testament to the remarkable bond between humans and animals. C-RAD demonstrates how highly trained dogs and their handlers can work together to accomplish lifesaving feats in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable.
For more information on the 2026 Humane Awards Luncheon or to donate to the ASPCA, visit aspca.org/2026HAL.
About the ASPCA®
The ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) believes every animal deserves to live free from suffering. For 160 years, the organization has been on the frontlines to save, transform and protect millions of lives in the fight against animal cruelty. As the nation’s first and leading animal welfare organization, the ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal relocation and placement, and legal and legislative advocacy. The ASPCA also promotes the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary communities through research, training and resources. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than 2 million supporters nationwide, the organization’s commitment to eliminating animal cruelty is unwavering. For more information, visit aspca.org.
Landing page image from HorseAbility website