German shepherd awarded with dog bowl for leading Alaska trooper to blaze at owners’ workshop

Alaska dog honored for leading troopers to fire

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Buddy the German shepherd is being hailed as a hero for guiding Alaska State Troopers through winding back roads to a fire at his owners’ workshop.

The dog on Friday received a stainless steel dog bowl engraved with words of appreciation from troopers for his “diligence and assistance.” His good deed was caught on a patrol car’s dashcam video.

The video shows Buddy meeting the trooper’s vehicle, then dashing to the Caswell Lakes property on April 4.

Troopers say the dog and owner Ben Heinrichs were in a detached workshop when a heater ignited chemicals. Heinrichs told Buddy “to get help.”

The dog found a trooper whose global positioning device failed while responding to a call about the fire.

Heinrichs suffered burns on his face and hand.