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Leader the Rottweiler Named USO’s 2024 Canine Volunteer of the Year

Leader the Rottweiler at a military event, showcasing her role as a therapy dog.

News Summary

Leader, a 7-year-old Rottweiler, has been awarded the USO’s Canine Volunteer of the Year for her dedication to supporting military communities. Since becoming a therapy dog, she has volunteered over 151 hours in 2024, providing comfort during deployments and homecomings. Her owner, Renice Zimmerman, emphasizes the important emotional support Leader offers to service members and families. The USO Canine Program highlights the crucial role of therapy dogs in enhancing the wellbeing of military personnel.

Leader the Rottweiler Named USO’s 2024 Canine Volunteer of the Year

Norfolk, Virginia – A 7-year-old Rottweiler named Leader has been honored as the USO’s 2024 Canine Volunteer of the Year for her extraordinary contributions to military communities. Leader, a former grand champion show dog, has served as a therapy dog since she was two years old, dedicating her time to support service members and their families.

The announcement of Leader’s award came in March 2024, with her owner and handler, Renice Zimmerman, a Gold Star spouse and former Army nurse, playing a significant role in her volunteer efforts. Since beginning her service with the USO in August 2023, Leader has logged an impressive 151 volunteer hours in the year 2024 alone, with 61.5 hours completed as of July 23, 2024. The USO Canine Program, which launched in 2023, aims to offer emotional support through therapy dogs, family pets, and military working dogs to military communities.

Nikki Jones, the USO’s center operations specialist, nominated Leader for the award, highlighting her dedication to providing comfort during numerous deployments and homecoming events. Leader’s presence has been particularly valued during emotionally charged events such as midnight deployments and homecomings, where she has responded to the needs of service members and their families.

Leader’s Volunteer Work

Leader volunteers consistently, typically dedicating at least 10 hours each week to her roles while also attending ongoing training sessions. She is actively involved with various crisis response groups, including Mutts With A Mission, the Red Cross, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). Through these partnerships, Leader has helped children who have lost family members in the military and visited Veterans Affairs hospitals and FBI field houses.

One of her standout contributions includes the monthly “Lunch with Therapy Dogs” event at Fort Eustis, which began in August 2023. This initiative has been a tremendous success, providing comfort and companionship to military personnel and significantly boosting morale among attendees. Leader has also supported new recruits undergoing Advanced Individual Training (AIT), offering emotional relief during festive gatherings like Thanksgiving.

The Impact of Canine Volunteers

Leader’s role as a therapy dog extends beyond companionship; her presence has been crucial during memorials and moments of loss, where she offers much-needed comfort to grieving service members. Notably, Jones emphasized the importance of canine volunteers like Leader in aiding service members to process their emotions and navigate challenging experiences.

In May 2024, Leader was presented the Canine Volunteer of the Year award at the Norfolk Tides Armed Forces Night game, where she made a memorable appearance by throwing the first pitch. In an online poll held from February 9 to February 28, 2024, more than 6,400 votes were cast in support of Leader, demonstrating her significant impact within the community.

Background of the USO Canine Program

The USO Canine Program, which collectively recorded over 5,000 volunteer hours in 2024, aims to enhance the wellbeing of military personnel and their families through unique canine support. The program relies on dedicated therapy dogs like Leader, who possess a strong ability to connect with individuals, particularly children, providing them with invaluable emotional support.

Renice Zimmerman, committed to continuing her work with Leader, plans to certify another puppy as a therapy dog to expand their efforts. Together, they exemplify the vital role therapy dogs play in enriching the lives of military communities and helping them navigate the emotional challenges they face.