SPEAKER_00 0:00

The search has begun for the UK's most inspiring canine as Crufts opens nominations for the 2027 Hero Dog Awards. Presented live at Crufts, the annual awards celebrate dogs whose courage, loyalty, and unconditional love transforms lives. At the most recent Crufts Awards, the Hero Dog title was presented to teenager Logan and his Staffordshire Bull terrier, Asher. Logan lives with cerebral palsy and mitochondrial disease. He relies on a wheelchair full-time and needs ongoing medical care. Asher's calm presence provides essential emotional support and daily companionship. The pair were presented with their award in the BP Pulse Live Arena at the NEC by Paralympian Jessica Jane Applegate, along with money towards their chosen charity, West Wales Poundies. The following day, Logan took Asher into school, where the entire unit lined the corridors, clapping and cheering as they walked through together. What a day that must have been. And I'm delighted that joining me to relive that amazing experience is Logan's mum, Donna Dean. Donna, welcome. Good to chat to you. Is it all a bit of a distant memory now, or is that day at Crufts uh, you know, a memory that's etched on the minds of the whole family?

SPEAKER_01 1:21

It feels like ages ago. I keep watching the videos over and over again, and uh it was absolutely incredible.

SPEAKER_00 1:27

Absolutely. So just take us back to that moment. It's in the big arena, there are thousands of people watching, uh, and we're all waiting for the announcement. And then it's announced that Logan and Asher had won. What was going through your mind? What was it like?

SPEAKER_01 1:41

It was amazing. The feeling seeing everybody in the crowd and everyone cheering and the emotion. It was it was incredible.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

There were lots of tears, weren't there?

SPEAKER_01 1:53

Lots of tears. I I actually held it together in the arena, and then backstage I went to a blubbering mess.

SPEAKER_00 2:02

And what about about Logan? He I mean from you know, watching the video, and I remember talking to him at the time, he he seemed to take it all in his stride.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

He did. He was really emotional. Um, but no, he was loving it. Afterwards, going into school, he he was lapping up the attention.

SPEAKER_00 2:18

Now, the bond between Asher and Logan is obviously something incredibly special. How how does that work on a daily basis?

SPEAKER_01 2:27

It just something that happens naturally. I mean, she she follows him around and we don't have school run anymore because Logan's in college, so I don't do the school run. He he gets um a taxi. But if I come home from work and go out of the house at like three o'clock, she's still by the she goes to the door because she thinks that we're going on the school run. She runs out of the house and jumps all over him, and oh, she's so excited to see him. And then yeah, she just follows him around, still sleeps on his bed, doesn't know how special she is.

SPEAKER_00 2:57

I which which begs the question uh do you think dogs have an innate way, a sort of sixth sense, knowing about how humans need something extra, something special from them?

SPEAKER_01 3:08

Oh, 100%. She knows, she absolutely knows, and we've had a new addition to the family as well. So now we have three staffies, but the puppy, she's only 17 weeks, and and it's like she knows as well. She's sleeping on his bed now as well, and she's I don't know, she they're just drawn to him. They know he needs their support.

SPEAKER_00 3:31

Many people will know the phrase um cerebral palsy and and perhaps mitochondrial disease. But for for people who don't, Donna, just explain what that means for Logan.

SPEAKER_01 3:42

Um so he has no mobility in his legs. Um it affects people in different ways, but with logs is his legs. Uh he's a full-time wheelchair user who has no mobility. Um he gets tired a lot and struggles with ta day-to-day tasks, but other than that, he's he's a happy boy.

SPEAKER_00 4:05

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 4:06

As long as he's got his dogs with him, he's a happy boy.

SPEAKER_00 4:10

That bond is is very, very strong, isn't it? And I and I guess separating the two of them must be nigh on impossible.

SPEAKER_01 4:18

She's used to him going to school and and um whatever. So when it's not too bad, but when we're in the house and say if we're out walking, she'll always look to see where he is, and then if he's like lagging behind in his wheelchair, she'll stop and wait for him to catch up.

SPEAKER_00 4:37

So so what difference has Asher made to Logan's life? And and is the future, you know, something that he can look forward to now with more confidence?

SPEAKER_01 4:46

Yeah, absolutely. She she's his best friend. I I've said this before, but um, yeah, she absolutely she loves him and he'd be lost without her.

SPEAKER_00 4:57

And and the positive impact uh of what Asher brings to Logan must be felt by the whole family and the the wider group of friends that you have.

SPEAKER_01 5:05

Yeah, it is really heartwarming to see them together.

SPEAKER_00 5:09

Now, uh quite obviously the win back at Crufts in March uh made celebrities uh out of Logan and Asher and and to some degree you as well. Have things changed where you live? Is it different when you go to the supermarket now? Did people start recognizing you more after after being uh at Crufts?

SPEAKER_01 5:27

Some when we're out walking, um we'll bump into other dog owners and and they always they go to Asher because they Logan always holds him holds her with the lead.

SPEAKER_00 5:37

Now that nominations are open, um what would you say to people who might be thinking, actually, I've got a dog that could be a hero dog award winner? How would you encourage them to think about entering their special dog?

SPEAKER_01 5:49

Oh honestly, do it. It was it was such an incredible moment. All all of it, the whole experience, going to London, going to the Rod Panel Club, everything. It was it was amazing.

SPEAKER_00 6:05

Do it, just do it, says Donna.

SPEAKER_01 6:07

Do it, do it.

SPEAKER_00 6:09

Fantastic. Well, I I'm sure that people have said this to you many times uh this year, uh Donna, to you, Logan and Asher. Huge congratulations on your win again, something that you will remember probably forever. Nominations for the 2027 awards are open until the 31st of October via the Crufts website. Finalists will be revealed in early 2027, ahead of the grand finale at Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham, which runs from the 4th to the 7th of March. Donna, lovely to catch up with you. Do you think you might visit Crufts again this next uh next time around?

SPEAKER_01 6:44

Yeah, I think we were we'd never been before, and that was an experience in itself. They were like celebrities walking around there, let me tell you, that everyone was going, Oh, oh my god, it's Logan and Asher. Everyone at Crufts knew. They knew.

SPEAKER_00 6:57

But yeah, definitely. Donna, many thanks.

SPEAKER_01 7:00

Thank you so much.