BARNEGAT – Barnegat has gone to the dogs, and the community should be proud of every minute of it.
Not one, but two hometown hounds have clawed their way into the national spotlight as semi-finalists in the American Humane Society’s 15th Annual Hero Dog Awards. Out of tens of thousands of nominations, these four-legged stars now stand among the top five in their categories, their tails high and their noses pointed toward victory.
The only thing standing between them and a red-carpet moment in West Palm Beach? Your daily votes at AmericanHumane.org, now through September 15.
Jager
Three-year-old Jager, a boerboel (South African mastiff), looks like he was built to guard castles. With a massive frame, sleek coat, and a head the size of a pumpkin, he can stop passersby in their tracks. But behind that brawny exterior is a heart as soft as a well-loved tennis ball – and it’s that heart that’s made him one of America’s top therapy dogs.
Jager’s human, Mark Stanish, spent 25 years as a Long Beach Township police officer, most of them on the midnight shift. After losing his French mastiff, Stanish was drawn to the boerboel breed for its presence and temperament. Jager came home as a pup, with no plans for therapy work – but his natural instinct to find and comfort the person hurting most was impossible to ignore.
“He has this way of reading the room,” Stanish said on the Ethan Almighty podcast. “He’ll find the person who needs him and just lean in. You can feel the change when he’s there.”
Just weeks after earning his therapy certification in October 2023, Jager faced his first major mission: comforting the community of Lewiston, Maine, after a mass shooting left 18 dead. Volunteering with Tristate Crisis Response Canines, he and Stanish spent nearly a week visiting hospitals, funerals, and survivors.
Since then, he’s become the only USPCA Certified Therapy Dog in any prosecutor’s office in New Jersey. One day he might be listening to children read at a “Coloring with Cops” event; the next, he’s sitting silently beside a veteran fighting post-traumatic stress. In May 2024, after eight police officers were shot – four fatally, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jager attended memorials, quietly seeking out the grieving, including one officer sitting alone.
“He’s not a stay-in-his-lane kind of dog,” Stanish said. “He can go from crayons to crisis calls without missing a beat.”
Local officials have taken notice. At a recent Ocean County Board of Commissioners meeting, Jager strode in wearing his K-9 vest, greeted hallway admirers, and settled in beside Stanish, who kept a towel handy for inevitable drool. Whether soothing schoolchildren or consoling the bereaved, Jager’s steady presence says what words can’t: Don’t worry. I’ve got you.
Ffancy
Barnegat’s other Hero Dog finalist, Ffancy, didn’t just serve in the military – she was born for it. A 10-year-old Belgian Malinois, she’s a true military brat, the daughter of two accomplished military working dogs, including a father who deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan. Born into the U.S. military’s elite breeding program, she was part of the “F” litter, giving her the distinctive double “F” in her name.
From the start, Ffancy stood out for her intelligence, work ethic, and social skills. The military placed her in its breeding program to pass on those qualities, and she produced two litters before being reassigned to training duties. She spent years as an instructor dog, first helping to prepare new handlers in the Military Working Dog Handler Course, and later working in the Master Handler Course, teaching seasoned handlers at the top level of the craft.
Her career nearly ended in tragedy when, during a break from training, she lunged after what was likely a rabbit, hit the end of her lead, and suffered a spinal injury that left her paralyzed in the hind legs. Immediate medical care and a lengthy rehabilitation program brought her back from the brink. Though she still carried signs of her injury when she retired in February 2023, her drive remained intact.
Air Force veteran Shane Vazquez, a disabled vet as well, adopted Ffancy last year. Vazquez’s own military career spanned active duty, the Guard, and the Reserves, with roles ranging from aircraft mechanic and flying crew chief to a stint in security police. He deployed during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, provided security support for Operation Noble Eagle at Andrews Air Force Base, and spent nine years with a classified unit at McGuire. A service-related back and neck injury eventually forced his retirement, but his commitment to service remained strong – and adopting Ffancy was a natural extension of it.
“She’s got an unbreakable spirit,” Vazquez said. “She runs, climbs stairs, chases my other Malinois, Max. You’d never know what she’s been through. She’s quirky, stubborn, and absolutely loves her ball — and she’s earned every bit of her spoiled retirement.”
Ffancy’s military service earned her unprecedented recognition. She became the first retired military working dog in New Jersey to receive state-issued medals: the Distinguished Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, awarded at a Women’s Veterans Day event in Wildwood by the governor and state legislature.
Many states don’t have a single finalist in this year’s Hero Dog Awards. Barnegat has two; living proof that this small town produces more than just good dogs. It produces heroes.
“For our little town to have two finalists – that’s pretty cool,” Stanish said. “These dogs have done the hard work. Now they just need the votes.”
Voting is open until September 15 at AmericanHumane.org, with one ballot allowed every 24 hours for each dog. Supporters can vote for Jager in the Therapy Dog category and for Ffancy in the Military Dog category.
Whether or not they bring home the national title, Jager and Ffancy have already left their mark. Jager walks into classrooms, crisis scenes, and memorials with the same calm grace, quietly changing the atmosphere. Ffancy has stood tall in military service, faced down physical adversity, and now lives each day with the joy of a second chapter earned through grit.
In the end, Barnegat’s name will be called alongside the best in the nation. And somewhere in town, two dogs will be wagging their tails – ready, as always, to serve.
