Meet Juju: The Shelter Dog Who Became the 2026 American Hero Pet of the Year

Our military men and women sacrifice so much to serve and protect our freedom, but they should never have to sacrifice the joy and comfort of having a companion pet by their side.

In this episode of Stephanie’s Shelter Stories, we’re shining a spotlight on two incredible organizations dedicated to serving our military and their pets. Pets for Patriots gives emotional comfort to our nation’s heroes and hero families while saving at-risk shelter animals, and Dogs on Deployment provides a network of volunteer boarders to care for pets when their military owners are called to serve.

Joining us today are Joey, a Naval Officer stationed at Naval Station Norfolk, and his wife, Melissa, a writer, dog mom, and advocate for shelter dogs in need.  Melissa and Joey share the heartwarming story of how Pets for Patriots helped them adopt their beloved dog, Juju, and how Juju’s remarkable journey led to her being named the 2026 American Hero Pet of the Year and Dogs on Deployment mascot.

Click play on the video above or download the podcast and listen on the go to learn how Juju’s story could help you!

Pets for Patriots offers veterans various benefits to promote the human-animal bond, reduce surrenders to shelters, and make lifetime pet guardianship more affordable. These include ‘welcome home’ contributions towards pet food and other basics, access to high-quality, affordable veterinary care, and discounts on various pet goods and services.

Local participating shelters:
Chesapeake Humane Society
Norfolk Animal Care Center
Norfolk SPCA
Pasquotank Animal Services
Portsmouth Humane Society
VBSPCA

Participating Veterinary Clinics:
Mt. Pleasant Veterinary Clinic
Virginia Beach SPCA Veterinary Clinic

Dogs on Deployment connects active-duty service members and veterans with volunteers who can board their pets during deployments, training, and emergencies.