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IT’S time to salute the first-ever ­winner of The Sun’s Hero Dog Awards – Keda.

The Army Labrador saved countless lives sniffing out ­hidden roadside bombs during tours of duty in Afghanistan.

Our Sun Hero Dog Awards winner Keda, with her owner Capt Susie Wilkie, saved countless lives in Afghanistan
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Our Sun Hero Dog Awards winner Keda, with her owner Capt Susie Wilkie, saved countless lives in AfghanistanCredit: Dan Charity - The Sun
Heroic Keda receives her prize at a special ceremony this weekend
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Heroic Keda receives her prize at a special ceremony this weekendCredit: Dan Charity - The Sun

But instead of putting her paws up in retirement, the nine-year-old now helps injured servicemen and women with their recovery.

Keda’s owner Captain Susie Wilkie, 33, accepted the Hero Dog Award and a £500 ­Amazon voucher at a special party in Chelsea, West London, hosted by Christine Lampard.

Susie, who is 32 weeks ­pregnant, works with Keda at the Personnel Recovery Unit in Edinburgh helping veterans — some with life-changing injuries and PTSD — reintegrate back into civilian life.

She said: “Keda served her country and she’s still serving now —  albeit in a less dangerous capacity.

Susie, who is 32 weeks ­pregnant, works with Keda at the Personnel Recovery Unit in Edinburgh helping veterans
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Susie, who is 32 weeks ­pregnant, works with Keda at the Personnel Recovery Unit in Edinburgh helping veteransCredit: Dan Charity - The Sun
Thrilled judge Christine Lampard, footie ace Frank and our winners
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Thrilled judge Christine Lampard, footie ace Frank and our winnersCredit: Dan Charity - The Sun
Keda's Operation Herrick Afghan service medal
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Keda's Operation Herrick Afghan service medalCredit: Dan Charity - The Sun

"A lot of the men and women who come through our doors are dealing with more than just physical scars, and they’re sometimes reticent to open up and talk.

“Some attention from Keda soon got people, who had been struggling, to talk more.”

Plucky Labrador Keda served for three years as a military dog in Afghanistan
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Plucky Labrador Keda served for three years as a military dog in AfghanistanCredit: Wullie Marr
Keda now works with her owner Susie Wilks, right, helping ex-servicemen with PTSD
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Keda now works with her owner Susie Wilks, right, helping ex-servicemen with PTSDCredit: Wullie Marr

Christine admitted she and fellow judges, TV and Sun legal ace Robert Rinder and Claire ­Horton, chief executive of Battersea Dogs And Cats Home, struggled to pick a winner from The Sun’s six finalists in our hunt for Britain’s most amazing dogs.

Christine told the proud finalists: “All the relationships between dog and owner are incredible.

“The breadth of service and support these finalists give their owners is making the job of crowning a winner really, really tough. But the fact Keda is still helping service personnel is an amazing testament.

Hero Dog Awards: The Sun meets Keda - a canine helping individuals suffering with PTSD to calm down
Keda served her country on active duty and is still making a difference, say her owners
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Keda served her country on active duty and is still making a difference, say her ownersCredit: Wullie Marr
Keda gets a hug from Jonathon Wilson for her help with ex-service personnel
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 Keda gets a hug from Jonathon Wilson for her help with ex-service personnelCredit: Wullie Marr

“I can’t imagine a nicer thing than to reward a military dog with a loving home when they’ve risked their life for their country.”

Plus, here's the other finalists.

Patience

Breed: Retriever, Labrador cross

Job: School Therapy Dog

School therapy dog, Patience, a Retriever-Labrador cross, with Rosie Avery, 12, from Stocklake Park School, Aylesbury, Bucks
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School therapy dog, Patience, a Retriever-Labrador cross, with Rosie Avery, 12, from Stocklake Park School, Aylesbury, BucksCredit: Oliver Dixon
Hero Dog Awards: The Sun meets Patience - a canine bringing joy to the school dog project at Stocklake Park School

Theo

Breed: German Shepherd

Job: General purpose police dog

Police dog Theo, a German shepherd with ­handler PC Gareth Greaves, 38, of ­Manchester Police, has been involved in 200 arrests
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Police dog Theo, a German shepherd with ­handler PC Gareth Greaves, 38, of ­Manchester Police, has been involved in 200 arrestsCredit: Dan Charity - The Sun
Hero Dog Awards: The Sun meets Theo - a police dog working alongside the Specialist Operations Unit

 

Scout

Breed: Lurcher

Job: Ambassador for blind dogs, fundraiser and dementia therapy dog

Paul Ison, of Hinckley, Leics, with his pet pooch, Scout. The lurcher is blind but has become a dementia therapy dog and raised money for ­charities
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Paul Ison, of Hinckley, Leics, with his pet pooch, Scout. The lurcher is blind but has become a dementia therapy dog and raised money for ­charitiesCredit: Dan Charity - The Sun
Hero Dog Awards: The Sun meets Scout - a canine who is a visiting pat dog providing companionship to people

MOST READ IN COMPETITIONS

Win a Garden on a Roll border worth £200
BORDER FORCE

Win a Garden on a Roll border worth £200

Win a pair of Town and Country gardening shoes worth £29.99 each
ITS A SHOE-IN

Win a pair of Town and Country gardening shoes worth £29.99 each

Win a Burgon and Ball gift bundle including trowel, fork and gloves
GARDENERS GIFT

Win a Burgon and Ball gift bundle including trowel, fork and gloves

Win a Stiga leaf blower and cordless pruning shears
DON'T STOP DE-LEAFING

Win a Stiga leaf blower and cordless pruning shears

Ralph

Breed: Retriever

Job: Assistance dog for Paul Phillips, 25, from St Albans paralysed after a car accident in 2012

Tetraplegic footie fan Paul Phillips, 25, from St Albans, Herts, can now live independently with the help of Ralph, a retriever
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Tetraplegic footie fan Paul Phillips, 25, from St Albans, Herts, can now live independently with the help of Ralph, a retrieverCredit: Oliver Dixon
Hero Dog Awards: The Sun meets Ralph - an assistant dog to owner Paul Phillips who is paralysed from the chest down

Archie

Breed: Labrador

Job: Assistance dog for Katie Purcell, 27 from Wakefield

Labrador Archie is an assistance dog for Katie Purcell, 27, from Wakefield, West Yorks. He warns her of life-threatening blackouts
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Labrador Archie is an assistance dog for Katie Purcell, 27, from Wakefield, West Yorks. He warns her of life-threatening blackoutsCredit: Dan Charity - The Sun
Hero Dog Awards: The Sun meets Archie - a dog trained to alert a person before having an episode of Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
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