N.J. equestrian team receives K-9 Dano Award

In 2013, Gov. Chris Christie signed "Dano's Law" to protect all law enforcement animals from threats.

SOMERVILLE - Retired K9 Unit Commander Tim Pino and K9 Dano were best friends for 12 years. They were a crime-fighting duo in Somerset County, with their efforts earning the drug-sniffing police dog a place in the New Jersey Animal Hall of Fame.

L to R: Tim Pino, 4-H Committee member Shannon Oiler, USET representative Vicky Sroka, 4-H Committee Chair Bryn Keck and State Sen. Michael Doherty. (Photo courtesy of 4-H Club)

In 2013, Gov. Chris Christie signed "Dano's Law" to protect all law enforcement animals from threats. The legislation was sparked by a suspected drug dealer's boyfriend's threat to kill the K9 in 2008.

The K9, who logged more than 600 calls in his career, died Dec. 14, 2014, at the age of 13.

An award has been established in his memory, and the Somerset County 4-H club has named the United States Equestrian Team of Gladstone as its second annual recipient of its "K-9 Dano Award," which is given to the county residents or businesses deemed to have been exceptional in its treatment of animals.

"The USET is honored to receive this award as it represents all of the hard work out employees and volunteers do on a daily basis to ensure the best Equestrian Training experience," said Vicky Sroka, the United States Equestrian Team Representative.

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The USET Foundation, which competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America's elite and developing International High Performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation.

"The United State Equestrian Team epitomizes everything the residents of Somerset County are all about with their immense love for animals," said Pino.

Pino thanked Bryn Keck, "K9 Dano Award" committee chair, and Denise Coyle, a former Assemblywoman and co-chair, for their tireless and continuous work in helping to honor Dano.

Dano's Law was introduced as a bi-partisan bill to protect all law enforcement animals (police dogs and horses) from death threats, making Dano the first animal in the history of New Jersey to have a law bearing his name.

Last year, the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter of Bridgewater received the award.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.