This floppy-eared, banana-loving, tongue-hanging companion is being recognized for her ulti-mutt work detecting explosives in the Portland area.
The pupparazzi aren't going to want to miss this one.
Explosive Detection K-9 Jacky, a Portland local, was named a finalist for the American Humane Hero Dog Awards, which takes place on Jan. 5, 2025.
"We are making a difference and that's the one thing I wanted to do in law enforcement," Charlie Berry, Jacky's handler, said.
In human hours, Jacky has spent more than 300 hours — 2,100 in dogs hours — working to ensure the safety of folks at major events, locally and nationally, including the World Athletic Championships.
Showcasing her weird, goofy self, her fame grew through Instagram . Berry started the account to meet other handlers, but the fanbase base exploded, falling in love with Jacky's personality and cuteness. She now has about 43,000 followers.
"I want to educate and I want to do things that make people kind of engage with law enforcement more and realize that we're just humans as well," Berry said.
The account became so popular that fans were sending in handmade paintings, even writing Berry to say that posts of Jacky helped them with their poor mental health.
Berry and Jacky met at Lackland Air Force Base where she trained as an explosive detection canine under the TSA’s guidance.
At work, Berry is known to be the "resident animal rescuer" because, although it's not her job, she is a die hard animal fan.
This year, Oct. 18 marks the four year anniversary of when Berry started her 11-week program at K-9 handling school in San Antonio, Texas.
At training, inside a small, silver trailer were a number of dogs waiting to be assigned to their human buddy. When Jacky came out, it was apparent she wasn't going to get an assignment.
She wasn't like the rest, to say the least.
Testing out the waters, Jacky had her elbows on the ground, army crawling undeath the faux airport chairs, a different approach to the typical titling of the head and sniffing motion.
Berry said she remembers seeing this and thinking, "I love this dog."
Her personality was so "extra" and she was a total character, Berry said.
That's where Jacky earned her nickname, Jackie Chan, because when filled with excitement she punches her paws mimicking the martial arts legend.
But her differences, and shear kookiness, was a turn off for some handlers.
Berry said there was a guy in her course that said, "if I get Jacky, I'm quitting."
So, her instructor turned to her in that small, silver trailer and said:
"I'm gonna say this in the nicest way possible, but you're the woman that would get a rabid raccoon from the side of the road and try to domesticate it, and that's pretty much what Jacky is, so I think Jacky is gonna be your dog."
Berry loved it.
Together, the two work in the public transportation system to detect explosives across three counties.
Jacky is up against K-9s Bo, Briggs, Layla and Charlie in the law enforcement and first responder category. Other categories include therapy, military, service and guide/hearing and emerging hero and shelter.
Winners in each category will be honored at the star-studded American Humane Hero Dog Awards Gala in Palm Beach.
Let's get to know this heroic dog:
Breed: German Shorthair Pointer.
Berry described the breed as follows:
"Their little brains are a little off, they're very quirky, they're really fun, but they don't work like a regular German Shepherd, or like a typical police Malinois, they are their own little bunch of dogs."
Age: Maybe 6.
Jacky was born in Europe where they "flip" the dates. Berry said her birthday is either Oct. 12 or Dec. 10, so she settled for December.
Nicknames: Jackie Chan, Jaqueline Marie (when she's in trouble), Jaqueline pronounced as "Jay-quel-in," and Ms. Moos for her mooing sounds.
Favorite snack: Bananas
Berry said that if you call Jacky's name when she's sleeping she won't move, but as soon as she hears a banana crack up she's on her way "to body slam you."
Berry has resorted to hiding in the garaged to eat her own bananas at home, and always packs two in their work lunchbox, even though Jacky will still want both.
Favorite toy: A Chuckit ball named Chet.
When Jacky was visiting some kiddos with special needs, one boy thought the ball was named Chet, so the name has stuck ever since.
Best trick: Mischief and working capabilities.
Berry said she has to physically stop Jacky from working because she will go nonstop.
For more information about the American Humane Hero Dog Awards, visit the website .
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