Palm Harbor Great Dane in the running for Hero Dog award

PALM HARBOR (FOX 13) - A Palm Harbor pooch is in the running to become the next American Humane Hero Dog.

Maja Kazazich and her Great Dane, Rosie get a lot of looks when they go to the beach, but they don't mind.

They want to share their story.

Maja lost her leg to a bomb during the Bosnian war. Rosie lost a leg to an accident as a puppy.

Now Rosie is Maja's service dog - helping her through panic attacks attributed to PTSD.

Rosie has been nominated for the American Humane Hero Dogs Awards. The annual awards tell the stories of heroes at both ends of the leash and, through voting, selects seven finalists to attend a ceremony in Hollywood. 

Maja says Rosie is definitely her hero, but she helps others too.

“She's my best friend that helps me throughout every day.  Without her I would not be able to function like a regular person,” Kazazich said. “She comes up to everyone that she possibly can and makes them feel good.  We go to nursing homes. We visit schools [and] disabled kids. She knows how to make them feel better.”

Voting for the American Humane Hero Dogs Awards goes until next Wednesday, April 25. 

The winners will be honored next September.