About US
When Dagger sadly passed away in 2023, his mum, Yvonne Dagger and the Animal Heroes Hall Of Fame teamed up to decide how best to continue his legacy. Dagger’s artwork, sold to raise thousands of dollars for charity, was at the heart of their decision. To celebrate Dagger’s life and work each October 6th (his birthday), the idea was to recognise and celebrate other animals with extraordinary talents so Howling Talent Animal Day complete with Howling Talent Podcast was born.
Animal talent comes in many forms and we are here to celebrate each and every one!
Anna Roy, Founder: AHHOF
About Dagger
Dagger was no ordinary dog. In fact, he was quite extraordinary, not only for his artistic talent and the beauty he created, but also for his generosity of spirit. Through his remarkable paintings, he raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for animal & people related charities, inspiring many with his boundless energy, creativity, and dedication. He indeed was ‘The Do-Good Dog’.
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From the moment he picked up a paint brush his destiny was sealed. The media loved him as did the many authors who included him in their works. Dagger’s workshops in libraries, schools and nursing homes inspired and educated his students as they learnt his message of ‘Education and Community Service’ was central to all that he did.
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Dagger's impact however, went far beyond the art world. As a puppy he was being trained by Canine Companions to become a service dog for one person but the universe had other plans; why help one person when he had the ability to help many. So Dagger became a certified therapy dog, bringing joy and comfort to those who needed him most. Whether cuddling up, sitting quietly while being petted or simply wagging his tail spreading his infectious joy, Dagger had a remarkable ability to connect with people and brighten their day. His work with Therapy Dogs International was a testament to his gentle nature, his selflessness, and his desire to make a difference in the world.
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In 2021, we had the pleasure of inducting Dagger into the Animal Heroes Hall Of Fame, a well-deserved honour for a remarkable animal.
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Sadly on January 17th, 2023 Dagger unexpectedly passed away throwing his family and community into mourning. Dagger’s example will always remind us of the importance of compassion, perseverance, and generosity.
Our Mission
To celebrate all animals and their talents!
Anna G Roy
with Lizzy
Anna G Roy was born and raised in the Republic of Cyprus to a Cypriot father and Canadian mother of Scottish descent. After leaving high school she studied Nursery Nursing and Midwifery in the UK and spent two years in the US as a nanny before shifting gears completely to follow her passion in photography and writing. She spent many years based in the UK working as an international cultural photographer, photographing some of the biggest names in the music and theatre industry. As an accredited journalist she worked free-lance, focusing on animal activism issues and winning a couple of awards. After deciding to reduce the amount of international travel she voluntarily ran a hospice for senior and disabled animals for a few years until the negative environment started impacting her mental health while working as a writer and editor for former ‘Paws Up’ magazine. In 2015 she launched the successful online S.O.F.A Film Festival that specialises in animal and environment related films and in 2020 S.O.F.A launched the Animal Heroes Hall Of Fame that honours and celebrates animals who have overcome adversity and/or who have become heroes to other animals or humans. Anna is the producer and co-host of the Howling Talent Podcast making good use of her journalistic experience as both interviewer and interviewee. She is also a published author and has experience in film production.
Yvonne Dagger
with Dagger DogVinci
Yvonne Dagger is a professional fine artist and author. A native of Long Island, New York, USA she pursued her degree in Fine Arts at Hofstra University. Shortly thereafter she had her first solo show and won the prestigious Art of the Northeast-Prudential Wheeler Award. Yvonne’s oil and acrylic paintings and drawings can be found in many personal collections nationally and have been featured on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” while Martha Stewart showcased Yvonne’s Shelter Pet Paintings on her Pet Program Web site. She is an artist in residence at Fitzgerald Gallery in Westhampton Beach. In 2011 Yvonne was inducted into the Massapequa Hall of Fame for her Artistic & Community achievements. In addition to her passion for the arts, Yvonne has been a volunteer puppy raiser for Canine Companions for Independence, becoming a Certified Therapy Dog Handler for them in 2024, is the Chairperson for their Signature DogFest and a member of their Northeast Regional Board of Directors since 2011. Yvonne was named “Woman of the Year 2013” by the Town of Oyster Bay and by Nassau County, respectively.
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In 2015, Yvonne taught her COC CC dog how to paint resulting in massive national media coverage as Dagger DogVinci’s 900 works of art raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. Inducted into the Animal Heroes Hall of Fame in 2021, Dagger continued creating works of art until his sudden and unexpected death on January 17th, 2023. Founder and C.E.O of the AHHOF, Anna Roy, ensured that Dagger’s legacy lives on by producing and co-hosting the Howling Talent Podcast with Yvonne.
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