ASPCA 2025 Humane Awards winners announced

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has announced the recipients of its 2025 Humane Awards, which recognize people and animals in the US who have contributed or brought attention to animal welfare and improved the lives of others. The ASPCA honored winners in 5 categories: Kid of the Year; Dogs of the Year; Public Service Award; Citizen Hero Award; and the Henry Bergh Award, which is presented to an individual or institution demonstrating exceptional leadership, compassion, and commitment to animal welfare.

This year’s recipients are¹:

• ASPCA Kid of the Year: Zayin Berry, an 8-year-old child from Yuma, Arizona
• ASPCA Public Service Award: Logan Ryan, a former NFL player and 2-time Super Bowl champion
• ASPCA Dogs of the Year: Vivian Peyton and Ralphie, a pit bull-type dog and Cattle Dog/pit bull mix, respectively
• ASPCA Citizen Hero Award: Steve Greig, a senior dog advocate and content creator
• ASPCA Henry Bergh Award: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)

“Our recipients have increased access to critical animal welfare resources across the country, put animal advocacy at the forefront of mainstream cultural conversations and touched the lives of individuals struggling with grief, crisis, and terminal illness,” the ASPCA wrote in a news release announcing the award recipients.¹

Photo: undrey/Adobe Stock

More about each honoree

Zayin Berry

This young hero from Yuma is being honored by the ASPCA for his compassion and courageous spirit towards animals, according to the animal welfare organization. Zayin rescued a small kitten who was being abused by a group of children by offering them his skateboard, a possession he cherished, to divert the group. The kitten, later named Peaches, was in critical condition and had an upper respiratory infection. With the help of Zayin and his mother, Peaches received veterinary care and underwent surgery at the Humane Society of Yuma to remove his eye. The kitten has since recovered and has been adopted by Zayin’s family.

Vivian Peyton and Ralphie

Vivian Peyton, who recently passed away this summer, overcame a difficult start as a bait dog in dogfighting rings, where she suffered from starvation, beating, and forced fights before being surrendered to the Pennsylvania SPCA in Philadelphia. When she was one year old, Vivian joined New Leash on Life USA's prison-based re-entry program, which pairs rescued dogs with incarcerated individuals for mutual rehabilitation. There, according to the ASPCA, Vivian was “transformed through empathy, training and care.”¹

She was later adopted by Michele Pich in 2012 and went on to pass the Canine Good Citizen program by the American Kennel Club. Devoting her life to bringing comfort to others, Vivian began a career as a therapy dog with the VetPets Program at the University of Pennsylvania. She comforted terminally ill children and their families at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, supported grieving pet owners, and served as a Therapy Dog Ambassador for the National Dog Show. She later became the founding "DOGrector" of Rowan University's Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program, which Pich created in 2019.

During her lifetime, Vivian was awarded with a Neighborhood Hero Award from the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union for supporting COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinics. She also offered support to Pich’s loved ones through breast cancer journeys.

Ralphie will be accepting Vivian’s award in her honor at the annual ASPCA awards luncheon this October in New York City. Ralphie was adopted by Pich in December 2021 a month after Pich lost her best friend, Kristen diNovi, to breast cancer. According to the ASPCA, Ralphie brought joy, hope, and healing to the family during their period of grief, and trained to become a therapy dog. Like Vivian, Ralphie passed the Canine Good Citizen test and was named a Therapy Dog Ambassador for the National Dog Show in 2023. Now, following in Vivian’s footsteps, Ralphie is the Associate "DOGrector" of the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program. There, he partakes in teaching demonstrations, clinical therapy sessions and offers vital emotional support to first responders, grieving families and students in crisis. He has also become the unofficial spokesdog for the National Dog Show Therapy Dog Symposium held at the university.

“Ralphie has been a critical support system for Michele who is undergoing her own breast cancer testing journey for her heightened breast cancer risk,” wrote the ASPCA in a news release.¹ “Together, Vivian and Ralphie have exemplified resilience, compassion, and the profound power of healing through the human-animal bond, touching countless lives and inspiring hope in their community and beyond.”

Logan Ryan

Ryan, a Philanthropist, NFL analyst, and 2-time Super Bowl champion has dedicated much of his time since 2013 alongside his wife, Ashley, to volunteering in animal shelters, walking dogs, helping pets get adopted, organizing community vaccine clinics, and taking photos to raise adoption visibility. Together, the couple co-founded the nonprofit organization, Ryan Animal Rescue Foundation. The foundation offers grants and resources to animal welfare organizations across the country, organizes charity events and shelter visits in cities where Ryan has played, and more.

The Ryans have fostered more than 40 kittens and cared for 2 hairless rats, Ziggy and Rhino. Currently, their household includes a 13-year-old Pug/Beagle-mix named Nala, a 12-year-old pit bull named Leo, a 6-year-old Beagle named Minnie, and a leopard gecko named Banana.

Steve Greig

Greig is a retired accountant who now spends his time advocating for senior pets. Grief from the passing of his dog Wolfgang led Greig to provide a home to more than 40 senior animals. Today, he cares for 8 senior dogs, 2 turkeys, 3 chickens, 3 ducks, 3 rabbits, and his pig, named Bikini. As a content creator, Greig shares heartwarming and funny stories about caring for dogs with conditions like heart disease, blindness, diabetes, or mobility challenges with his 1.2 million followers on Instagram. According to the ASPCA, his goal is to inspire others to open their hearts and homes to senior shelter pets. He is also the co-author of the book, The One and Only Wolfgang and spends his time partnering with nonprofits to bring awareness to senior-animal rescue.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division

SLED is being recognized for its efforts in combating animal cruelty and raising awareness of dogfighting as a crime. In 2023, SLED launched its Dogfighting Unit, which works with state, local, federal, and community partners. Together, SLED and its partners have rescued approximately 500 dogs and arrested approximately 116 people, resulting in more than 470 charges. The organization also offers training to help individuals recognize potential dogfighting activity and shut down these operations as soon as possible.

Reference

1. The ASPCA unveils 2025 Humane Awards recipients. News release. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. September 12, 2025. Accessed September 15, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-aspca-unveils-2025-humane-awards-recipients-302554484.html