To slobber and to protect

Rooney and his partner, Sgt Broderick, were among those honoured at a ceremony recognising the work of canine units on Election Day in Trenton, New Jersey, on Dec 18, 2025. For their heroics after a wave of bomb threats, more than two dozen dogs were presented with an award from the state attorney general. — Amir Hamja/The New York Times

ROONEY, a burly, middle-aged cop of few words, was starting another day of police work when an alarming call came in: a bomb threat.

It was election day in Toms River, New Jersey, in November 2025. People had to be evacuated from a polling place, and voting was temporarily halted.