There are certain things that are a part of the pop culture fabric of Thanksgiving.

Keep an eye out for local marching bands in the Macy’s parade. Cheer for football — even if we don’t care about Detroit or Green Bay, Washington or Dallas, San Francisco or Seattle. Hold that moment of nostalgia when the Eat ‘n Park commercial comes on for the first time this season.

And for many people, see man’s best friend compete for top honors in the National Dog Show.

This year’s event will be more than a beauty pageant for golden retrievers and poodles. Special attention will be accorded to Pennsylvania State Police dog Rom.

The Keystone State K-9 is not just a pet. He is one of about 50,000 working police dogs in the U.S. He is also one of a number of dogs that have taken high-profile roles in important stories this year.

Rom, along with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol colleague Yoda, were among the dogs actively involved in tracking down escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante in September. Dogs have been involved in other searches for escapees and fugitives in 2023, including the hunt for accused mass shooter Robert Card in Maine in October.

It was important work. It is not the only important work trained dogs do. They are brought in when people are missing, like a Saltsburg hunter found dead in Young Township, Indiana County, in September. When $1 million worth of cocaine was seized on the turnpike, it was a police dog that found it.

They aren’t inexpensive investments for the communities they serve. The dogs themselves can cost thousands of dollars. Their training comes on top of that — not to mention the equipment and care that goes into keeping them on the job.

The communities often embrace the animals in return. Ask the Derry residents who are passionately concerned about Smoke, the 4-year-old Malinois who was euthanized in August following a fight with a family dog. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli announced in October there would be no charges in the case. Protesters are unhappy with that decision.

On Thursday, the focus will be a celebration of the service of these canines, but people can do more than watch the National Dog Show and coo over a cute pup. They can show support for their local agencies that employ the animals — and advocate for better oversight of those organizations to protect the dogs.

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