Every year since 2007, CNN has honored one selfless individual as its Hero of the Year, an award that comes with a $100,000 prize to continue their work. The 2024 winner is Stephen Knight, founder of Dogs Matter, a nonprofit that cares for dogs while their owners enter inpatient treatment to recover from addiction.
The road to Dogs Matter
Knight’s path began over a decade ago, when he sought help for his own substance use. His addiction to meth had left him unhealthy, unemployed, and living out of his car. He entered rehab and began working toward sobriety.
Months into treatment, a friend who was also in recovery visited him with her dog, Jayde. She had relapsed and asked Knight for a ride to an animal shelter, having realized she could not keep Jayde with her. In that moment, Knight has recalled, he and the dog locked eyes, and it felt almost spiritual, as though the two of them needed each other.
Knight has now been sober for 14 years and has devoted his life to helping people in recovery. After years working as a substance abuse counselor, he founded Dogs Matter in 2015, having recognized that his friend’s dilemma was painfully common. Many people in crisis had nowhere to send their dogs while seeking inpatient treatment, which kept them from getting help and put their dogs in danger. As Knight has pointed out, shelters running as much as 150 percent over capacity often have to resort to euthanasia, and he flatly refused to accept that as the solution.
The impact
Through Dogs Matter, clients’ pets are placed with foster guardians at no cost. As the organization explains, the vast majority of pet owners consider their pet family, so knowing their dog is safe in a loving foster home eases the stress and lets clients focus their energy on healing.
The support does not end at reunion. After treatment, dogs go back to their owners, and Dogs Matter continues to help for a full year, pairing each client with a peer recovery coach who provides counseling and regular check-ins. The nonprofit also offers dog training, financial help for veterinary care, pet-friendly housing deposits, and dog food, and assists owners in finding work.
To date, Dogs Matter has helped more than 1,200 dogs and their owners. The CNN Hero title brought a $100,000 prize, and the Elevate Prize Foundation pledged to match donations of up to $50,000 to extend the work further.
Knight now lives with three dogs: Piper, Lady, and Jayde, the dog who started it all. Jayde even joined him on stage at the CNN Heroes tribute. In accepting the award, Knight said he shared it with Jayde, the reason he did any of this, and added that the work is only just beginning.
What’s new since this was written
Dogs Matter has continued to grow following the national spotlight of the CNN Hero award, expanding its foster network and the wraparound support it offers families in recovery. The broader issue Knight identified, that pet ownership can be a barrier to seeking treatment, shelter, or safety, has drawn increasing attention, with more programs nationwide working to keep people and their pets together during crises rather than forcing an impossible choice. Knight’s model remains a leading example of how caring for the dog can be part of caring for the person.
This piece touches on addiction and recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional or support service.
References
- Dogs Matter. https://www.dogsmatter2.org
- CNN Heroes. https://www.cnn.com/specials/cnn-heroes
