The AKC® Humane Fund is proud to announce the winners of the 20th annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). These awards celebrate five loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities.
One award is presented in each of the following five categories: Uniformed Service K-9, Therapy, Service, Search and Rescue and Exemplary Companion dog. This year’s winners range from a family pet who teaches fire safety to children throughout the country to a Doberman Pinscher who dedicates his life to search & rescue work despite his own physical disability.
“The extraordinary stories of the 2019 ACE Award winners illustrate how dogs touch our hearts and lives every day,” said Doug Ljungren, President of the AKC Humane Fund. “Each of these five dogs have changed the life of a person, and in some cases an entire community and deserve to be celebrated. The ACE Awards give us an opportunity to show our appreciation for all that dogs do in the service of humankind.”
Each ACE recipient will receive $1,000 to be awarded to a pet-related charity of their choice, a one-year pet insurance policy from AKC Pet Insurance, a one-year supply of Eukanuba dog food and an engraved sterling silver medallion, which will be presented at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin in Orlando, Florida held on Saturday and Sunday, December 14-15, 2019. The 2019 AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence are proudly sponsored by EUKANUBA™ Pet Food.
Here at doggies.com, we will feature one dog each day this week. First up, the recipient in the Uniformed Service K-9 category, Summer.
Summer is a Labrador Retriever handled by Sergeant Micah Jones of Washington D.C. “K-9 Summer” is a nine-year-old Labrador Retriever serving the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as an Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) with the Amtrak Police Department in Washington D.C. With her handler, Sergeant Micah Jones, Summer is responsible for the protection and safety of passengers and personnel onboard trains as well as at the stations and infrastructure. She conducts K9 sweeps for VIP’s, Dignitaries, special and national athletic competitions, provides mutual aid to surrounding police departments and much more.
In addition to the incredible work K9 Summer does with the Amtrak Police, she is also a retired Military Working Dog. While deployed to Afghanistan with the Marine Corp in March 2012, Summer put her life on the line to keep the troops safe and comfort warriors on the battlefield. She conducted routine patrols, swept and cleared routes for the troops, and was even involved in fire fights with insurgents. Summer is credited with positively identifying countless weapons caches and improvised explosive devices. While on duty with the Amtrak Police, K9 Summer wears several ribbons, proudly displaying her time served with the United States Armed Force.
When K9 Summer is not busy protecting her community, she conducts several educational demonstrations for local schools, summer camps and for other Law Enforcement Agencies that are creating a canine program. K9 Summer and handler Sgt. Micah Jones have dedicated their lives to protecting their community.
Congrats to Summer and Sgt. Jones!
Watch this space this week for the other four winners.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
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