Tag Archives: ACE awards

Do You Know a Hero Dog?

2020 Uniformed Service K-9 Awardee, Stella.  Photo:  AKC Humane Fund
2020 Uniformed Service K-9 Awardee, Stella. Photo: AKC Humane Fund

From The Dog Lady’s mailbag: To celebrate the dogs who do extraordinary things in the service of humankind, the AKC Humane Fund is seeking YOUR nominations for its AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). Nominations are open now through July 31st and winners will be announced in late 2021. The 2021 Awards for Canine Excellence will be covered on AKC.tv.

Each year, the AKC Humane Fund honors five dedicated, hardworking dogs for making significant contributions to an individual or entire community. Since its creation in 2000, 105 ACE awards have been presented. Former ACE recipients have included a Flat-Coated Retriever that excels at dock diving despite missing a paw and a family pet who fought for his life protecting a seven-year-old from a rattlesnake, among dozens of other remarkable dogs.

“There are countless dogs that touch the hearts of people every day,” said Doug Ljungren, President of the AKC Humane Fund. “These incredible canines impact the lives of individuals and communities across the nation and so many deserve to be recognized with these awards. We are proud to honor five of these canine heroes each year with an ACE Award in recognition of their contributions.” Continue reading Do You Know a Hero Dog?

WATCH ‘AKC HEROES: 2020 AWARDS FOR CANINE EXCELLENCE’ THIS WEEK ON AKC.tv

2018 ACE Winner (Therapy Dog Category): “Kol,” Golden Retriever (Photo:  AKC)
2018 ACE Winner (Therapy Dog Category): “Kol,” Golden Retriever (Photo: AKC)

WHAT:
AKC Heroes: 2020 Awards for Canine Excellence on AKC.tv will explore the stories of fifteen hero dogs as it covers the selection process for the 21st 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. Continue reading WATCH ‘AKC HEROES: 2020 AWARDS FOR CANINE EXCELLENCE’ THIS WEEK ON AKC.tv

AKC HEROES: 2020 AWARDS FOR CANINE EXCELLENCE’ SPECIAL COMING TO AKC.TV

2018 ACE Winner (Therapy Dog Category): “Kol,” Golden Retriever (Photo:  AKC)
2018 ACE Winner (Therapy Dog Category): “Kol,” Golden Retriever (Photo: AKC)

From The Dog Lady’s mailbag: The American Kennel Club (AKC) is excited to announce its newest special, AKC Heroes: 2020 Awards for Canine Excellence, coming to its digital network, AKC.tv. This five-episode special, scheduled to air November 30th – December 4th at 12pm ET each day, will cover the stories of fifteen remarkable dogs and how the final five were selected for the 21st annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). These awards celebrate loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities. Continue reading AKC HEROES: 2020 AWARDS FOR CANINE EXCELLENCE’ SPECIAL COMING TO AKC.TV

2020 Ace AWARD nominations now open

AKC Logo
From The Dog Lady’s mailbag: To celebrate the dogs who do extraordinary things in the service of humankind, the AKC Humane Fund is seeking YOUR nominations for its AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). Nominations are open now through July 31st and winners will be announced in the fall of 2020.

Each year, the AKC Humane Fund pays tribute to five dedicated, hardworking dogs for making significant contributions to an individual or entire community. Since its creation in 2000, 100 ACE awards have been presented. Former ACE recipients have included a Poodle who helps his young autistic owner gain confidence each day and a Doberman Pinscher, who dedicates his life to Search & Rescue despite his own battle with Wobbler’s disease, among dozens of other extraordinary dogs.

“There are so many remarkable dogs to recognize with these awards,” said Doug Ljungren, President of the AKC Humane Fund. “Canines touch the lives and hearts of their owners and the world around them each day. We are proud to honor five of them each year with an ACE Award in recognition of their contributions.”

One award is given in each of the following five categories:

Uniformed Service K-9
Eligibility: Full-time working K-9s in the realms of city, county, state, or federal law enforcement; the military; firefighting; customs and border patrol; emergency services.

Exemplary Companion
Eligibility: Dogs without formal training or certification that have nonetheless distinguished themselves in some way and have made a meaningful contribution to their owners or communities.

Search and Rescue
Eligibility: Dogs certified to assist in wilderness and urban tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events and locating missing people.

Therapy
Eligibility: Certified therapy dogs working in hospitals, schools, disaster sites, war zones, and wherever else the affection of a good dog can provide comfort.

Service
Eligibility: Service dogs who enrich the lives of physically or mentally disabled owners, including, but not limited to, guide dogs for the blind, seizure-alert dogs, hearing dogs, balance dogs.

**(Note: Nominees doing therapy work without certification are considered in the Exemplary Companion category.)

Honorees will receive an engraved sterling-silver medallion and an all-expenses-paid trip for dog and owner to Orlando, Florida, to be honored at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin in December. A donation of $1,000 will also be made in each recipient’s name to the pet-related charity of their choice.

Anyone, including the dog’s owner or handler, may submit a nomination form.
Submissions for the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence for 2020 must include:
• A digital photograph of the dog. Files must be larger than 1MB in size and a minimum of 300 dpi. The photo should feature solely the nominated dog.
• A 500-word-or-less description of how the dog has demonstrated excellence.
• Dog’s call name, breed, age and sex.
• Owner’s/Nominator’s name(s), address and phone number. E-mail address if available.

Nominations will be accepted through July 31, 2020 and should be submitted here, with a photo sent to [email protected].

For more information about the ACE awards or to nominate a dog, visit the AKC Humane Fund Awards For Canine Excellence (ACE) page.

Let’s hear all about your hero dog!

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!

20th Annual ACE Award Winner: Exemplary Companion Dog Molly

dog portraits,  Dalmatian, Dalmatian portraitThis week, doggies.com is featuring the winners of the 20th AKC Humane Annual ACE Awards.

Part one: Uniformed Service K-9 Summer

Part two: Therapy Dog Gunther

Part three: Service Dog Polly

Part four: Service Dog Polly

Today’s post features the winner in the Exemplary Companion Dog category: Molly, from Clarksville, Arkansas.

“Molly,” a seven-year-old Dalmatian owned by Dayna Hilton is more than just a family pet – she is a Fire Safety Dog, the mascot of the Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation (KKFSF). KKFSF is a public charity dedicated to reducing fire related deaths and injuries among children and their families. Since just nine weeks old, Molly has been working tirelessly to help educate children about fire safety. Continue reading 20th Annual ACE Award Winner: Exemplary Companion Dog Molly

20th Annual ACE Award Winner: Search and Rescue Dog JoePete

JoePeteThis week, doggies.com is featuring the winners of the 20th AKC Humane Annual ACE Awards.

Part one: Uniformed Service K-9 Summer

Part two: Therapy Dog Gunther

Part three: Service Dog Polly

Today’s post features the winner in the Search and Rescue Category: JoePete.

“JoePete,” also known as “JP” is an eight-year-old Doberman Pinscher owned and handled by Cris Bean. Together they volunteer with the Michigan Search and Rescue.

Cris rescued JoePete in 2010 and he progressed rapidly through the human remains training program. However, just prior to achieving certification, JoePete received a very early diagnosis of Wobbler’s disease, a catchall term referring to several possible malformations of the cervical vertebrae that cause an unsteady (wobbly) gait and weakness in dogs and horses. Despite his diagnosis, JoePete achieved certification with Michigan Search and Rescue and went on to achieve certification with two national organizations as well. He has since participated in 29 missing person searches, helping to bring closure to many grieving families. He has also aided in local graveyard reconstruction projects by Historical Societies and landowners by helping to locate burial sites in forgotten cemeteries in and around the state of Michigan. Continue reading 20th Annual ACE Award Winner: Search and Rescue Dog JoePete

20th Annual ACE Award Winner: Service Dog Polly

PollyThis week, doggies.com is featuring the winners of the 20th AKC Humane Annual ACE Awards.

Part one: Uniformed Service K-9 Summer

Part two: Therapy Dog Gunther

Today’s post features Polly, a Labrador Retriever who lives with Rachel Husband in Sparks, Nevada. “Polly,” officially known as Candylabs’ Pocket Queen CD PCDX RM2 RAE2 CGCA CGCU, is a five-year-old Labrador Retriever owned by Rachel Husband of Sparks, Nevada. Rachel has a rare health condition called Dysautonomia, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system which causes fainting, leaving her wheelchair-bound. Continue reading 20th Annual ACE Award Winner: Service Dog Polly

20th Annual ACE Award Winner: Therapy Dog Gunther

GuntherThis week, doggies.com is featuring the winners of the 20th AKC Humane Annual ACE Awards.

(See part one of the series, featuring Uniformed Service K-9 winner, Summer)

Today’s post features the winner in the Therapy Dog category. “Gunther,” a Rottweiler owned by John Hunt of Blackwood, New Jersey. “Gunther,” officially known as Bang’s Aleutian Sky CD RE THDD CGCA CGCU, is a six-year-old Rottweiler, certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs and owned by John Hunt. In 2016, John Hunt and Gunther deployed as a therapy dog team to Orlando, FL to provide comfort to the grieving victims and families of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. Continue reading 20th Annual ACE Award Winner: Therapy Dog Gunther

AKC Announces 20th annual Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE)

SummerThe 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. Continue reading AKC Announces 20th annual Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE)

Nominate Your Favorite Hero for AKC Humane Fund’s ACE Honors

cute french bulldog in a super hero costume  toned with a retroFrom The Dog Lady’s mailbag: To celebrate the dogs who do extraordinary things in the service of humankind, the AKC Humane FundSM is seeking YOUR nominations for its AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). Nominations are now open and winners will be announced in the fall of 2019.

Each year, the AKC Humane Fund pays tribute to five dedicated, hardworking dogs for making significant contributions to an individual or entire community. Since its creation in 2000, 95 ACE awards have been presented to dogs of various breeds, including one mixed-breed dog, from states across the nation. Former ACE recipients have included a Great Dane who helps his young owner walk and a family companion who fought for his life after protecting a seven-year-old from a rattlesnake, among dozens of other extraordinary dogs. Continue reading Nominate Your Favorite Hero for AKC Humane Fund’s ACE Honors