Five Canine Heroes Honored With AKC® Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE)

-- Recipients Include a Rescue Dog Turned Search and Rescue Hero, a Westminster Best in Show Winner and a Surfing Dog! --

NEW YORK, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The AKC® Humane Fund announced the winners of the 11th annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE), which commemorates five loyal, hard-working dogs that have made significant contributions to their communities in each of the following five categories: Exemplary Companion Dog, Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, Therapy and Service. A press conference celebrating their accomplishments was held at TD Bank in midtown Manhattan today.

"The AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence celebrate what dogs contribute to our lives and these five exceptional recipients exemplify the heroic acts canines can accomplish," said Lisa Peterson AKC Spokesperson. "Their inspiring stories serve as an example of the canine-human bond and the impact a single dog can make in a community."

All the ACE recipients will receive $1,000 and an engraved Sterling silver medallion at the nationally televised AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, California on December 5, 2010. In addition they will be honored individually at local events. The New York and New Jersey ACE winners will have their local ceremony and be available for a public meet and greet during Meet the Breeds*on October 16-17, 2010 at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC.

This year's ACE winners include:

Search and Rescue Dog: "Cassius" owned by Peter Taft of Brooklyn, NY

Once a shelter dog and now trained for Search and Rescue work, Cassius and owner Peter have been deployed by or worked closely with many organizations, including the Bedford Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Louisiana State EMS Boat Team Search and Rescue, and the United States Army Airborne. The two also served during Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina and in Haiti during the aftermath of the recent earthquake. While Peter performed paramedic work in Haiti, Cassius, also a certified Therapy dog, provided comfort to both victims and volunteers of the tragedy. The team received Congressional Commendations for their exceptional work.

Therapy Dog: "Rufus" owned by Thomas and Barbara Bishop of Holmdel, NJ

Rufus performs equally as well in show ring as he does in the community – he's the top-winning Bull Terrier of all time as well as an exceptional Therapy dog. Since retiring from the show ring, Rufus has spent countless hours spreading happiness and cheer at schools, senior citizen programs and nursing-rehabilitation centers. He also received a special invitation to visit injured soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Service Dog: "Wyatt" owned by Janice Wolfe of Wyckoff, NJ

While most Service Dogs typically work with just one person, Wyatt, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, has worked with hundreds. His breeder/owner Janice Wolfe is the founder and director of Merlin's Kids, an organization that places dogs with autistic and developmentally disabled children. Wyatt's affinity for children and his remarkable patience allows Janice to determine if a Service dog is right for a particular child.

Law Enforcement Dog: "Nike" owned by Senior Corporal Mark Tobin, New Castle County Police of New Castle, DE

Nike, an 11-year old German Shepherd Dog, spent ten years serving the 500,000 citizens of New Castle County, Delaware, with his partner, Senior Corporal Mark Tobin. This decade of service resulted in 161 apprehensions and the seizure of 1.6 million dollars worth of drugs. Nike also used his tracking skills to find an Alzheimer's patient who had wandered away from home and a six-year old autistic boy lost in 97 degree heat, among many others.

Exemplary Companion Dog: "Ricochet" owned by Judy Fridono of Escondido, CA

When Golden Retriever Ricochet was dropped from Service Dog training due to her distractible nature, owner Judy Fridono decided to focus their efforts on something Ricochet could do – surf! This wave-loving Golden now surfs for charitable causes, and has raised more than $10,000 for a quadriplegic boy's rehab as well as funds to purchase toys for 630 children at hospitals and women's shelters during a Christmas toy drive.

To view photos and stories about the 2010 AKC Humane Fund ACE recipients and honorable mentions visit: http://www.akc.org/news/ace/2010/honorees.cfm

The AKC Humane Fund(SM), founded by the American Kennel Club® in 2008, was created to unite a broad spectrum of animal lovers in promoting the joy and value of responsible pet ownership through education, outreach and grant-making. Through its programs, the AKC Humane Fund's goals are to: support Parent Club Rescue activities; assist shelters for domestic abuse victims that permit pets; provide resources for responsible dog ownership education; contribute to non-profit organizations that support its mission. Contributions to the AKC Humane Fund are fully tax deductible as allowed by law under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.

About Meet the Breeds -- With 160 dog breeds and 41 cat breeds, plus demonstrations, shopping and children's activities, no pet lover will want to miss Meet the Breeds hosted by the American Kennel Club and Cat Fancier's Association. Each breed will be presented in its own designated space, decorated to reflect its heritage, characteristics and unique attributes as a pet, while allowing attendees to literally "Meet the Breeds" by petting dogs, cats, puppies and kittens and learning about them directly from the experts. The event is proudly presented by PetPartners, Inc. a leading pet healthcare provider, and will feature more than 120,000 square feet of dog and cat festivities. Sponsors include Invisible Fence® Brand; Pet Brands, Inc.; P&G Pet Care, Iams; Motel 6; ADT Security Services, Inc.; LubriSyn CA; AOL Paw Nation; Hill's Science Diet Small & Toy Breed dog food; TD Bank, N.A.; American Pet Products Association; Dog.com; GoPetFriendly.com; Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Litter; Paramount Chemical Specialties, Inc.; Royal Canin; Petmate; JAKKS Pacific, Inc.; Sturdi Products and World's Best Cat Litter.  For more information visit www.meetthebreeds.com.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) proudly celebrated its 125th Anniversary in 2009. Since 1884 the not-for-profit organization has maintained the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world, and today its rules govern more than 20,000 canine competitions each year. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.

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SOURCE American Kennel Club