To celebrate the dogs that do extraordinary things for their human counterparts, the AKC Humane Fund is seeking YOUR nominations for its AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). Nominations open today, April 1, 2015 and winners will be announced summer 2015.
Each year, the AKC Humane Fund pays tribute to five dedicated, hard-working dogs for making significant contributions to an individual or entire community. Since the creation of the awards in 2000, 75 ACEs have been awarded to dogs of 32 different breeds and one mixed-breed (“All-American”) dog from 28 states. Former ACE dogs have included a police K-9 that uncovered the work of a serial killer and a family pet that saved its owner from a bear attack, among dozens of other incredible pups.
“There is no shortage of remarkable dogs to recognize with an ACE Award,” said AKC Spokesperson Gina DiNardo. “These canine heroes truly touch people’s lives and we’re proud to honor five of them each year with an ACE Award to show our appreciation.”
One award is given in each of the following five categories:
Uniformed Service K-9
Eligibility: Fulltime 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 who have nonetheless distinguished themselves in some way that has made a meaningful contribution to the life of his owner or community.
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: Certified 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 service or 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/Eukanuba National Championship in December. A donation of $1,000 will also be made in each recipient’s name to the pet-related charity of their choice. The names of the five recipients will be added to the ACE plaque on permanent display in the AKC Humane Fund Library at AKC headquarters in New York City.
Dogs receiving honorable mention will be awarded an engraved bronze medallion and all entrants will receive an ACE Certificate of Recognition in acknowledgement of their nomination.
Anyone, including the dog’s owner or handler, may submit a nomination form. Submissions for the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence for 2015 must include:
• A non-returnable, original print or digital photograph of the dog. All digital photos must be larger than 1MB in size. 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 1, 2015 and should be emailed to [email protected] or sent to:
ACE Awards 2015
The AKC Humane Fund
260 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10016
For more information about the ACE awards or to download a nomination form visit the AKC website.