Five Heroic Dogs Honored With AKC® Humane Fund Awards For Canine Excellence (ACE)

NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The AKC^® Humane Fund is pleased to announce the winners of the 18^th 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, Service, Therapy, Search and Rescue and Exemplary Companion dog. This year's winners range from a retired show dog that helps children learn to read to a family pet turned narcotics detection K-9.

"The extraordinary stories of these five heroic ACE Award winners illustrate the devotion, loyalty and unconditional love that dogs give us," said AKC Spokesperson Gina DiNardo. "Each of these dogs has changed the life of a person or a whole community and they all deserve to be celebrated. The ACE Awards give us an opportunity to pay tribute to these valiant canine companions."

All of the ACE recipients 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, and an engraved sterling silver medallion will be presented to each at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin in Orlando, Florida held on Saturday and Sunday, December 16-17, 2017.

This year's ACE winners are:

Uniformed Service K-9: "Duke," a Doberman Pinscher handled by Detective Sergeant Ed Soares of Menlo Park, California
"K-9 Duke" is a two-year-old Doberman Pinscher serving San Mateo County, California. He is certified by Police Officer Standards & Training (P.O.S.T) & California Narcotic Canine Association (CNCA). At eight weeks old, Duke was purchased by Detective Sergeant Ed Soares as a personal canine companion. After accompanying Sgt. Soares to a meeting at six-months-old, Duke was quickly enrolled in intensive training to become certified in narcotics detection. Duke has since been incorporated into the Menlo Park Police Special Investigation Unit, deployed during traffic enforcement stops, parole and probation searches, and narcotics cases all throughout the county. Duke also assists other agencies in narcotic investigations and is credited with finding tens of thousands of dollars in illegal narcotics and firearms during his career.

When Duke is not paroling the streets of San Mateo, he acts as an ambassador for his breed. He attends educational functions at schools, community events and hospitals where he meets and greets children and the citizens he and his team serve. According to Detective Sgt. Soares, Duke is his best self when he is around children. In 2016, the Doberman Pinscher Club of America board and officers named Duke the club's honorary mascot.

Service Dog: "Gunner," a Great Pyrenees owned by D. Hamilton Kinard of Richmond Hill, Georgia
"Gunner" is a three-year-old Great Pyrenees certified as a mobility assistance and PTSD service dog. After serving most of his adult life in the US Army, D. Hamilton Kinard medically retired in 2010. Kinard was paired with Gunner in 2013 after Hamilton was considered 100% disabled with total body nerve damage, a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Gunner braces Kinard so he can stand and even pulls his wheelchair on his bad days. The Great Pyrenees' kisses return Kinard to reality when he suffers from chronic flashbacks.

In 2014, Gunner inspired Britnee Kinard to found the SD Gunner Fund, a nonprofit organization providing disabled veterans and children with the financial means to obtain and maintain service dogs. Gunner also became the first mobility assistance TBI Service Dog to be approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs in the Southeast Georgia Coastal Region. In 2015, Gunner was honored along with the Kinard family as a Lincoln Award winner in Washington, D.C., at the Kennedy Center. Later that year, Gunner and the Kinard family were presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service at Middle Tennessee State University for their continued dedication to helping others and spreading service dog awareness. Gunner visits schools, military installations, state and federal government entities, and universities all over the United States to raise awareness.

Therapy Dog: "Dennis," a Skye Terrier owned by Stephen P. Hersey of Hampton, New Hampshire
"Dennis," officially known as CH Seamist Big Man In Town CD BN RAE THDA, was an eleven-year-old Skye Terrier bred and owned by Stephen P. Hersey. Certified by Therapy Dog International, Dennis has left nothing short of a legacy behind.

Over the past seven years, Steve Hersey and Dennis had spent countless hours working in several areas of therapy work. Dennis visited a special autistic friend on Thursdays for the past six years and helped him build confidence and independence. He also participated in a Therapy Dog International reading program called "Tail Waggin Tutors" which allows children to read to dogs to help improve literacy skills. Illustrative of Dennis' impact is a beautiful and moving letter from a parent of two boys in the program describing how her sons have grown into "reading machines" thanks to Dennis. She stated that her sons' love for dogs has grown as well.

Unfortunately, Dennis passed away earlier this year after a life of helping others. Dennis' work as a therapy dog has impacted many hearts and will always be remembered. His daughter, Evie, will accept the ACE Award on his behalf. Following in Dennis' pawprints, Evie is currently training to become certified as a Therapy dog as well.

Search and Rescue Dog: "Piglet," a Catahoula Leopard Dog owned and handled by Lori Wells of Lancaster, California
"Piglet," a six-year-old Catahoula Leopard Dog, is rigorously trained and certified to find human remains on land and in water. Each year Piglet and handler, Lori Wells spend hundreds of hours training, testing, and answering the call of duty for law enforcement agencies in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. At nearly 7 years old, Piglet has built a reputation as an unparalleled search resource.

Her case file is thick with an extensive list of grieving families who were granted some closure because of the grueling searches performed by Piglet and Wells. In one case, searchers had spent a week scouring a lake for a drowning victim to no avail. On day eight of the search, Piglet deployed and successfully recovered the person. In another case, she deployed in a remote wilderness area to assist in a search and Piglet was able to locate the subject's remains. Her diligence and tenacity in this discovery provided a wife and nine children the answers they needed to move forward. Piglet is unique not only for her diligent work ethic and talented nose, but also for her infectious 'smile'. She always lights up the room at community events and fundraisers and is happy to make new friends, human and canine alike.

Exemplary Companion Dog: "Amber," a Cardigan Welsh Corgi owned by Sonja Benavidez of Geneseo, Illinois
"Amber," a two-year-old Cardigan Welsh Corgi, owned by Sonja Benavidez of Geneseo, Illinois, helped Sonja regain her happiness after a life filled with much pain and agony. After surviving Encephalitis in the early 1960's, Sonja has overcome a coma, paralysis below the waist, braces and many surgeries, none of which stopped her from doing what she loved most - showing Cardigan Welsh Corgis. In 2013, a series of foot injuries had bound Sonja to a wheelchair which diminished her independence and motivation.

Sonja received Amber about a year later, after helping a friend with a litter. Just two-years-old at the time of her nomination, Amber is a Grand Champion. She placed in conformation, obedience, and rally at the 2016 Cardigan national specialty, and was Novice A High in Trial at the 2017 national. Additionally, Amber has earned a Canine Good Citizen Advanced title, is a certified therapy dog, and has met the requirements for the Cardigan club's versatility award. 

Amber and Sonja have been told that they are the best wheelchair dog-and-handler team ever seen in the show ring. Amber helped re-light the flame in Sonja's heart and this dynamic team continues to inspire other disabled people to get in the ring.

Read more about all of the ACE Award winners here.

Click here to view and download imagery of the 2017 AKC Humane Fund ACE recipients.

The AKC Humane Fund, Inc. unites animal lovers in promoting the joy and value of responsible pet ownership through education, outreach and grant-making. The Fund provides financial grants to domestic violence shelters and Breed Rescue organizations and awards scholarships to students pursuing professions that strengthen the human-animal bond. The AKC Humane Fund's Awards for Canine Excellence are given each year to promote the important role dogs play in our lives. Contributions to the AKC Humane Fund are fully tax deductible as allowed by law under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. For more information, visit www.akchumanefund.org.

The American Kennel Club
Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. 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 more than 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. More than 22,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite 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.

Become a fan of the American Kennel Club on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @AKCDogLovers.

Royal Canin USA
Royal Canin USA is a leader in science-based cat and dog health nutrition. Founded by a veterinarian in 1968, Royal Canin has more than 40 years of experience in delivering individualized nutritional solutions. In collaboration with an expert team of nutritionists, breeders and veterinarians from around the world, Royal Canin places cats and dogs at the central point of the innovation process. The Royal Canin product line offers a range of diets based on size, age, breed, lifestyle and therapeutic requirements. Royal Canin diets are available at veterinary hospitals and pet specialty stores nationwide. Royal Canin is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated. To learn more about Royal Canin, visit www.royalcanin.com and "LIKE" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/royalcaninus.

SOURCE AKC Humane Fund

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