2008 ACE Nominees

The American Kennel Club Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) 2008

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is proud to announce the nominees for the 2008 Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). Established in 2000, ACE has become a valuable public-outreach program for the AKC as well as a source of pride among the fancy and the dog community.

The winners and honorable mentions in the categories of Exemplary Companion, Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Service, and Therapy will be announced shortly. The five recipients will each receive engraved silver collar medallions and $1,000 cash awards at a presentation ceremony at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, California, on December 13 - 14, 2008. A local presentation will also be held for each recipient at an AKC dog show near their hometown. Information on local presentations will be posted on our web site when it becomes available.

Abbey - Labrador Retriever
owned by Nancy Stugart of Cogan Station, PA (Therapy)

Abercrombie - Labrador Retriever
owned by Madyson Gabriele of Canton, OH (Therapy)

Adele - Labrador Retriever
owned by Marty Harris of Boston, MA (Service)

Addie - German Shepherd Dog
owned by Ginny Traeger of Kalispell, MT (Therapy)

Aero - German Shepherd Dog
owned by St. Johns County Sheriff's Department, handled by Deputy Joshua Underwoood of St. Augustine, FL (Law Enforcement)

Alex - Belgian Malinois
owned by Jaqueline Brind-Dickson of Aldergrove, British Columbia (Exemplary Companion)

Alley, a Labrador Retriever
owned by Heather Roche of Annapolis, Maryland

Andy - Staffordshire Bull Terrier
owned by Cynthia & David Bundy of Bristol, WI (Therapy)

Annie - Anatolian Shepherd Dog
owned by Margie Lentini of Meansville, GA (Therapy)

Annie Annie - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Donna Rock of Lacombe, LA (Exemplary Companion)

Archie - Newfoundland
owned by Vicki Murphy/Casa Pacifica of Camarillo, CA (Therapy)

Armstrong - Dalmatian
owned by Shelly Gallagher of Sandy UT (Therapy)

Asher - Greyhound
owned by Gale Hollstein of Fredericksburg, VA (Therapy)

Auto - Great Dane
owned by Sean & Tammy Smith of Madisonville, TX (Exemplary Companion)

Baby Girl - Maltese
owned by Alisha Nilcastro of Fulton, NY (Exemplary Companion)

Bailey - Maltese
owned by Linda Robbins of Oyster Bay, NY (Therapy)

Bandit - Border Collie
owned by Stephanie Johnson of Kerrville, TX (Exemplary Companion)

Barrett - Cocker Spaniel
owned by Bernita Lynn Koepfer of Maumee, OH (Therapy)

Batman - Basenji
owned by Jessica Ryno of Florissant, MO (Exemplary Companion)

Belle - Labrador Retriever
owned by Barbara Wener of Concord, CA (Exemplary Companion)

Benny - German Shepherd Dog
owned by Deborah & Michael Kandoll of Pikeville, NC (Therapy)

Benton - Labrador Retriever
owned by Margo Gathright-Dietrich of Norcross, GA (Service)

Bo - Schipperke
owned by Patricia Boggs of Cabot, AR (Search and Rescue)

Boo - Pembroke Welsh Corgi
owned by Kathy Garcia of Louisville, KY (Exemplary Companion)

Bozzie - Samoyed
owned by Sharon A. Wilson of Claremore, OK (Therapy)

Bree - Rottweiler
owned by Terri Van Dam of Norfolk, MA (Exemplary Companion)

Brittany - Golden Retriever
owned by Darlene Guinn & Cheryl Wertenberger of Camarillo, CA (Exemplary Companion)

Brutus - Bulldog
owned by Shanda Behrens, Columbus, OH (Exemplary Companion)

Brutus - Yorkshire Terrier
owned by Dorothy Capra of Howell, MI (Exemplary Companion)

Buck - Doberman Pinscher
owned by G. William Garrison of Millville, NJ (Law Enforcement)

Bull - Australian Terrier
owned by Julie Seaton of Muskego, WI (Exemplary Companion)

Buster - Golden Retriever
owned by Jenny Ostendorf of Platteville, WI (Exemplary Companion)

Cabby - Collie
owned by Amy Wurst of Kansas City, MO (Therapy)

Caitee - Golden Retriever
owned by Carolyn Corbett of Westminster, CO (Therapy)

Callie - Shetland Sheepdog
owned by Susan Leitner of Vancouver, WA (Exemplary Companion)

Capone - Bullmastiff
owned by Autumn Izzo of New Castle, PA (Exemplary Companion)

Cary - Labrador Retriever
owned by Sara Elizabeth Solomon of Nashville, TN (Service)

Casey - Boxer
owned by Jennifer Ferer of East Islip, NY (Therapy)

Cha-Cha - Portuguese Water Dog
owned by Kathleen Jose of San Francisco, CA (Therapy)

Chillin - Golden Retriever
owned by Nancy Bishop of Teaticket, MA (Exemplary Companion)

Chloe - Bloodhound
owned by Stacie Wyant-Ventura of Arlington, WA (Search and Rescue)

Clover - Italian Greyhound
owned by Catherine Boyd of Medina, WA (Service)

Cocoa - Cardigan Welsh Corgi
owned by Carolyn Embrey of Leesburg, VA (Therapy)

Cookie - Chihuahua
owned by Yolanda Hankins of Tulsa, OK (Exemplary Companion)

Copper - Bloodhound
owned by Pasco (Florida) Sheriff's Office, handled by Deputy Robert Wilkins of New Port Richey, FL (Law Enforcement)

Cougar - Vizsla
owned by Sharon Malnar of Cabot, AR (Search and Rescue)

Dagger - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Shannon Kiley of Allen, TX (Search & Rescue)

Daisy - Cardigan Welsh Corgi
owned by Vivian Andre Moran of Waddy, KY (Therapy)

Daisy - Labrador Retriever
owned by Henry DeBoer of Meno Falls, WI (Therapy)

Daisy - Labrador Retriever
owned by Kathryn Ramirez of Radcliff, KY (Exemplary Companion)

Dare - Portuguese Water Dog
owned by Marty Sprecher of Maumelle, AR (Search and Rescue)

Deja - Boxer
owned by Rhonda C. Dyer of San Jose, CA (Search and Rescue)

Desie - Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
owned by Alice McGowen of Jerseyville, IL (Service)

Detroit - Labrador Retriever
owned by Phillip Daigle of Crowley, LA (Service)

Diesel Joker - Bulldog
owned by Rebecca Burlage of Mineral, VA (Service)

Dizney - Golden Retriever
owned by Carol & Dan Everetts of Harrisburg, SD (Therapy)

Dottie - Dalmatian
owned by Darlene Renée Guzowski of Simi Valley, CA (Therapy)

Durango - Collie
owned by Dr. Sheryll Barker of Farmers Branch, TX (Therapy)

Dusty - Miniature Schnauzer
owned by Vicki Oscavich of Bethlehem, PA (Therapy)

Dutch - Portuguese Water Dog
owned by Connie Millard of Hermann, MO (Search & Rescue)

Dyna - Labrador Retriever
owned by Leon Futch of Auburndale, FL (Service)

Earnie - Weimaraner
owned by Janette S. Zucker of East Northport, NY (Exemplary Companion)

Eddie - Yorkshire Terrier
owned by Jerri Lewis of Norco, CA (Exemplary Companion)

Edie - Labrador Retriever
owned by Philip Normington, San Jose, CA (Service)

Elric - Rottweiler
owned by Catherine Varidel of Polk City, FL (Service)

Emma - Welsh Springer Spaniel
owned by Donna Wesemann of Old Mastic, NY (Therapy)

Enzo - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Debra Green and Officer Adam Barlett of Brevard, NC (Law Enforcement)

Flame - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Nanette Klatt of Quartz Hill, CA (Service)

Flash - Schipperke
owned by Patricia Boggs of Cabot, AR (Search and Rescue)

Fox - Schipperke
owned by Patricia Boggs of Cabot, AR (Search and Rescue)

Fozzi - Shetland Sheepdog
owned by Rosemary Andrus-Mitchell of Fresno, CA (Exemplary Companion)

Fritz - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Patty Fiordimondo of St. Louis, MO (Therapy)

Fritz - German Shepherd
owned by Fritz Von Hackbarth of Spanaway, WA (Therapy)

Fudge - Labrador Retriever
owned by Amy Fairchild & Dottie Black of Howell, NJ (Exemplary Companion)

Gabriel - Golden Retriever
owned by Marianne & Robert Bianco of Edinburg, NY (Exemplary Companion)

Gaea - Labrador Retriever
owned by Donna & Norma Jones of San Francisco, CA (Exemplary Companion)

Gage - Border Collie
owned by Janis K. & Robert W. Mayr of Hannastown, PA (Therapy)

Gemma - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Mary Dellorto of Chicago, IL (Therapy)

Gidget - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Jane K. Dickard of Dayton, OH (Service)

Grace - Newfoundland
owned by Claudia J. Walters of Colorado Springs, CO (Exemplary Companion)

Gracie - Tibetan Spaniel
owned by Donna C. Hamner of Northport, AL (Exemplary Companion)

Gracie - Boxer
owned by Dawn Byrne of Champlin, MN (Exemplary Companion)

Gracie - Great Dane
owned by Lexie Smith of Cropwell, AL (Service)

Greta - Miniature Schnauzer
owned by Rev. David Connor of Lakewood, OH (Exemplary Companion)

Gretta - Rottweiler
owned by Patricia Bauer-Crossin of Cahokia, IL (Service)

Gunner - Golden Retriever
owned by Sandi & Dean Figinsky of Lake Milton, OH (Exemplary Companion)

Hannah - Flat-Coated Retriever
owned by Louise A. Meyer of Tuscon, AZ (Therapy)

Happy - Standard Poodle
owned by Billie Dalrympl of Indianapolis, IN (Service)

Heady - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Silke & Adolf Satzinger of Chesapeake, VA (Therapy)

Hero - German Shepherd Dog
owned by Sgt. Jim Cartwright if Homerville, OH (Law Enforcement)

Hitch - Bloodhound
owned by B.J. Fleetham of South Surry, British Columbia (Therapy)

Honey - Tibetan Spaniel
owned by Linda T. Herrscher of Plano, TX (Therapy)

Hoyt - Labrador Retriever
owned by Kathleen & Tim Predergast of Orangevale, CA (Therapy)

Hugo - English Setter
owned by Kathy Parrott of Montevallo, AL (Exemplary Companion)

Hunny Doo - Boston Terrier
owned by Jared Williams of Covelo, CA (Exemplary Companion)

Indy - Old English Sheepdog
owned by Janice Allen of Bend, OR (Therapy)

Inka - Flat-Coated Retriever
owned by Peter & Mollie Heide of Ringoes, NJ (Therapy)

Inker - Golden Retriever
owned by Patricia Dobson of Watchung, NJ (Therapy)

Isabelle - Collie
owned by Dr. Sheryll Barker of Farmers Branch, TX (Therapy)

James - Flat-Coated Retriever
owned by Katrin Andberg of Foxboro, MA (Service)

Jefferson - Bernese Mountain Dog
owned by Barbara Beck-Wilczek & William Wilczek of Littleton, NH (Therapy)

Jesse - Rottweiler
owned by Lynette Brennan of Redding, CA (Exemplary Companion)

Jesse - Shetland Sheepdog
owned by DeAnn Shultz of London, KY (Therapy)

Jetta - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Barbara Nagy of Bloomfield, NJ (Therapy)

Jibar - Labrador Retriever
owned by Mary Aynn Shoemate of Albuquerque, NM (Service)

Judge - Labrador Retriever
owned by Roberta Shipp of Columbia, MD (Service)

K9 Jessy - Belgian Malinois
owned by Officer Julie Schmidt of Louisville, KY (Law Enforcement)

Kirby - Shetland Sheepdog
owned by Fred & Mary Lois Butzi of Wilmington, DE (Therapy)

Kodi - Shetland Sheepdog
owned by JoAnn and Tom Merrell of San Juan Capistrano, CA (Exemplary Companion)

Leo - Boxer
owned by H. Priscilla Clemens, Norman L. Clemens and Richard Tomita of Franklin, MA (Exemplary Companion)

Lex - German Shepherd Dog
owned by Jerome and Rachel Lee, Quitman, MS (Law Enforcement)

Lex - Labrador Retriever
owned by John Thomas Clark of Scarsdale, NY (Service)

Lil-George - Mastiff
owned by John & Amy Coglio of Pittsburgh, PA (Therapy)

Lucca - Belgian Malinois
owned by Chris Willingham of Camp Pendleton, CA (Law Enforcement)

Lupi - Sussex Spaniel
owned by Patricia Petraglia & Carl Yankowski of Dover, MA (Therapy)

Lydia - Chinese Shar Pei
owned by Theresa & Thomas Kanan of Denver, CO (Exemplary Companion)

Mac - Belgian Sheepdog
owned by Paula VandenBoom of Macomb, MI (Therapy)

Mac - Ibizan Hound
owned by Dianne McGuire of Tempe, AZ (Exemplary Companion)

Maddie - Labrador Retriever
owned by Rosy & Lewis Harkow & Giuseppe Renzulli of Miami, FL (Therapy)

Maeve - Rottweiler
owned by Patricia M. Lenahan of Santa Ana, CA (Therapy)

Maggie May - Bloodhound
owned by Artie Goodman of Eastview, KY (Search and Rescue)

Maggie - Beagle
owned by Cindy Wilson of Millerstown, PA (Therapy)

Magic - Schipperke
owned by Patricia Boggs of Cabot, AR (Search and Rescue)

Manatee - Chinese Shar-Pei
owned by Debbie & Bill Shooter of Orlando, FL (Exemplary Companion)

Marti - Standard Poodle
owned by Stella Maunsell of Chapel Hill, NC (Exemplary Companion)

Marton - Golden Retriever
owned by Philip Roller of North Grosvendale, CT (Service)

Mauli Mae - Miniature Schnauzer
owned by Cassandra Strickland & Shawn Nairn of Lawrence, KS (Exemplary Companion)

Mia - Rottweiler
owned by Robert Maretz of Parlin, NJ (Exemplary Companion)

Mickey - Bearded Collie
owned by Charles Namey of Winter Park, FL (Exemplary Companion)

Milo - Standard Poodle
owned by Dee Carlson of Woodinville, WA (Service)

Mimi

Mimi - Great Pyrenees
owned by Barbara Bernard of Metairie, LA (Therapy)

Mo - American Staffordshire Terrier
owned by Brett & Dar Beach of Cortland, OH (Therapy)

Mojo - Bernese Mountain Dog,
owned by Cherry Woodbury of Boise, ID (Therapy)

Molly - Golden Retriever
owned by Tom and MaryLou Gracy of Napa, CA (Therapy)

Moose - Labrador Retriever
owned by Sari Hewlett-Pacheco of Liverpool, TX (Exemplary Companion)

Nakita - Siberian Husky
owned by Katie Bourgeois of Naperville, IL (Exemplary Companion)

Norman - Newfoundland
owned by Shana Kerr of Maricopa, AZ (Exemplary Companion)

Oats - Golden Retriever
owned by Susan and Dana Sanvido of Olmsted Township, OH (Therapy)

Odie - Labrador Retriever
owned by Tom McLeod of Rubicon, WI (Therapy)

Oliver - French Bulldog
owned by Kimberly Rimel of Newark, DE (Therapy)

Patches, a Yorkshire Terrier
owned by Laura Ibsen of Gilbert, Arizona

Pintxo - Papillon
owned by Sandra K. Peterson of Boise, ID (Therapy)

Popeye - Basset Hound
owned by Ramon Nevarez of San Juan, PR (Therapy)

Portland - Labrador Retriever
owned by Jo Anne Shanahan of San Francisco, CA (Therapy)

Prissy - Silky Terrier
owned by Rebecca Oliver of Edgewater, MD (Exemplary Companion)

Queenie - Cardigan Welsh Corgi
owned by Diane McGuire of Tempe, AZ (Therapy)

Quinn - Greyhound
owned by Gale Hollstein of Fredericksburg, VA (Therapy)

Rain - Basset Hound
owned by Teresa & Eleanor Ralenkotter of Walton, KY (Therapy)

Rain - Standard Poodle
owned by Morgan Wells of Beaver, OR (Exemplary Companion)

Rally - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Carol Moore of Ashley, OH (Therapy)

Regan - Golden Retriever
owned by Kelly Hargadon of Winter Garden, FL (Therapy)

Ria - Labrador Retriever
owned by Kandi L. Dubuque of Conover, NC (Exemplary Companion)

Ripkin - Dalmatian
owned by Shelly Gallagher of Sandy, UT (Therapy)

Rita - Gordon Setter
owned by Joyce Quinn of Millington, MD (Therapy)

Robin - Golden Retriever
owned by Mary & Joseph McQueen of Frewsburg, NY (Law Enforcement)

Rosco - Rottweiler
owned by Angela Pleat of Akron, OH (Therapy)

Rose - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Maria Ciski of Wichita, KS (Search and Rescue)

Ruben - Golden Retriever
owned by Ruth Ubels of Grand Rapids, MI (Exemplary Companion)

Rufus - Clumber Spaniel
owned by Diana Jensen of Everett, WA (Exemplary Companion)

Sabrina - Golden Retriever
owned by Sherry Plevretes of East Norwich, NY (Therapy)

Sadia kai - Golden Retriever
owned by Kara & Nicholas McGuire of Crownsville, MD (Exemplary Companion)

Sampson - Standard Schnauzer
owned by Bruce R. Ramey of Silverdale, WA (Search and Rescue)

Scruffy - Bichon Frise
owned by Deborah L. Weber of Carmel, NY (Therapy)

Seneca - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Kathy Davieds of Floyd, VA (Therapy)

Sergeant Major Mudge - Boxer
owned by Patricia Mudge of Lehigh Acres, FL (Exemplary Companion)

Shayla - Irish Setter
owned by John & Vickie Castiglione of Utica, MI (Therapy)

Sheila - Australian Terrier
owned by William and Marjie Straight of Grand Junction, CO (Exemplary Companion)

Sherman - German Shepherd Dog
owned by Karen & James Lollar of Brighton, CO (Exemplary Companion)

Shreq - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Eileen Michaels & Michelle Santana of Kennewick, WA (Therapy)

Shira - German Shepherd Dog
owned by Arleen Ravanelli of Rhinelander, WI (Service)

Siena - Spinone Italianio
owned by Lauren Friedman & Chris Sweetwood of Milford, CT (Therapy)

Sienna - West Highland White Terrier
owned by Melissa Hostrander of Hatfield, PA (Therapy)

Sophie - Rottweiler
owned by Michele Mauldin of Alamogordo, NM (Therapy)

Sophie - Wire Fox Terrier
owned by Claudia Green of New Lenox, IL (Therapy)

Splash - Belgian Tervuren
owned by Irma Schwartz of Ponte Verdra Beach, FL (Exemplary Companion)

Star - German Shepherd Dog
owned by Zara Varone Chenard of Punta Gorda, FL (Service)

Star Puppy - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Lois Angele Laughlin Semple of Flint, MI (Exemplary Companion)

Stella - Labrador Retriever
owned by Dennis Denton of Pinetop, AZ (Law Enforcement)

Stripe - Shetland Sheepdog
owned by Cynthia & Ryan Wilkinson of Magna, VT (Exemplary Companion)

Taffy - Bloodhound
owned by Douglas Williams, Laguna Niguel, CA (Search & Rescue)

Talon - Labrador Retriever
owned by Pam & Tim Burns of Sanford, MI (Search and Rescue)

Taylor - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Sharon Malnar of Cabot, AR (Search and Rescue)

Tess - German Shepherd Dog
owned by Dewey and Sandra Dodds of Orange Park, FL (Search and Rescue)

Thor - Standard Poodle
owned by Beth Erickson of Paris, MI (Therapy)

Thumper - Yorkshire Terrier
owned by Christine Martin of Bradford, AR (Therapy)

Tinkerbell - Chihuahua
owned by Sarah Myers of Lakewood, WA (Exemplary Companion)

Titus - Labrador Retriever
owned by Cindy Kay Graham of Avon, Indiana (Therapy)

Tobey - Australian Shepherd
owned by Pamela & Michael Fabian of Friendsville, PA (Exemplary Companion)

Toby - Samoyed
owned by Laura Luna-Brice of Oregon City, OR (Therapy)

Treasure - Golden Retriever
owned by Carrie Foura of Three Rivers, MI (Service)

Trevin - Labrador Retriever
owned by Carol Weldin of Alamo, CA (Therapy)

Trip - Labrador Retriever
owned by Joanne & David Grimsund of Somerset, WI (Exemplary Companion)

Tuhbet - Tibetan Spaniel
owned by Richard & Mary Groves of Tucson, AZ (Therapy)

Tungsten - Doberman Pinscher
owned by Brenna Spencer and Elaine & Arthur Greenwood of Monmouth, OR (Service)

Turbo - Rottweiler
owned by Pat Crawford of Valley View, TX (Therapy)

Valerie - Labrador Retriever
owned by Jerry & Sharon Klopfenstein of Louisville, KY (Therapy)

Venus - Rottweiler
owned by Sharon Williams, Ira, MI (Therapy)

Versace - Toy Poodle
owned by Heather Scott Davis of Hedgesville, WV (Exemplary Companion)

Vinnie - Doberman Pincher
owned by Patricia Policastro of Flagstaff, AZ (Therapy)

Vinny - Irish Wolfhound
owned by Ed & Kathy Crow & CCie Harris of Silverdale, WA (Exemplary Companion)

Woody - Golden Retriever
owned by Maynard Davis of Georgetown, SC (Therapy)

Zadok - Akita
owned by Julie Burk of Damascus, OR (Therapy)

Zip - Belgian Malinois
owned by Goodyear Police Department, handled by Ricky Melrose, of Goodyear, AZ (Law Enforcement)

Zorro - Pug
owned by Linda Price of Stillwater, OK (Exemplary Companion)