2010 ACE Nominees

The American Kennel Club Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) 2010

The American Kennel Club Humane Fund is proud to announce the nominees for the 2010 Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). Established in 2000, ACE has become a valuable public-outreach program for the AKC Humane Fund 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 in late August. 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 4 – 5, 2010. 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. Dogs earning honorable mention will be cited and will receive bronze collar medallions.

Abby – Golden Retriever (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Gretchen Herbert of Franklinville, NY
Amalia – Rottweiler (Therapy)
owned by Maureen Keller of Maryville, IL
Amy – Bichon Frise (Service)
owned by Diane Jansey of Orange, CA
Andrew – Shih Tzu (Therapy)
owned by Mel and Joyce Grimm of Farmington, NM
Annie – Newfoundland (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Jeannie Eagan of Redwood City, CA
Bailey – Irish Setter (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Dean and Barb of Wray, CO
Baldwin – Puli (Therapy)
owned by Susan Hartzler of Northridge, CA
Bandit – Australian Cattle Dog (Search and Rescue)
owned by Eric Sheets & Kimberly Lake of Castro Valley, CA
Belle – Chinese Shar-Pei (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Deborah Gill of Luthersville, GA
Bliss – Australian Shepherd (Therapy)
owned by Susan Hartzler of Northridge, CA
Blue – Collie (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Candace Bywaters of Houston, TX
Brasil – Whippet (Therapy)
owned by Donald Paul Smith of Darien, CT
Brassy – American Staffordshire Terrier (Service)
owned by Emilo Torres of Gerard, OH
Bravo – Chesapeake Bay Retriever (Service)
owned by Brenda Owens of Salt Lake City, UT
Briar – Rough Collie (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Penelope Godfrey-McNitt of Lansing, MI
Buddy – Labrador Retriever (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Sari Hewlett-Pacheco of Liverpool, TX
Buddy – German Shepherd Dog (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Benjamin Heinrichs of Willow, AK
Bully – Bullmastiff (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Bernice King of Frenchtown, NJ
Caitee – Golden Retriever (Therapy)
owned by Carolyn C. & Philip Corbett of Westminster, CO
Cash – American Staffordshire Terrier (Therapy)
owned by Tracy Sanderson of Dade City, FL
Carley – German Shepherd Dog (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Dan & Mary Ann Quigley of East Aurora, NY
Cassius – German Shepherd Dog (Search and Rescue)
owned by Peter Taft of New York, NY
Charm – Old English Sheepdog (Therapy)
owned by Paula & Cliff Kegeler & Marianne Brocious of Vicksburg, MI
Chelsea – Labrador Retriever (Law Enforcement)
owned by Fresno County Department of Agriculture of Fresno, CA
Cody – Dalmatian (Therapy)
owned by Amy Linder of Eugene, OR
Cola – Afghan Hound (Therapy)
owned by Sandra J. Truitt of Bettendorf, IA
Copper – Bloodhound (Law Enforcement)
owned by Pasco Sheriff’s Office in New Port Richey, FL
Czaro – German Shepherd Dog (Search and Rescue)
owned by Sonja Heritage of Bowie, MD
Dakota – Bernese Mountain Dog (Therapy)
owned by Sharon Ussery of Chula Vista, CA
Darla Jean – Shih Tzu (Therapy)
owned by Mel and Joyce Grimm of Farmington, NM
Dasha – Golden Retriever (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Iris Piñero of San Juan, PR
Dasher – Saluki (Therapy)
owned by Rick Brown and Alice Brochner of Frisco, TX
Delilah – Miniature Poodle (Therapy)
owned by Patti Hunsicker of Keatchie, LA
Diablo – Belgian Malinois (Law Enforcement)
owned by PFC Chris Sarnecky of New Castle, DE
Diesel – Bulldog (Service)
owned by Rebecca Burlage of Mineral, VA
Dizney – Golden Retriever (Therapy)
owned by Carol & Dan Everetts of Harrisburg, SD
Ethan – German Shepherd Dog (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Jennifer Souster of Plum City, WI
Finn – Labrador Retriever (Search and Rescue)
owned by Kathleen Connor of Dayton, VA
Flounder – Labrador Retriever (Therapy)
owned by Erick and PK Lichtenberger of St. Petersburg, FL
Frank – Newfoundland (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Sherry Davis of Bakersfield, CA
Fritz – German Shepherd Dog (Therapy)
owned by Scott & Amanda Hackbarth of Spanaway, WA
Gabby – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (Therapy)
owned by Vicky Halstead & Cindy Huggins of Pasco, WA
Gaea – Labrador Retriever (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Norma Jones of San Francisco, CA
Gilligan – Boston Terrier (Therapy)
owned by Jennifer Hess of Marlton, NJ
Hero – German Shepherd Dog (Law Enforcement)
owned by Lt. John Kerwick of New York, NY
ICE – Flat-Coated Retriever (Therapy)
owned by Kim Holmes of Toledo, OH
Issy – Labrador Retriever (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Linda Miller & Robert Rafalke of Strongsville, OH
Jeb – Bluetick Coonhound (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Paula McCollum of Boise, ID
Jessee – Shetland Sheepdog (Therapy)
owned by DeAnn Shults of London, KY
Jib – Wire Fox Terrier (Therapy)
owned by Suzanne Placer of Lafayette, LA
Joey – Havanese (Therapy)
owned by Robbie Meerdink & Sissie Klein of Orange City, IA
Joy – Mastiff (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Claire Petrosky of Lake Worth, FL
Kai-Lee – Shih Tzu (Therapy)
owned by Mel and Joyce Grimm of Farmington, NM
Kokomo – Pomeranian (Service)
owned by James & Elizabeth Murray of Palm Harbor, FL
Lacey – Labrador Retriever (Therapy)
owned by Julie Miller of Elkton, MD
Lakota – Akita (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Carol Drymon of Vernon, AZ
Lili – Maltese (Therapy)
owned by Marilyn Mendoza of Moorpark, CA
Lilly – Miniature Pinscher (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Thomas Davis of Brighton, CO
Maeve – Rottweiler (Therapy)
owned by Patricia Lenahan of Santa Ana, CA
Major – German Shepherd Dog (Service)
owned by Bill & Julie Hammons of Azle, TX
Marci – Labrador Retriever (Therapy)
owned by Lu-Anne Spencer-Hartle of Rancho Cordova, CA
Max – Great Pyrenees (Therapy)
owned by Jeannie Balstridge of Fitzgerald, GA
Maya – Labrador Retriever (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Linda Fields of Las Vegas, NV
Michael – American Staffordshire Terrier (Therapy)
owned by Michelle Okashima of Truckee, CA
Milo – Golden Retriever (Service)
owned by Angela Folie of Minneapolis, MN
Nia – Labrador Retriever (Search and Rescue)
owned by K.T. Irwin of Cody, WY
Nike – German Shepherd Dog (Law Enforcement)
owned by Cpl. Mark Tobin of New Castle, DE
Oola – Bernese Mountain Dog (Therapy)
owned by Michael Grossi of Plainville, CT
Oreo – Cocker Spaniel (Therapy)
owned by Michelle Mamaradlo of Staten Island, NY
Oscar – Dachshund (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Paula Booth of Milton, WA
Peak – Golden Retriever (Service)
owned by Lorraine C. Sutton of New Smyrna Beach, FL
Pearl – Giant Schnauzer (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Joanne Thompson of Bellvue, CO
Pepper – Border Collie (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Ed & Andrea Bem of Newton, NJ
Phred – Golden Retriever (Therapy)
owned by Cliff & Linda Smith of Oregon, OH
Piper – Golden Retriever (Therapy)
owned by Karrie Nasers of Battle Creek, MI
Prince – American Staffordshire Terrier (Service)
owned by Cirilla A. Logan of Ipswich, MA
Ramsey – Collie (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Scott & Jeannette Cawley of Portage, MI
RB – Belgian Sheepdog (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Sherry Banks & Jill Miller of Bothell, WA
Ribbon – Briard (Therapy)
owned by Joan Hill of Miami Shores, FL
Ricochet – Golden Retriever (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Judy Fridono of Escondido, CA
Rita – Gordon Setter (Therapy)
owned by Joyce G. Quinn of Millington, MD
Rocky – Labrador Retriever (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Darren & Marjorie Bell of Richmond, IN
Rufus – Black Russian Terrier (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Fred Johnson of Edmond, OK
Rufus – Bull Terrier (Therapy)
owned by Thomas & Barbara Bishop of Holmdel, NJ
Rugar – Rottweiler (Therapy)
owned by Anna Lane of Skokie, IL
Sasha – Chihuahua (Therapy)
owned by Coleen Howell of Riverdale, MI
Sesar – German Shepherd Dog (Law Enforcement)
owned by John Barrera of Del Rio, TX
Sher – German Shepherd Dog (Search and Rescue)
owned by Sherie Gwin of Prospect, VA
Siena – Spinone Italiano (Therapy)
owned by Lauren M. Friedman of Milford, CT
Skyler – German Pinscher (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Sally Benson of Grand Junction, CO
Sophie – Shih Tzu (Exemplary Companion)
owned by Susan Mac Melville of Brockton, MA
Tembo – Labrador Retriever (Service)
owned by Barbara Schwartz of Windham, ME
Ten – Standard Poodle (Therapy)
owned by Mia DiBenedetto of Wickford, RI
Tex – Labrador Retriever (Therapy)
owned by Barbara Eberhardt of Dallas, TX
Tikva – Keeshond (Therapy)
owned by Cindy Ehlers of Eugene, OR
Timmy – Shetland Sheepdog (Therapy)
owned by Dee Dee & Dean Geisert of Eagle River, AK
Vickie – Labrador Retriever (Service)
owned by Barbara & James Burton of Baton Rouge, LA
Wyatt – Rhodesian Ridgeback (Service)
owned by Janice Wolfe of Wyckoff, NJ
Zeke – Golden Retriever (Therapy)
owned by Linda & Jay Katz of South Orange, NJ
Zosia – Australian Shepherd (Therapy)
owned by Deborah Potter of Alameda, NM