2011 ACE Nominees

The American Kennel Club Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) 2011

The American Kennel Club Humane Fund is proud to announce the nominees for the 2011 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 Orlando, Florida, on December 17 & 18, 2011. A local presentation will also be held for each recipient 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.

Alaska – Shetland Sheepdog (Service Dog)
owned by Shanna Wilkinson of Magna, UT
Amica – German Shepherd Dog (Therapy Dog)
owned by Gerard Smith of Carmel, NY
Amy – Bichon Frise (Service Dog)
owned by Diane A. Jansey of Orange, CA
Andy – Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Therapy Dog)
owned by Cynthia A. & David M. Bundy of Bristol, WI
Annie – Australian Shepherd (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Arlene Halloran of Pittsburgh, PA
Auri – German Shepherd Dog (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Kim Armstrong of Rapid City, SD
Bailey – Mastiff (Therapy Dog)
owned by Martha Rawls of Winsboro, LA
Becky – German Wirehaired Pointer (Therapy Dog)
owned by Ann and Terry Duffin of Bend, OR
Bella – Rottweiler (Therapy Dog)
owned by Julie McLain and Suzan Guynn of Madison, VA
Belle – Papillon (Service Dog)
owned by J. Gail McGrew of Loganville, GA
Belle – Golden Retriever (Therapy Dog)
owned by Geoffrey R. Goyette of Edison, NJ
Benelli – Rottweiler (Therapy Dog)
owned by Kelly Skiptunas of Wrightsville, PA
Billy – Chihuahua (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Victoria Ann Natirboff of Fruit Cove, FL
Bingo – Labrador Retriever (Service Dog)
owned by Konrad Feldmann of Liberty Township, OH
Blaze – Border Collie (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Steve Driscoll of Loxahatchee, FL
Bliss – Australian Shepherd (Therapy Dog)
owned by Susan Hartzler of Northridge, CA
Blue – German Shepherd Dog (Law Enforcement Dog)
owned by Suffolk Country Police Department of Yapank, NY
Bravo – Chesapeake Bay Retriever (Service Dog)
owned by Brenda Owens of Salt Lake City, UT
Brook – Collie (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Sharon Pflaumer of DeKalb, IL
Callie – Shetland Sheepdog (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Susan Leitner of Vancouver, WA
Charley – Welsh Terrier (Therapy Dog)
owned by Jerry & Ann Nickell of Oklahoma City, OK
Cisco – Leonberger (Therapy Dog)
owned by Lorene McLaughlin of Hydeville, VT
Chester – Toy Poodle (Therapy Dog)
owned by Lisa Cohen of Medford, NJ
Chewie – Leonberger (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Morgan Avila of Lynbrook, NY
Charm – Old English Sheepdog (Therapy Dog)
owned by Cliff and Paula Kegeler of Vicksburg, MI and Mary Ann Brocious of Milford, MI
Chase – Basset Hound (Therapy Dog)
owned by Marianne Lovejoy of Capistrano Beach, CA
Chili Dawg – Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Susan Stejskal, of Vicksburg, MI
Chloe – Shetland Sheepdog (Therapy Dog)
owned by Susan Hamada of Draper, UT
Clancey – Miniature Poodle (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Judith Shreiber of Baltimore, MD
Cody – Dalmatian (Therapy Dog)
owned by Amy Linder of Eugene, OR
Connor – Kerry Blue Terrier (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Lynn Mathers of Arlington, WA
Copper – Golden Retriever (Law Enforcement Dog)
owned by Melvin Miller of Renton, WA
Copper – Bloodhound (Law Enforcement Dog)
handled by Deputy Robert Wilkins of New Point Rickey, FL
Cota – Doberman Pinscher (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Rayanne Chamberlin of Lyons, MI
Crash – Doberman Pinscher (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Beth J. Harris of Sacramento, CA
Cyder – Labrador Retriever (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Nicole Cribbs of Lewiston, ID
Daisy – Border Collie (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Cynthia A. Daniello of Pollocksville, NC
Dakota – Labrador Retriever (Law Enforcement Dog)
owned by Kent J. Friberg of Monson, MA
Dakota – German Shepherd (Service Dog)
owned by Deb L. Phillips of Marysville, CA
Daphne – Golden Retriever (Therapy Dog)
owned by Thomas O’Connell of Liverpool, NY
Dasher – Saluki (Therapy Dog)
owned by Alice Brochner and Rick Brown of Garland, TX
Destiny – Shetland Sheepdog (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Richard Wilkinson of Magna, UT
Diesel – Bulldog (Service Dog)
owned by Rebecca Burlage of Mineral, VA
Doc – English Springer Spaniel (Therapy Dog)
owned by Tina Graham of Lowell, IN
Donal – Irish Setter (Therapy Dog)
owned by Kenneth and Joan Sadler of Edinbug, VA
Draco – Belgian Malinois (Law Enforcement Dog)
owned by Gwinnett County Police of Lawrenceville, GA
Drago – Spinone Italiano (Therapy Dog)
owned by Lauren M. Friedman and Christopher L. Sweetwood of Milford, CT
Duffy – Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Dorice Stancher of Hawthorn, NJ
Dutchess – Golden Retriever (Therapy Dog)
owned by Mark Condon of Poughkeepsie, NY
Dylan – Dachshund (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Kathy R. Kline of Middletown, MD
Eli – Alaskan Malamute (Therapy Dog)
owned by Robert L. Allan of Milton–Freewater, OR
Elias – Labrador Retriever (Service Dog)
owned by Kathy Nimmer of West Lafayette, IN
Evie – Labrador Retriever (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Steve and Susan Harp of Evansville, IN
Fergie – Irish Setter (Therapy Dog)
owned by Megan Daly of Sellersville, PA
Flip – Australian Shepherd (Service Dog)
owned by Maria Duthie of Medina, OH
Flora – Norwegian Lundehund (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Letty Afong of Biloxi, MS
Gigi – Rat Terrier (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Deborah Harpur of Wilmington, CA
Gimme / Tate – French Bulldog (Therapy Dog)
owned by Nicholle Hoke and Paul and Mary Raleigh of Camden, DE and Fredericksburg, TX
Gio – Spinone Italiano (Therapy Dog)
owned by Jolene Newcomer of Ephrata, PA
Grendel – German Shepherd Dog (Law Enforcement Dog)
owned by Officer Ryan Williams of Fond du Lac, WI
Greta – Bernese Mountain Dog (Therapy Dog)
owned by Julia Airgood of Pittsburgh, PA
Gus – Saint Bernard (Therapy Dog)
owned by Jan Parr of Edgewood, NM
Hambone – Irish Wolfhound (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Misty Anderson of Ocala, FL
Happy – German Shepherd Dog (Therapy Dog)
owned by Jean Elsroth of Greeneville, TN
Harley – German Shepherd Dog (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Jeff Jackson, Greenville, PA
Harper – Standard Poodle (Service Dog)
owned by Dana Gant of Newnan, GA
Hawke – Labrador Retriever (Therapy Dog)
owned by Barbara Burri and Richard Flynn of Plaiston, NH
Hope – Miniature Dachshund (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Dolores Fields of Henderson, NV
Honey – German Shepherd Dog (Service Dog)
owned by Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs Inc. of Williston, FL
Hunter – Border Collie (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by William Manahan of Tehachapi, CA
Jake – Labrador Retriever (Therapy Dog)
owned by Laura Lambert of League City, TX
Jessee – Shetland Sheepdog (Therapy Dog)
owned by Deann Shults Ball of London, KY
Jester – Poodle (Therapy Dog)
owned by Sharon Pflaumer of DeKalb, IL
Jolie – Toy Poodle (Service Dog)
owned by Phillis Peppard of Dumfries, VA
Kaze – Pug (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Caryl Ann Baxter of Stow, OH
Kennedy – English Springer Spaniel (Therapy Dog)
owned by Sara Margaret Gubala of Nederland, TX
Kentucky – Chinese Shar–Pei (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Kelly D. Shoulders of Magnolia, KY
Kenzie – Rough Collie (Service Dog)
owned by Alicia and Thomas Moore of Chesapeake Beach, MD
Kiki – Belgian Tervuren (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Kristi Smith of Elendale, AZ
Kitty – Portuguese Water Dog (Therapy Dog)
owned by Laura Hardman of Seattle, WA
Klint – Labrador Retriever (Service Dog)
owned by Kim Wilson of Farmington, NM
Lektor – German Shepherd Dog (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Sherri Gallagher of Mundelein, IL
Little Nell – Giant Schnauzer (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Anita & James Lewis of St. Helena, CA
Logan – Golden Retriever (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Catherine Mieczkowski of Brooklyn, NY
Logan – Pharaoh Hound (Therapy Dog)
owned by Robert Newman of Santa Ana, CA
Lugnut – Golden Retriever (Service Dog)
owned by Jeff Day and Kristi Rush of Indianapolis, IN
Maeve – Rottweiler (Therapy Dog)
owned by Pat Lenahan of Santa Ana, CA
Maggie – Labrador Retriever (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Carol Terranova of Wyoming, RI
Makayla – Golden Retriever (Therapy Dog)
owned by Taylor and Donna Ault of Powell, TN
Marci – Labrador Retriever (Therapy Dog)
owned by LuAnne Spencer–Hartle of Rancho Cordova, CA
Max – Chihuahua (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Kathryn Biederman of Renton, WA
McGuire – Golden Retriever (Service Dog)
owned by Jeffrey Lever of Chandler, AZ
Merit – Bloodhound (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Terri Heck of New Cumberland, PA
Michael – American Staffordshire Terrier (Therapy Dog)
owned by Michelle M. Okashima of Kings Beach, CA
Miki – Pomeranian (Therapy Dog)
owned by Tricia Baker of Plainsboro, NJ
Miss Daisy – Shih Tzu (Therapy Dog)
owned by Dolores Wolff of Bensalem, PA
Miss Lilli – Labrador Retriever (Therapy Dog)
owned by Joanne Huntley of Aloha, OR
Missi – Chihuahua (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Dorothy Rutherford of Orlando, FL
Mita – Golden Retriever (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Malay Ghose–Hajra of Metairie, LA
Mr. Bojangles – Bloodhound (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by David & Sue Daniel
Mixie – Cocker Spaniel (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Mary Jane Marrow of Honey Brook, PA
Mo – Pomeranian (Service Dog)
owned by James Murphy & Elizabeth Felicetti–Murphy of Palm Harbor, FL
Ollivander – Standard Poodle (Service Dog)
owned by Veronica Morris of El Cerrito, CA
P.D. – Belgian Tervuren (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Fran M. Friedman of Toledo, OH
Pearl – Labrador Retriver (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Ron Horetski of Canyon Lakes, CA
Puff – Papillon (Service Dog)
owned by Jean C. Keating of Williamsburg, VA
Quincey – English Springer Spaniel (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Linda Coffel of Sutherlin, OR
Racker – German Shepherd Dog (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Elizabeth Kreitler of Annapolis, MD
Raleigh – Havanese (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Mary and Robert Watt of Bellevue, WA
Redhot – Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier (Therapy Dog)
owned by Adrienne Cox of Oklahoma City, OK
Reggie – Leonberger (Therapy Dog)
owned by MaryAnn Ruggiero Smith and Kayleigh Knight of Powell, WY
Ricky – Pug (Therapy Dog)
owned by Ina & Bradley Dunlap of Eugene, OR
Rosie – Labrador Retriever (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Cindy Halliday of Williamsburg, VA
Rowdy – Newfoundland (Therapy Dog)
owned by  Ralph Holzhauer of Westport, NY
Roxy – German Shepherd Dog (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Blackburn Booth of Virginia Beach, VA
Safari – Cardigan Welsh Corgi (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Elaine Ballman of Lafayette, MN
Sage – Bloodhound (Service Dog)
owned by Cindi Sims and Sherry Duling of Lotus, CA
Santiago – Labrador Retriever (Service Dog)
owned by Derek Sinise of Alsip, IL
Saxon – Airedale Terrier (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Virginia Westfield–Slowik of Huntington Station, NY
Shane – Golden Retriever (Service Dog)
owned by Rachel Irwin of Adelanto, CA
Shawn – Labrador Retriever (Service Dog)
owned by David Williams of Columbus, OH
Shay – Kerry Blue Terrier (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Angela Chase of Lancaster, PA
Siena – Spinone Italiano (Therapy Dog)
owned by Lauren M> Friedman of Milford, CT
Sky – Labrador Retriever (Search and Rescue Dog)
owned by Linda Holland of Fort Smith, AR
Smiley – Chinese Crested (Service Dog)
owned by Sherry F. Lee of Mascot, TN
Storm – German Shepherd Dog (Service Dog)
owned by Ronald Wiedbusch of Ypsilanti, MI
Sunday – Labrador Retriever (Service Dog)
owned by Kristin Friend of Meridian, ID
T.J. – Pembroke Welsh Corgi (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Roberta A. Young of San Diego, CA
Tareth – Labrador Retriever (Therapy Dog)
owned by Joyce Wagner of Hayfork, CA
Tater – Greyhound (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Christina Newsome of Holly Springs, NC
Taylor – English Springer Spaniel (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Sharon Deputy of Fleetwood, PA
Temperance – Rottweiler (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Ember Jesmer of Oviedo, FL
Tery – Belgian Malinois (Law Enforcement Dog)
handled by Terri Giannetti of Middle Island, NY
Tess – Entlebucher Mountain Dog (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Jan Vincent of Alpine, UT
Thunder – Labrador Retriever (Service Dog)
owned by Harvey and Barbara Hazen of Wapato, WA
Tilly – English Bulldog (Therapy Dog)
owned by Alism Silver of Long Branch, NJ
Toby – Labrador Retriever (Law Enforcement Dog)
owned by the United States Army and handled by Army Specialist Thomas J. Jackson of Copperas Cove, TX
Trance – Boston Terrier (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Wendy Manning of Santa Barbara, CA
Treasure – Shetland Sheepdog (Therapy Dog)
owned by Debbie Bauer of Cochranville, PA
Trip – Labrador Retriever (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Joanne and David Grimsrud of St. Paul, MN
Tsunami – Shiba Inu (Therapy Dog)
owned by Mike and Jan Johnson of Soldotna, AK
Tucker – Standard Poodle (Service Dog)
owned by Kathleen Ermer of Merrill, WI
Tugg – Bull Terrier (Exemplary Companion Dog)
owned by Blake and Kim Ovard of Cleburne, TX
Whimsey – Labrador Retriever (Service Dog)
owned by Dawn Brush of Aberdeen, SD
Willie – Portuguese Water Dog (Therapy Dog)
owned by Marsha Goodman of Scottsdale, AZ