ASPCA announces Dog of the Year, other awards. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has announced the extraordinary animals being honored for their heroic deeds this year. The “Dog of the Year” award went to former shelter canine Pearl, a black Labrador adopted by the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation who was trained and certified as a search dog.
Following the January earthquake in Haiti early this year, Pearl was deployed to assist and became part of a search group that found and saved 12 people. “Cat of the Year” was awarded to a feline named Henry, who was found as a stray kitten by Cathy Conheim of California, with a leg so injured it had to be amputated. Inspired by Henry’s courageous resiliency, Ms. Conheim began writing uplifting children's books about him, which have been distributed to recipients such as Hurricane Katrina survivors and families of wounded veterans.

The ASPCA also recognized individuals who have significantly affected animals’ lives this past year. Artistically gifted 11-year-old Olivia Bouler of New York was named “Kid of the Year” for her original watercolor illustrations of birds that she used to raise funds and awareness for wildlife affected by the recent Gulf Coast oil spill. The ASPCA “Public Service Award” recognized the selfless and brave efforts of New York firefighters of Ladder 116, whose quick response to a pet store fire saved 30 cats and dogs. The organization’s “Henry Bergh Award,” named after its founder, went to Kathleen Schwartz-Howe and her family for their commitment to saving equines through her sanctuary, Days End Farm Horse Rescue.

Finally, the first of two ASPCA “Presidential Service Awards” was bestowed upon multiple Emmy-award winning TV writer and producer Sam Simon and the foundation in his name, which saves at-risk dogs from shelters and trains them to become certified therapy canines, who are then matched with the hearing-impaired and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. The second “Presidential Service Award” went to aviation pilots Julia Ryan and Clark Burgard, who founded Animal Rescue Flights (ARF), a charity that saves animals’ lives by transporting them from shelters to other parts of the country where people are waiting to adopt them.

We salute and send our heartfelt thanks to the awardees for your deserved recognition. May your caring hearts continue such uplifting work with animal companions as we are all inspired toward a greater recognition of the unconditional love with which they grace our lives.