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Five Heroic Dogs Honored with AKC® Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence


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There were 5 category's and one of Service Dog Project's dogs won for service dog of the year this year. I didn't post the entire article, because it is long, just George's part. It was a complete surprise. Well, not at George but at the award. So proud of all of those dogs. :wub:

 

 

NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire

 

The AKC® Humane Fund has announced the winners of the 16th annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). These awards commemorate five loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly impacted the lives of their owners and people in their 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 include a Military Working Dog that protects Presidents, a Great Dane that helps his young owner walk, a therapy dog that comforts military members and their loved ones, a human remains detection dog that brings closure to families and a show dog that serves as an ambassador for purebred dogs.

"Whether they serve as uniformed service, search and rescue, therapy, service, or exemplary companion dogs, each ACE nomination we receive is a testimony to the loyalty, devotion and strength dogs give to us," said AKC Spokesperson Gina DiNardo. "Each dog's devotion to their work and the impact they make in their community is an inspiration to dog lovers everywhere."

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 Pet Partners, Inc. and an engraved sterling silver medallion to be presented at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Orlando, Florida on Saturday and Sunday, December 12-13, 2015.

Service Dog: "George," a Great Dane owned by Rachel Burton of Woburn, Massachusetts
"George" comes from the Service Dog Project, which trains dogs to help the mobility impaired. The Great Dane was paired with Bella, a 10-year-old girl with a rare genetic disorder called Morquio Syndrome. This disorder makes mobility exceptionally difficult and requires Bella to undergo many operations. Before she met George, Bella used a wheelchair or crutches to move around, but George has given Bella the strength and determination to walk and take part in activities she otherwise would not have been able to do. George and Bella have an inseparable bond and he will do anything for her. He has helped her gain confidence, independence and happiness.


Five Heroic Dogs Honored with AKC® Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/five-heroic-dogs-honored-with-akc-humane-fund-awards-for-canine-excellence-ace-300155865.html

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Bella and George were featured on ABC's nightly news tonight! It was a very short clip but it was so touching. It's nice that it is getting national coverage. They didn't mention that George won service dog of the year this year from the AKC or that he was donated from Service Dog Project but it was so short and I'm sure it was edited to the bone. And, after all, it was about Bella tonight. :wub:

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/special-bond-young-girl-rare-genetic-disorder-service-34980708

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This is on the AKC website. One interview with Bella's mom and one with Carlene. Both very short.
http://www.akc.org/news/great-dane-service-dog-helps-girl/

 

I think they go get George's major award in Florida in about 2 weeks. The Camera People (us) bought the family tickets to Disney World while they are going to be down there. Bella has been practicing with George trying to get him to fit on an airplane floor between the seats. She has chairs lined up trying to get him backed in.

Ethel flew this summer and the airline let them sit in the first seat so they'd have more room for her. George is bigger than Ethel though.

 

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Wow, exciting for a girl who has struggled so hard to arrive at this sort of reception and encouragement. I'd imagine the parents are just tickled to see their dd enjoying life with George!

 

Yeah, with a service dog, I'd request "bulkhead seating". Without one, I don't want to give up the place for my pack of essentials ...stuffed under the seat in front of me.

 

:sigh: On a plane, as everywhere else, I have many ESSENTIALS that I want close to hand. :P

 

 

MtRider ...just trying to be self-sufficient with my many NEEDS. :shrug:

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She is quite an amazing girl. She has been through so much in her short life. I can only imagine where she would be now if it wasn't for George. A lonely shy little girl sitting in a wheelchair. :sad-smiley-012:

 

George was named for the veterinarian who has looked after the dogs for many many years and is on the board of directors and is now semi retired. He still makes house for Carlene's brood though. More for play than work I suspect.

 

The AKC only paid for her to bring 2 other people with her but she has a big sister. They had the money to pay for the sister to go but that was all. And they really scraped to get the funds for that. So...with all of us (a lot of us) donating a few bucks the family will have a great time in Disney too. Also, since it is in December and they are coming from Mass. I'll bet they will be surprised by the weather difference. Some of the volunteers are going down too for support.

 

Sometimes life can be a beautiful thing.

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Bella and George and family have landed in Florida to get George's 'major award'. I think it is tomorrow night. George did a great job flying. Usually as long as he can see Bella, he is fine in just about any situation. They said Jet Blue went above and beyond accommodating them. Nice to hear. Here is a picture of George's pilot and flight crew. The girl in the middle is Bella's sister. They all get to go to Disney next week. I'm really excited for them!

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I recognize that size of big ole paw!

 

Koa was so calm riding thru the airport [puppy days] on top of a load on my wheelchair. She sprawled on top of her carrier like a princess :darlenequeen: and people stopped rushing thru the airport to adore her. She took it as her due....even at 12 wks old. :lol:

 

If I tried her in a crowd today....there would be different results. We're hermits on the mountain up here! :AmishMichaelstraw:

 

MtRider :thumbs:

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They do have big feetz! It's funny how dogs can make people slow down and have "Awwww" moments.

 

There is a little 'concern' about how he will act at Disney World. He is used to screaming kids from going to elementary school every day. But when he is up close and personal with Mickey and the others he might have some second thoughts.

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Some anonymous person who watches the cameras (we're called CP's or Camera People/Person) at Service Dog Project treated George and his family to a free day at Sea World while they are down in Florida. We still don't know who it was. The performers came out and had their picture taken with them. So many generous and truly nice people still left in this world.

 

I can remember when George was born. Watching him grow up and sending fluffies and stuffies. And wee wee pads. I can also remember when Bella started coming to the farm on Sundays to visit and volunteer. We were all very careful to not get her face in our 'screen shots' that we posted, for privacy reasons. We've all come a long way baby. Whomever said, "It's not the destination but the journey" was 100% correct.

 

I really love that George.

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Earlier today I was over at SDP checking out the pups and clicked over to the Doggie Dorm camera. I thought I heard music and turned up my speakers. They had Christmas music playing in there and Audrey was 'singing'. They play classical music out in the kennels at night but that camera doesn't have sound. That place is like a box of chocolates...ya never know what you're gonna get.

 

Oooo-oh. Hooooo-ly Night.

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Only one breeder, Carlene. Yes, it’s very emotional. There are many other dogs doing the same thing. They have over 50 dogs out there that are helping others. So far only two children. Hunter, around 9 years old, has dog Wendy. She is doing the exact same thing as George. Hunter has CP and is facing a multitude of surgeries in just a couple of weeks. Wendy has kept him out of a wheelchair for a few years so he could build up his strength to be able to have these surgeries. He only wanted one thing for Christmas. A robot vacuum cleaner. LOL. His family couldn’t afford the one he had his heart set on. We found out about it. We sent ‘many’ requests to the company and they are donating one to him for Christmas. And my Ethel is helping her person Julia to walk again after a motorcycle accident paralyzed her from the waist down. We got to see her take her first two steps, with Ethel bracing her, on a video. Steve has Charlie. Steve is a retired army veteran and police detective. He suffered a traumatic brain injury (balance issues) while in Operation Desert Storm and was confined to a wheelchair. Long story short, Steve is no longer in a wheelchair and he and Charlie do a 3K walk for the Red Sox charity every year. Charlie is the first dog to ever cross home plate in Fenway Park and he does it every year. Steve is now a trainer at Service Dog Project and a liaison for other veterans. I could go on and on. All these dogs do is to allow people to lean on them and to help them up when they fall. They all fall quite a lot but they no longer have to sit there and wait for someone to come help them. Many were housebound but now, they are out there working and playing with a little help from their best friend.

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