ASPCA Announces 2013 Humane Awards Winners
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Remarkable pit bull, inspiring young animal advocate, and therapeutic feline among those to be honored at annual luncheon
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"This year's Humane Awards winners not only exemplify our mission of preventing cruelty to animals, but bring greater awareness to the unique and meaningful bond between humans and their pets," said ASPCA President & CEO
The ASPCA's annual Humane Awards Luncheon—sponsored by the
Following a nationwide public call for nominations, an ASPCA-appointed committee reviewed hundreds of entries and selected winners in six categories.
The 2013 ASPCA Humane Award winners are:
ASPCA®
Koshka
Koshka the cat's story begins across the world at the front lines of war. Koshka was a stray when she struck up a friendship with Staff Sgt.
After his duty in
ASPCA®
Presented in memoriam to
Six-year-old
Catherine's parents,
This award is dedicated to
ASPCA® Presidential Service Award for Media Excellence
In
Harris's many awards and accolades include both an
ASPCA®
Before founding National Mill Dog Rescue,
In February of that year, Strader founded the nonprofit National Mill Dog Rescue, which has since rescued and placed over 8,000 puppy mill survivors and has garnered national attention for its tireless and challenging work. Run almost solely by volunteers, the organization's mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home discarded breeding dogs, and to educate the public about the cruel realities of the commercial dog breeding industry.
On
ASPCA® Dog of the Year
Xena
On
Remarkably, the puppy rebounded, prompting Chrissy and her partner, Aaron, to name her Xena, the Warrior Puppy. Soon after, they started a Facebook page to help raise funds for Xena's treatment and chronicle her amazing recovery. Friends and fans were mesmerized by Xena's story. Two months later, at a party in Xena's honor, the puppy bonded with the Hickey family and their eight-year-old son, Jonny, who is autistic.
Before Xena came into his life, Jonny very rarely communicated with others, and sought comfort in solitary activities. But Jonny forged a miraculous connection with Xena that brought out Jonny's playfulness, his singing voice, and verbal assessments of everything he sees and experiences.
Together, Jonny and Xena spread a message of compassion for both animals and those with autism throughout America and 89 countries, territories and provinces around the world. Their efforts include a YouTube video to promote Autism Awareness Month as well as Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. Xena has participated in the Atlanta Dog Jog and Atlanta Autism Speaks walk, appeared at fundraisers for FODA, and received a medal from the
ASPCA® Public Service Award
Master Patrolman
Sergeant
Special Agent
The three recipients of the ASPCA 2013 Public Service Award played pivotal roles in investigating and raiding a large dog fighting operation in
- Master Patrolman and
FBI Task Force Officer Dion R. Dundovich , has been with theKansas City, Kansas (KCK) Police Department since 1999. Prior to joining theFBI's Safe Street Task Force in 2008, Officer Dundovich was a member of the KCK Police Department Special Enforcement Unit, serving as a tactical team member focused on the criminal activities of violent gangs and major drug trafficking organizations. Officer Dundovich served as co-case agent for this investigation, dedicating numerous hours culminating in the execution of a search, multiple arrests and the rescue of multiple animals in the state ofTexas . - Sergeant
Bruce W. Houston is a 26-year veteran of theMissouri State Highway Patrol . Following a tip from theHarrison County (Mo.) Sherriff's Office, Houston led efforts to conduct surveillance and gather information about dog fights in the area. He soon learned that a simultaneous drug investigation was open with theFBI on the same subjects inKansas andMissouri .Sergeant Houston worked with Master PatrolmanDion Dundovich and Special AgentKaren Smilgis to apprehend the subjects before the next scheduled dog fight could take place inTexas . - Special Agent
Karen J. Smilgis joined theFBI inOctober 2007 where she was assigned to theKansas City division to investigate matters on theJoint Terrorism Task Force /International Terrorism Squad, Gangs and Criminal Enterprises Squad, and the Public Corruption Squad. Special Agent Smilgis served as the FBI's primary investigator and case agent for this multi-state, multi-agency investigation.
About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (
SOURCE ASPCA
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