Press Release

 

Calling All Remarkable Pets and Animal Lovers!

 

ASPCA Seeks Nominations for Annual Humane Awards

May 2, 2009

ASPCA Media Contact

NEW YORK– The ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is inviting the public to nominate extraordinary pets and people for its 2009 Humane Awards.

If you know a fabulous feline or precocious pooch with a knack for saving lives, or a heroic human being who has improved the lives of animals, the ASPCA wants to hear from you! The ASPCA is currently accepting nominations via its web site at www.aspca.org/hal.

Last year’s winners included a guide cat to a blind pooch; a black Labrador mix who helped a 10-year-old boy battling cerebral palsy through his road to recovery; a 12-year-old girl who launched a web site to help provide food to dogs and cats at shelters across the country; a law enforcement officer who works tirelessly to prosecute animal abusers; and a firefighter who saved an injured bear cub from a wildfire.

“The ASPCA Humane Awards is our way of recognizing those who have gone above and beyond for animal welfare and animal heroes who have dedicated their lives to help others,” said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “It’s a wonderful way to acknowledge the important role companion animals play in our lives.”

Those who may be considered for this distinguished honor include humans who have worked on behalf of animal welfare and animals who have engaged in acts of heroism in the United States during the past year. Winners will be invited to attend the Humane Awards Luncheon, sponsored by the Hartville Group, on Thursday, October 29, at the newly-renovated Pierre Hotel in New York City, where the awards will be presented.

Categories open for nomination include:

  • ASPCA Dog of the Year: for a dog who has performed a heroic act in the past year;
  • ASPCA Cat of the Year: for a cat who has performed a heroic act in the past year;
  • ASPCA “Tommy P. Monahan” Kid of the Year: for a child under 14 who has helped make the world a kinder place for animals;
  • ASPCA Public Service Award: for a member of the municipal police force, a firefighter, or other public service officer who has made a heroic effort to save an animal in the past year; and
  • Other Nominations: any other nomination that does not fit into any of the above categories.

The ASPCA will begin accepting nominations via its web site on April 1 at www.aspca.org/nominate.  All submissions must include the following: the nominee’s name, street address, email address; telephone number; the category for which he/she is being nominated; and a short statement (400 words or less) of why this person or pet deserves the award. 

The deadline for entries is Friday, July 31, at 12 PM (EST). Winners will be chosen by a committee selected by the ASPCA and announced to the public in mid-October.  For more information, please visit www.aspca.org/nominate.

 

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About Hartville Group, Inc.
The Hartville Group is one of America's oldest and most established independent pet health insurers.  Since its founding in 1997, the Hartville Group has been dedicated to helping pet owners pay for their pets' veterinary care with well-designed pet health insurance plans.  The insurance plans range from simple accident coverage to more comprehensive protection including illness and wellness care. The Hartville Group is ASPCA's strategic partner for pet health insurance. For more information on the Hartville Group and its insurance offerings, please visit www.hartvillegroup.com.

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Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org.

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