Modern Dogs will be interested to know that the ASPCA
is seeking nominations for their annual Humane Awards that honours people or
pets who have engaged in acts of heroism over the past year in the United
States. Last year’s winners included a piano-playing shelter cat; a Labrador
retriever who served as an assistance dog to an injured veteran; an 11-year-old
girl who launched a Web site to purchase pet masks for fire departments;
firefighters who rescued a pooch that fell into a frozen lake; and officials of
the Humane Society of Missouri and undercover agents who worked tirelessly in
the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history.

This
year, categories open for nomination are:

  • 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 better 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 January 12at www.aspca.org/nominate. 

Winners will be invited to attend the Humane
Awards Luncheon, sponsored by the Hartville Group, on Thursday, November 11, at
the Pierre Hotel in New York City, where the awards will be presented.

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 Wednesday, June 30. Winners will be chosen by a
committee selected by the ASPCA and announced to the public in
October. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org/nominate.

Here’s one of last year’s winners: Nora, the piano playing cat!