Do You Know of an Extraordinary Pet or Person?

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!