AKC Announces Winners Of The 2004 Awards For Canine Excellence
(ACE) [Five Dogs From Around the Nation Demonstrate Unconditional
Devotion and Awe-Inspiring Assistance to Mankind

New York, NY – The American Kennel Club announced today the winners of
the fifth annual Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE), which honor the extraordinary canine-human bond and the innumerable ways in which dogs meaningfully contribute to our lives. Awards are given annually to dogs in each of the following five categories: Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Therapy, Service, and Exemplary Companion Dog.

“Each year, we get hundreds of the most wonderfully touching and heroic stories,” said Gail Miller, AKC spokesperson and member of the ACE judging
panel. “Our panel is constantly amazed at the quantity and quality of the stories. It just demonstrates the impact that dogs have on people’s lives, offering their unconditional love and often being critical to their well-being – whether emotionally or physically or both.”

This year's five recipients will be honored individually at local ceremonies and, collectively, at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Tampa, Fla., on January 15 - 16, 2005 which will be televised live on Animal Planet. The honorees will each receive a cash award of $1,000 and an engraved sterling silver collar medallion at the event.

This year's honorees:

• Search and Rescue Award: "Saber", Dallas, TX
• Therapy Awards: "Sadie", Fort Worth, TX
• Law Enforcement Award: "Justice", Ocala, FL
• Service Award: "Kelsie", Toms River, NJ
• Companion Award: "Stormy", Alpine, CA

For more information on these amazing dogs, go to:
http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2184