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ASPCA Announces 2014 Humane Award Winners
A therapeutic cat, dedicated congressman, and resilient pit
bull
among those honored at annual luncheon
A
group of outstanding animals and people – including a
therapy cat, a 10-year-old girl with a special wish, a
twelve-term Congressman and a resilient pit bull– honored at
this year’s ASPCA®
(The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals®) Humane Awards Luncheon in New York City.
The ceremony recognizes animal heroes who have demonstrated extraordinary
efforts as well as individuals who have shown great
commitment to animal welfare
during the past year.
“The 2014 Humane Awards winners represent stories of
tremendous courage and determination, but also remind us how
important animals are to our lives, and the care and
protection we can give them in return,” said ASPCA President
& CEO Matthew Bershadker. “We are proud to honor these
winners, and hope their journeys inspire more humane action
across the country.”
The ASPCA’s annual Humane Awards Luncheon is sponsored by
the Hartville Pet Insurance Group, Inc., one of America’s
oldest pet health insurers and provider of ASPCA Pet Health
Insurance. This special event will be held on Thursday,
November 13, 2014, from noon to 2 p.m. at Cipriani 42nd
Street in New York City.
Following a nationwide public call for nominations, an ASPCA-appointed
committee reviewed hundreds of entries and selected winners
in six categories.
The 2014 ASPCA Humane Award winners are:
ASPCA® Cat of the Year
Studley
Olympia, Wash.
Weighing a mere four pounds and covered in matted fur,
Studley the cat was found abandoned along the side of the
road by Joint Animal Services in 2006. Though sick,
emaciated and nearly starved to death, Studley was adopted
and nursed back to health by one of the shelter volunteers.
It’s at that point that Studley -- a cheerful white-haired
feline with one gold eye and one blue eye – became a therapy
cat, giving love and comfort to people in need. Studley is
the only therapy cat in the program out of more than 30
animals in the Providence
Animal-Assisted Activities and Therapy program (PAAA/T),
and has been a regular visitor to the Providence St. Peter
Hospital in Olympia, Wash. where’s he’s been offering
comfort to patients primarily in the psychiatric unit since
2007.
ASPCA® Tommy P. Monahan Kid of the Year
Annika Glover
Killen, Ala.
Annika Glover, a selfless 11-year-old with an incredibly
large heart, heroically chose to help animals in need while
coping with her own medical struggle. Though Annika looks
like a typical fifth grader, she has bravely battled a type
of cancerous brain tumor called Medulloblastoma for nearly
the last four years. At just nine years old, she was a
participant in the Make-A-Wish program, she put her love for
animals above her own human interests when she used her one
wish to save animals in need. This wish was granted by the
Alabama chapter of Make-A-Wish, which donated $7,000 in
Annika’s name to the Pets
Are Worth Saving (P.A.W.S.)
rescue group in Florence, Ala. "I wanted to help animals a
whole bunch. I grew up around animals and love them so
much," said Annika. In her spare time, Annika enjoys
volunteering, fostering animals and educating people about
the importance of spaying and neutering their pets. In
August 2014, Annika received remarkable news of her own:
that her cancer was in remission.
*This award is dedicated to Tommy P. Monahan, a
nine-year-old Staten Island boy who perished in a 2007 house
fire trying to save his pet.
ASPCA® Presidential Service Award
Congressman Jim Moran
Alexandria, Va.
When Congressman Jim Moran announced that he would retire at
the end of his term in 2014, it became clear that animals
would lose a longtime ally in Congress. Representative
Moran’s unwavering dedication to ending animal cruelty and
suffering gave a compassionate voice to the voiceless in the
halls of Congress. The twelve-term Congressman from Northern
Virginia has been one of Capitol Hill’s strongest champions
for animal welfare, advocating for causes including ending
horrific horse slaughter, cracking down on abusive animal
fighting, and introducing a bill to phase out animal testing
for cosmetics in the United States. As co-chair of the
bipartisan Congressional
Animal Protection Caucus, Rep. Moran worked with
legislators on both sides of the aisle to create humane,
common-sense legislation. Rep. Moran also worked with the
ASPCA to host a series of “Paws
for Celebration” events to showcase the work of shelters
and rescues across the United States, and bring adoptable
cats and dogs to Capitol Hill. Though he leaves Congress at
the end of the year, Rep. Moran has brought the discussion
of animal welfare to a place of prominence in the highest
level of our government, and his tireless work has created a
legacy that will protect animals well into the future.
ASPCA® Henry Bergh Award
Lori Weise, Downtown Dog Rescue
Los Angeles, Calif.
During her daily commute eighteen years ago to a furniture
factory on the edge of Skid Row in Los Angeles, Lori Weise
routinely saw stray dogs suffering from terrible abuse and
horrific neglect. Inspired to act, Lori and her coworkers
created Downtown
Dog Rescue in
the back of her furniture factory to rescue animals from
dangerous situations and care for them. For many animals, it
was the first time they ever experienced compassion. Known
as “The Pit Bull Lady,” Lori has evolved Downtown Dog Rescue
into a large volunteer-based animal charity that rescues
dogs and assists underserved communities in South East Los
Angeles, Watts and Compton. Lori and Downtown Dog Rescue
created the South L.A. Shelter Intervention Program in 2013,
providing pet owners resources to keep their pets rather
than relinquish them to the South L.A. Animal Shelter.
Downtown Dog Rescue now has its own kennel with room for 35
dogs, and has provided free spay/neuter surgeries for more
than 10,000 dogs in the Los Angeles area. Lori has also
helped almost 13,000 dogs and cats stay in their homes and
avoid being placed in shelters. Lori’s selfless and
nonjudgmental philosophy continues to break down obstacles
and change the landscape for animal welfare in these Los
Angeles communities.
ASPCA® Dog of the Year
Jonny Justice
San Francisco, Calif.
Jonny Justice was one of 49 dogs rescued from unimaginable
cruelty as part of the 2007 Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting
investigation, which resulted in the conviction of NFL
quarterback Michael Vick and others. The ASPCA played a
central role in the investigation, assisting with the
recovery and analysis of forensic evidence from Vick’s
property, and leading a team of certified applied animal
behaviorists to evaluate the rescued dogs. A black and white
pit bull, who had little or no positive interactions with
people or other dogs, Jonny was given a second chance when
he was adopted by his foster parents, Cris Cohen and
Jennifer Long. As Jonny adjusted to life as a typical pet,
it became clear that he loved interacting with children. In
2008 he found his true calling as a therapy dog, and these
days spends much of his time offering love and support to
terminally ill children receiving medical treatment (and
their families). Jonny is also a champion for literacy, and
has participated in programs, where children practice their
language skills by reading aloud to him. The tale of Jonny’s
inspirational comeback from the horrors of dog fighting to
work as a therapy dog has traveled far and wide, even
inspiring a line of plush toys that extend his ability to
touch children across the country.
ASPCA® Public Service Award
Commissioner William J. Bratton and the New York City Police
Department
New York, N.Y.
Following a successful 2013 pilot program in the Bronx, the
ASPCA and the New
York City Police Department (NYPD)
announced the full rollout of their strategic and pioneering
partnership to enforce anti-cruelty laws and provide
enhanced protection to New York City’s animals in every
borough. In this partnership, the NYPD responds to all
animal cruelty complaints city-wide, while the ASPCA
provides expanded direct care support for animal cruelty
victims, including medical treatment, behavior assessments
and rehabilitation, as well as housing and placement. The
partnership has proven to be a powerful force, evidenced
recently by the July raid of an alleged dog fighting ring in
Queens, resulting in three arrests and the seizure of 20
dogs. The first six months of the partnership from January
through June 2014 saw great success with 70 arrests by the
NYPD and nearly 200 animals rescued and treated by the ASPCA,
an increase of nearly 160 percent and 180 percent,
respectively, over the same period last year. This past
summer, the NYPD made history by officially forming the
department’s first Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad, which
will solely focus on serving the abused and neglected
animals of the city.
About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal
welfare organization in North America and serves as the
nation’s leading voice for animals. More than two 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. For more information,
please visit www.ASPCA.org,
and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter,
and Pinterest.
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