Back to Grace Awards
Dog of the Year 2003 - MANDYowned by owned by Ted Jamieson
Rescued by: Evergreen Golden Retriever Rescue, Washington
Rescued by Evergreen Golden Retriever Rescue, WA. Mandy, purchased as a puppy by her original owner, was kept in the backyard because the owner could not handle her energy. The owner would turn the hose on her if she barked and kept a puppy-size collar on her even when she had outgrown it, causing a sore on her neck. After her rescue in 1994, Mandy was adopted by Ted Jamieson, a retiree who had many years of experience with Goldens. Ted quickly realized that Mandy needed a job. After completing courses in basic and advanced obedience, Ted decided to train Mandy for Search and Rescue work. In 1999, Ted and Mandy successfully passed their mission ready trailing test and became an official SAR team. They have participated in over 40 searches and had numerous finds.
Mandy, now 9 years old, is retired from SAR duty, but she and Ted are active in community service and education ventures, regularly visiting hospitals and youths at risk. They bring hope to the hopeless and light to troubled children who see mostly darkness. Their educational programs have helped many wayward youths realize that law enforcement personnel are not all bad. In 2000, Mandy received an award from the American Red Cross for her search and rescue accomplishments; the ARC even used a photo of Ted and Mandy on the cover of their 2002 Pet First Aid Manual. Mandy and Ted have also been honored as the first recipients of King County Search and Rescue's new Ted Jamieson Volunteer of the Year Award. Mandy is the G.R.A.C.E. Award's Outstanding Rescued Golden for 2003.
Heroism - ABBEYowned by Lillian Larson
Rescued by: Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota (RAGOM)
Abbey was a puppy mill dog rescued, along with five other Goldens all in deplorable condition, by Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota (RAGOM). Abbey, now age 4-5, was adopted in June 2000 by 81-year-old Lillian Larson of Minneapolis.
Six months later, Lillian's husband died, and Abbey helped Lillian deal with her grief. In February 2003, Abbey, who normally sleeps through the night, woke Lillian at 4 AM. Even though she was told to go back to sleep, Abbey kept barking and hitting Lillian with her paws. Lillian finally got up to let Abbey out, and as she walked through the living room, she heard the carbon monoxide detector alarm. Lillian called 911 and was told to stay out of the house. After the Fire Department and the gas company arrived, they determined there was a faulty furnace part and told Lillian that she would have died in her sleep had Abbey not awakened her. Abbey is a winner of the G.R.A.C.E. Award for Heroism.