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2005 GRACE AWARD WINNERS
HEROISM - Lexie AshGolden Hart's Look at Me Now,
CGC, AX, AXJ, AOP, AJP
owned by: Megan Ash
Cicero, NY
LEXIE had been known as the neighborhood tragedy. She was abused, left outside with no food, water or shelter and abandoned by her owners for days at a time. She was eventually kicked out to run loose on the streets when her owner's decided they no longer wanted her.
She was rescued by local animal authorities and concerned neighbors and placed in foster care for Golden Retriever Rescue in Pittsburgh where it was discovered that she had suffered blunt force trauma to the head which would require 2 surgeries to repair as well as the injuries to her throat and numerous other injuries. Her initial prognosis did not give Lexie much hope of being normal. It has taken many patient years for Lexie to overcome her emotional baggage and learn to trust again. Her true golden spirit has survived her tough start in life and she now enjoys competing in agility and obedience and entertaining everyone with her happy go lucky approach in the ring. Lexie also spends time as a therapy dog and as a rescue poster dog at volunteer events for public education.
Lexie's devotion to her family makes her beyond special. She has given her mom her undying support as she battled breast cancer, giving her the strength she needed to go on. Her devotion to her family extends to the little ones, as she makes her frequent rounds of family members during the night. One night after her rounds, Lexie came to stand over her mom, panting heavily. Thinking Lexie needed a trip outside, mom got up to let her out, but she kept going to the nursery door and stood intently outside the door. Again asked if she needed to go out, Lexie proceeded to enter the nursery and stood in front of the crib where the baby had spit up and was choking. Fast action by Lexie's mom certainly saved the baby's life, but she may not have had that opportunity if not for Lexie's vigilant night time rounds. Lexie continues doing what now has become her official house job of watching over everyone as a true golden guardian angel.
EDUCATION - Franklin Larsonowned by: Dave and Sandy Larson
Jamestown, Indiana
FRANKLIN: Rescued by Golden Retriever Rescue And Community Education (GRRACE) of Indiana. Before coming into rescue, Franklin suffered from epileptic seizures and was almost totally blind. These conditions apparently relegated Franklin to the back yard of his former home. Franklin learned to entertain himself by picking up a tennis ball, dropping it, and then listening to it bounce before picking it back up and repeating the process. Franklin doesn't realize he has any handicaps, and most people have to be told or reminded that he is blind.
This pretty much describes Franklin's outlook on life, nothing seems to stop him. He easily passed his TDI (Therapy Dog International) test on the first try and was soon accepted into the pet therapy program at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. For the past two years, Franklin has been the "Top Dog" at the Brownsburg Public Library in Brownsburg, Indiana. Franklin is normally the first dog the kids want to read to and he has become an inspiration to many. Because of his blindness, the kids feel they have to work harder, taking extra time to explain and describe the pictures so he doesn't miss anything. Franklin has made a difference in the reading program to many children, especially a boy named Ben, who had trouble with virtually every word he tried to read. He and Franklin bonded early on and now Ben has raised his reading level over four grades and breezes through books. His astonished mother even reported that Ben read four books on his own over spring break for pleasure.
Franklin has a most positive effect on many children at the library in their Paws to Read program. He is an inspiration not only to those children in the program, but to anyone who has the pleasure to meet him. He knows no limitations, and if he falls or crashes into something, he just picks himself up and "keeps on truckin".
ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY/SERVICEBrewsterMcEvoy
(Brewster Has a Guardian Angel)
owned by: Lura McEvoy
Centerville, Ohio
Brewster, was a normal, hyperactive teenage Golden who was huge and homeless. Not claimed at the county shelter and too big to attract adopters, he was tagged for euthanasia. Miami Valley Golden Retriever Rescue saved him only to discover that they had a BIG, SICK dog on their hands as Brewster was positive for heartworm disease.
Brewster was a BIG gangly, wild teenager, probably 13-17 months old and completely unsocialized. He was afraid to pass you in a narrow space and disappeared at the sight of anything sticklike. He didn't understand his size and at 27" and 110 pounds he had his way with anything. He played at full strength and greeted new friends at full speed by planting his paws on their shoulders and looking them in the eye. He was just a BIG puppy desperate for his lost person.
Today, CD and CGC patches are proudly displayed on Brewster's Therapy Dog vest. He earned his CGC less than a year after he'd been adopted and started his career as a visipet. He has been certified as Animal Assisted Therapy capable earning his AAT certificate through Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association, mbPTa. Brewster has worked in a residential care facility for troubled youth, a rehab center, retirement communities and acute care hospitals. He now is a regular at the hospital rehab unit.