American Kennel Club Seeks Entries From Across the Nation for 5th Annual Awards for Canine Excellence

American Kennel Club calls for entries for its Awards for Canine Excellence, a national honor, given to only five heroic purebred dogs each year.

(PRWEB) April 9, 2004 -- Is your canine the kind that always lifts your spirits when you are feeling most blue? Did your dog ever inspire someone sick to get better? Do you know of a canine involved in a dramatic rescue? If so, what better way to pay tribute to a deserving dog than a nomination for an American Kennel Club (AKC) Award for Canine Excellence (ACE).

An AKC ACE award is a national honor, given to only five purebred dogs each year who have performed an exemplary act or series of acts, whether large or seemingly small, that have significantly benefited a community or individual. One award is given in each of the following five categories: law enforcement, search and rescue, therapy, service, and exemplary companion dog. When appropriate, dogs earning honorable mention will be cited.

In addition to the prestige of being chosen from hundreds of entries, the owner of each of the five honorees receives a cash award of $1,000, an engraved sterling silver collar medallion and an expenses-paid trip for dog and owner to Tampa, FL, to be honored during the nationally televised AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in January, 2005. The names of the five recipients will also be engraved on the ACE plaque that is on permanent display in the AKC Library in New York City. Dogs receiving honorable mention will be awarded an engraved bronze medallion. All entrants will receive an AKC ACE Certificate of Recognition in acknowledgement of their nomination.

Anyone, including the dog owner or handler, may submit a nomination. A nomination form is now available online at http://www.akc.org/news/ace/2003/ACE_Entry_Form.doc

Submissions for the American Kennel Club Awards for Canine Excellence for 2004 must include:

- a non-returnable original photograph of the dog or a hi-resolution electronic photo. Electronic images should be saved as jpeg or tiff files (300 dpi and at least 5x7 inches or 72 dpi at least 20x30 inches). Scanned photos will not be accepted. You will be asked to submit an original photo if the electronic image is not high resolution.

- A 500-word-or-less description of how the dog has demonstrated excellence.

- Dogs call name, registered name if applicable, breed, age and sex.

- Owner and Nominator name(s), address, phone number. E-mail address if available.

Please note that to be considered, dogs must be an AKC recognized breed.

Nominations will be accepted until June 30, 2004 and should be sent to:

Ronald N. Rella:

ACE Awards 2004

The American Kennel Club

260 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor

New York, New York 10016

Email submissions: ACEAwards2004@akc.org

The American Kennel Club (AKC), founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of purebred dogs. The AKC maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world, oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States, and along with its 4,500 licensed and member clubs, educates the general public about responsible dog ownership. More than 15,000 competitions for purebred dogs are held under AKC rules each year including conformation, agility, obedience, tracking, herding, lure coursing, hunt tests, and field and earthdog trials. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.

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