[nagdu] Roselle, WTC Guide Dog Wins 2011 American Humane Hero Dog Award

[Ginger Kutsch]

Roselle, WTC Guide Dog Wins 2011 American Humane Hero Dog Award

Oct 2, 2011

Joy Butler 

http://www.suite101.com/news/roselle-wtc-guide-dog-wins-2011-american-humane
-hero-dog-award-a391496

Yellow Labrador Retriever Breed Like Roselle - JButlerRoselle, yellow Lab
who led her blind owner out of the WTC during terrorist attacks, wins Hero
Dog title in a ceremony to air on Hallmark Channel Nov 11. 

Man's best friend didn't get that title for nothing. There's no doubt that
most of our dogs are devoted companions with a loyal heart, and many dogs
are heroes every day. However, 453 dogs, representing every state, were
nominated for the American Humane Association 2011 Hero Dog Awards,
presented by Cesar canine cuisine. Eight finalists emerged to share the
limelight Saturday night October 1, 2011, at the Beverly Hilton in Los
Angeles, with such celebrity judges as Betty White and Whoopi Goldberg.

 

Roselle is a Hero

>From those eight finalists, a yellow Labrador Retriever named Roselle was
awarded the 2011 American Hero Dog title, posthumously. According to
Yahoo!News Death of an American Hero, Roselle passed away on June 26th, at
the age of 13, following nomination. Roselle is already familiar to many of
us. She's the guide dog who has become a part of American history as the
hero who led her blind owner, Michael Hingson, down 1463 stairs and out of
the World Trade Center tower the day of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. When
everyone panicked in the chaos, Roselle remained focused and led her owner
through the debris and thick dust cloud down into a subway station to
safety.

 

Hingson wrote in his entry, "While everyone ran in panic, Roselle remained
totally focused on her job as we ran. While debris fell around us and even
hit us, Roselle stayed calm."

 

Hingson chose Guide Dogs for the Blind as the American Humane Association
Charity Partner to receive the $10,000 prize.

 

American Humane Association Hero Dog Finalists

The seven remaining finalists have shown courage, character, and loyalty for
which each receives $5000 to go to the American Humane Association Charity
Partner of his choice.

 

Sadie, a black Labrador Retriever from Colorado and finalist in the Law
Enforcement/Arson Dog category works in extreme environments and has
detected critical evidence in hundreds of arson cases resulting in many
arrests and prosecution.

 

Harley, a brown and white Border Collie from Arizona and finalist in the
Hearing Dogs category, works every day assisting his hearing-impaired owner
who says that the confidence and feeling of equality with others he has
given her is priceless.

 

Sage, a black and white Border Collie from New Mexico and finalist in the
Search and Rescue Dog category began work at a very young age. Sage assisted
in recovery efforts at the Pentagon after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She
has also worked in hurricane search and rescue as well as in Iraq. Sadie
contracted lung cancer, believed to be the result of searching toxic sites,
but won the battle and now inspires cancer patients, including children.

 

Bino, a Dutch Shepherd from New Mexico and the Military Dogs category
finalist has served as a Narcotics Detection/Patrol K-9 for eleven years. He
has worked bravely on the hot battlefields of Iraq as well as with the
Border Patrol.

 

Stacey Mae, a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog from Colorado and finalist in the
Therapy Dogs category, provides encouragement to hospital patients and has
collected almost 2000 stuffed animals for kids in the hospital.

 

Ricochet, a beautiful red dog from California and finalist in the Emerging
Hero Dogs category was to be a service dog but her talents were better
suited for another role. She surfs with special needs kids, helps raise
money for people with disabilities, and her story inspires people to be
themselves and turn negatives into positives.

 

Zurich, a yellow Lab from Illinois and the Service Dogs category finalist,
assists his physically challenged partner in many ways every day, including
fetching things she cannot reach.

 

AHA Hero Dog Award Prizes

The Grand Prize winner and Category winners were selected through public
votes and a panel of judges, with prizes going to the Charity Partner
indicated on the candidate's entry form. The awards ceremony will air on the
Hallmark Channel on November 11, 2011.