FACCS Honors Some Special Heroes
Seven Amazing Animals were Honored for Their Heroic Impact on Human Lives in Maricopa County
FACCs
has created the Hero Awards to recognize and honor the impact
local animals have had on human lives through truly heroic
efforts of service or personal survival. Each year we recognize animals for
their heroic impact on Maricopa County residents. The winners are selected from
hundreds of dogs, cats, horses, and birds nominated by pet owners or people in the community for their
heroic efforts of service or stories of personal survival. Each was judged for their heroic efforts in
acting to save or protect the life of a person, for performing services within the community, or having to
overcome their own devastating circumstances to survive.
FACCS has dedicated this event to pets who have shown great and unusual courage, instinct, forethought and loyalty in their actions to help or save another animal or human being or themselves. There are amazing stories in our community of animal courage and we want to hear them all. No act of bravery is too small or insignificant. We encourage everyone who has a story to share to bring it to our attention.
Read about our 2006 Heroes...
Rocket, a cheerful lab mix, was rescued, near death, from a backyard where he had been abandoned for about 30 days without food. After a stay at Maricopa County Animal Care & Control to recuperate, he now thrives at the loving home of Barb Steele.
Star and Sunshine, Golden Retriever sisters, bring gentle concern and love to children visiting the Longfellow Children’s Dentistry Practice in Tempe. When these two therapy dogs are off duty, they go home with the dentist, Dr. Alan Longfellow and his wife, Joyceanne.
Pepper, an Aussie shepherd mix, has been featured in The Arizona Republic and on TV because of his selfless life saving exploits at the Southwest Wildlife Rehabilitation and Educational Foundation in north Scottsdale. A rattlesnake bit Pepper while protecting a coyote named Kachina. Accompanying our celebrity pooch is Linda Searles, Director of the Foundation.
Zoey, a brindled boxer with a very sweet personality, who was lost, underfed and injured was rescued by Boxer Luv. She has been nursed back to health by her forever family, Nina and Aaron Lemke.
Freckles and Special K, another Aussie shepherd mix, and a kitty with one blue eye and one green eye, are resident animals at the Baptist Village Youngtown Cook Health Care Center, helping to care for the elderly. Their gentleness and loving natures brighten the days of all the residents in the Care Center. Freckles, representing both animals, is accompanied by Charlotte Saban, Activities Director.
Daisy, a yellow lab, is a certified service dog who has changed the life of his owner, Roy Cedillo. Roy, who lives with Muscular Dystrophy, spent most of his time watching TV before Daisy came to be his assistance animal. But now, Roy and Daisy are out and about, particularly promoting the use of service dogs and educating the public about people with disabilities.
Bari Mears is our 2006 Human Hero, so named because of her many years of service to homeless animals in Maricopa County. She is currently president and founder of Phoenix Animal Care Coalition –PACC911- an organization that brings various animal welfare groups together to work for the benefit of homeless pets. Bari has been tireless in her pursuit of legistation to assist and protect animals as well as find permanent homes for thousands of needy pets.
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