Mozart and owner Lola Schultz
Mozart and Lola have saved each other’s lives. This 7-year old Lab mix dog was rescued in Michigan from a dog breeder who tried to drown him because he was sick. Their first days together were spent in ICU. For months he was on medication and hand fed. Years later he would return the favor. Lola suffers from Hepatitis C from a blood transfusion she received in the 1980’s. On April 8, 2003 this year she was home alone. She went to bed and woke shortly after not feeling well. She went into the bathroom after feeling dizzy and passed out. Lola was wedged between the commode and wall. When she awoke Lola was hemorrhaging from her esophagus, a side effect of Hepatitis C. Mozart sensed the emergency and began pulling and prodding at his owner’s arms and legs to until she became free and regained consciousness. He continued to paw and bark until she crawled to the phone and dialed 911. He refused to leave her side until help arrived. Lola would have bled to death if it weren’t for Mozart… the boy who she saved from drowning returned the favor and saved Lola’s life.

Chief and Kim Meagher from Wildhorse Ranch Rescue
No one knows Chief’s real name or much about his life for past 26 years. What is known is that this horse has escaped death at least 3 times. First he was chained to a fence in the heat of summer, by his neck, and was left without food or water. The local town people found him and cut him loose. They took him to a local ranch. He escaped death again when the rancher decided to use him as a gelding demo. Gelding a horse at his age could have been fatal. The third escape happened by chance of luck or a miracle. After the gelding demo a horse shooter was called out to kill Chief. The shooter called Wildhorse Ranch Rescue because he felt deeply that this horse was not ready to die. When Chief came to Wildhorse Ranch Rescue in 2000 he was so traumatized by his previous life that he wouldn’t open his eyes. When anyone walked up to his stall he would shake and tightly close his eyes because he was so terrified. His body shows the knife scars all over it. He has learned to trust his new handlers. He has overcome his trauma and even has a girlfriend, a beautiful gray mustang named Lady. He protects her with all his strength and she and his new handlers help him get around because he is nearly blind. Chief has shown his soul and the strength to survive. (Photo - Chief standing in front of Lady)

Rio Jake and owner Kim Lindenmeyer
Rio Jake, a 2 year-old Golden Retriever, no longer suffers from pain. He was rescued at the age of 6 months from Rescue A Golden of Arizona (RAGofAZ) after his owners in New Mexico could not afford to treat his severe hip dysplasia surgery. Although normally dogs are not rescued from other states, Kim Lindenmeyer was working the rescue calls that day and by coincidence or destiny received the call. It just happened that the timing was perfect. It just happened that RAGofAZ was involved with another national rescue group that was in the process of rescuing some Golden Retrievers from a puppy mill that was shutting down in Oklahoma. On their way to Arizona, they stopped in Albuquerque to pick up Jake. He was from Rio Rancho, NM so he was then named Rio Jake and put in a foster home. The foster parent had a very busy home and couldn’t accommodate Rio Jake after he underwent Triple Pelvic Osteotomy in both hips. When he first arrived he was non-social and scared all the time. He cried most of the time because of the pain. Within the first year of his life he had endured many obstacles. At the age of one, he was enrolled in a program to help others deal with the pain in their lives. He is now a therapy dog for the Puppy Love Pet Therapy at Arrowhead Community Hospital. Twice a week he visits patients on two floors of the hospital as well as the ER waiting room. He wears a special bandana and even has his own ID Badge for the visit. Rio Jake has traded in his crying days for brighter smiling days. He now can teach others how to cope with their pain. He has already received a national Golden Rescue & Community Excellence award (G.R..A.C.E) for his animal therapy.

Miss Meg and owner Reverend Dr. Tina Campbell
On any given morning, The Reverend Dr. Tina Campbell of the Arizona State Prison Complex, referred to as Aspen, says a chorus of male voices ring out “Good morning, Miss Meg!” The 8 year-old purebred Bloodhound resides inside the razor wired fences of the Aspen Special Programs Unit for inmates with mental illness. Many of these men are the castaways of society for suffering from mental illness most of their lives. Miss Meg, now retired from her career as a trailing hound for the Arizona Department of Corrections, came to Aspen early this year. As soon as she appears on the year, faces light up with smiles and all her fans line up to give her attention. She allows the inmates to express their love. Reverend Dr. Campbell says she overhears inmates telling their family members about Miss Meg on the phone, describing her as a beloved family member. “Words would fail to describe the grace that this creature has brought to a desolate place,” said Campbell. “ Some call Miss Meg a “therapy dog," but I would say that she’s the best chaplain that the Arizona Department of Corrections has ever had."

Titan and owner Linda Feeny
On July 15, 2002 Linda slipped and fell. She hit the side of her face on the boulders from the waterfall of her swimming pool. Feeny doesn't remember hitting the boulder or the water, but she remembers when she went outside it was about 10:30 P.M. When she woke up, it was almost 1:30 A.M, and she was on the shallow end, of the other side of the pool, with her head and shoulder up on one of the steps. She had marks around her mouth that showed her 71/2 year-old Chocolate Lab, Titan, had jumped into the pool and dragged her all the way to the shallow end and up onto the steps where he was laying on her until she woke up. Titan absolutely saved Linda from drowning. Now every time Linda goes into the pool to swim Titan goes crazy!

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.

If your company would like to be a sponsor for next year's Hero Awards, please peruse our Sponsorship Package.

For more information about this special event, please see a recent article in the Arizona Republic.

For media inquiries, please contact Melanie Frenkel.
melanie@orcacommunications.com