2006 Minnesota Animal Hall of Fame Awards

MVMA Animal Hall of Fame Awards

To celebrate and recognize the important link between animals and humans, the MVMA awarded three exceptional animals at the 2007 annual convention.  The Animal Hall of Fame added Hero, Companion and Professional animals to its list of inductees this year.

Companion Animal of the Year (Animals who have provided a benefit to their human companions or their community)– Ruby (dog)

The recipient of the Companion Animal of the Year, Ruby, is owned by Patrick Bettendorf from Stillwater, MN.

Ruby is a American Staffordshire Terrier mix and was found in an abandoned house, starving, and with her fur falling out. After a couple of weeks of recovery and treatment she was then placed up for adoption. She was adopted by the Bettendorfs and immediately placed into obedience training. After ongoing training she recently received TDI certification. She now makes regular trips to senior residence facilities where she wins the hearts of many senior citizens. She is also a movie star of sorts when she auditioned and won a role in "Cheaper by the Dozen" at Lakeshore Players Theatre in White Bear Lake, MN. Ruby was nominated by Dr. Brad Yoho of the Stillwater Veterinary Clinic.

Congratulations to Ruby in receiving the Companion Animal of the Year Award

Professional Animal of the Year (Animals especially trained to assist humans)– Rusty (dog)

The recipient of the Professional Animal of The Year, Rusty, is owned by Christy Woster of Anoka, MN.

Rusty is a Welch Spaniel who is a Hearing Dog from Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota (HSDM). Rusty provides a special service for his owner who has a severe hearing disability.  Despite a rocky start with Rusty, he has since developed into a very special caregiver to his owner by alerting her of certain sounds and alarms in the home. In addition, Rusty provides constant companionship and love to his owner with a true sense of watchfulness and concern over his owner’s needs. Rusty was nominated by Dr. mark Guck with the Rum River Veterinary Clinic.

Congratulations to Rusty in receiving the Professional Animal of the Year Award

Hero Animal of the Year (Animals who have saved or preserved human life) – Jack(dog)

The recipient of the Hero Animal of the Year , Jack, is owned by marcia Fritzmeier of Rochester, MN.

Jack is a Miniature Pincher who has a unique caregiving role at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Jack has the distinctive honor of being the first Facility Based Service dog in Minnesota following completion of training with Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota, and the first FBSD to work in this capacity at Mayo Clinic. Jack has become a groundbreaker in promoting the use of Animal Assisted Therapy in a variety of areas at Mayo Clinic, and his services are more and more in demand. In his four years as a volunteer spending time with patients, he has offered his love, compassion, and the gift of time to more than 600 patients at the Mayo Clinic’s St. Marys Hospital and Rochester Methodist Hospital which has earned him the nickname "Dr. Dog". Jack was nominted by Quarry Hill Park Animal Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Congratulations to Jack in receiving the Hero Animal of the Year Award