Hero Dog Awards
Retired Leader Dog Tabitha is Guide Dog of the Year!
This spring, Leader Dogs for Blind client Anne Drake nominated her first Leader Dog, a German shepherd named Tabitha, as her hero in the "Guide Dogs" category for the American Humane Association's Hero Dog Awards. With the help of our supporters, Tabitha and was quickly voted to first place, and she and two of her human friends flew to Hollywood this October with the seven winners of the other categories to accept her award.
The finalists in each of the eight categories received $5,000 for their charity partner during the awards ceremony, which was hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and attended by other dog lovers like Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg and Jewel. The event will be broadcast on the Hallmark Movie Channel on November 8, so tune in to watch the festivities and see Anne and her current Leader Dog Driver walk the red carpet!
You can read the Anne's nomination entry for Tabitha below.
"Tabitha was my first dog guide, I obtained her from Leader Dogs for the Blind in 2004. Although now retired, she was and always will be my Hero Dog. Tabby girl as I called her was the one that not only got me through the shock and depression of losing my sight, she welcomed me into it. By her love and skills, she showed me that life was still the same, I could still go and accomplish things, I just needed to go about some things a bit differently. it was with the new found courage that I gained from her guidance that I went on to experience so much. I completed both my undergrad and graduate studies with her by my side. I overcame the fear of "the dark". I learned to trust myself once again, as well as others. There were so many things that she did over the years for me, to numerous to mention in this short essay, but suffice it to say, she saved my life, not only physically, but emotionally, and mentally as well. Without her, showing me the way to my new life, I really don't know where I would be right now. She will always be my hero dog."
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