A Poem About Being Prepared

source: 2006 American Veterinary Medical Association. Prepared by Cindy S. Lovern, DVM, MSGraphic Design by Cheryl Atkins and Sarah Jurecka

I found this poem about remembering your pets if faced with a natural disaster or some other catastrophe. In my area of rural Cabell County, WV, we have a lot of flash floods and flooding because of our proximity to the Ohio River. I have a sticker on my front door that tells emergency workers what type of animals are in the house and the number. You can get it from this website: www.hsus.org.

As the winds blow on, And the waters rise deep, You can hear their cries. You can hear them weep. Those you have brought into your home, Those who are loyal, caring and warm. You feed them each day, and tell them to stay, And now when they need you, don't turn them away. When you vowed to love, when you vowed to care, You vowed to sacrifice, and vowed to prepare. So now in times of trouble and strife, You are responsible for more than one life. You need to plan, think, and prepare, For all those who need you. Those who depend on your care.— Cindy Swancott Lovern

Tips On How To Report Internet Animal Abuse.

It is hard to believe that people are stupid enough to video themselves doing something illegal, but harming a living being, both human and animal, is ludicrous. There are ways you can report this abuse and remain anonymous. Why is it so important to report this type of crime? You may save an animal's life, and possibly, a humans life, if the abuser doesn't just abuse the animals. There is a huge correlation between the two. I had a guest column in the Herald Dispatch about it.

If you see animal cruelty on the Internet, contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). This is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center at:
http://www.ic3.gov/

Remember, this website handles ALL Internet crimes! Have detailed information to give them when you contact them. This makes their job easier and they can get the bad people quickly. You can also notify the Internet Service Provider, and they may pull the website. To determine who hosts the site, go to: http://www.domaintools.com/ and enter the website URL in the "Whois Lookup"search box and click search.. Scroll down until you find the numerical Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to that website.

Then go to: http://arin.net/ (American Registry for Internet Numbers), enter the IP address in the "Search WHOIS box and click search., you will then find the info about the ISP that hosts the website. If you do not get this, type: http://search.org/programs/hightech/isp .

Currently only a few federal laws address the issue directly. They are the Crush Act: Penalizes the acts of cruelty and sexual abuse of animals that is intended for interstate commerce. The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act: Basically imposing federal charges on animal fighters. And, last but not least, Internet hunting: A pending federal bill called the Computer Assisted Remote Hunting Act. It seeks to prohibit knowingly making available a "computer-assisted remote hunt," (means using a computer or other device, equipment or software to control the aiming and discharge of a weapon to hunt)

What Is "Old Age" For Dogs?

source: about.com/veterinary medicine

The old classic "one human year equals seven dog years" is an easy way to calculate and relate to your dog's age, but isn't the most accurate. Large breed dogs (i.e. Great Danes) are considered a senior at 6 or 7 years of age, whereas small breeds (i.e. toy poodle), aren't considered a senior until their teen years. I personally have seen more than one poodle and several mix-breeds in the 18 to 20 year range.

As a general rule of thumb, a dog who is 7 years or older should be considered middle to senior aged, and a consultation with your vet is in order to determine the best health care maintenance program for your dog as s/he ages. For smaller breed dogs, your vet (in consultation with you) may elect to wait a couple of years before doing any geriatric monitoring.

What things should you expect as your dog ages? Each dog, like each human, is different. Here are some general things to watch for as a pet ages.

Slowing down - You may notice that you dog slows down some with aging. This isn't always the case, but look for subtle changes in how s/he gets up, lays down, and uses stairs. Is there any hesitation or stiffness? Does a change in the weather (rainy, cold) make it worse? Arthritis is common in dogs as they age, particularly large breeds. Arthritis can occur in any joint, most commonly the legs and back (spine). There are many different medications available to help ease the discomfort of arthritis -- see your vet if you notice any signs of slowing down in your dog. Another potential cause of slowing down is hypothyroidism, an endocrine disorder common in dogs. This condition is easily diagnosed and treated with proper veterinary care.

Graying around the face, muzzle - One of my dogs went prematurely gray at two years of age, but most dogs commonly show a bit of gray starting at middle age (5-6 years).
Reduced hearing - Is your dog hard to wake up after sleeping or does s/he become startled easily if you approach from behind? Hearing loss or deafness may be a reason for this. There isn't a lot that can be done for age-related hearing loss, but a vet exam should be done first to rule out other medical problems, such as an infection, growth, or foreign body in the ear. If your dog does experience hearing loss, take care to protect him/her from hazards, such as cars and kids that s/he may not hear (or see). Dogs do learn and adapt well using hand signals to come, stay, sit, and so on. It is a good idea to "cross train" your dog early in life to recognize basic hand signals.

Cloudy or "bluish" eyes - As they age, dog's eyes often show a bluish transparent "haze" in the pupil area. This is a normal effect of aging, and the medical term for this is lenticular sclerosis. Vision does not appear to be affected. This is NOT the same as cataracts. Cataracts are white and opaque. Vision can be affected by cataracts, and your vet needs to be consulted (see "when is it time to see the vet?" below).

Muscle atrophy - Mild loss of muscle mass, especially the hind legs, may be seen with old age. Some muscle atrophy, notably on the head and the belly muscles, can signify diseases such as masticatory myositis and Cushing's Disease. Be sure to have your vet check this out if any muscle loss is noted.

Questions To Ask When Looking For A Breeder.

source: yahoo answers

If you can't find the dog you want at your local shelter or breed rescue, then here are some questions you can use to determine if a breeder is truly responsible:

1. Is he/she an AKC registered breeder of good standing and an active member of his/her breed Parent Club?

2. Are there AKC Champions listed on the pedigree, showing that the breeder spends her time & money to prove the quality of his/her breeding stock through competition?

3. Are all the animals kept in clean, comfortable, healthy, loving circumstances?

4. Did the breeder conduct extensive interviews with you and every member of your family?

5. Have the sire & dam received all available health clearances, (eg. OFA Hip & Eye, Thyroid testing, THESE VARY FOR EACH BREED)

6. Is he/she willing to honestly discuss any possible genetic defects that may exist in her line?

7. Does he/she have a Sales Contract?

8. Does the contract contain a clause stipulating that you spay or neuter the puppy before it reaches a certain age?

9. Does the contract contain a clause stating that if at any time in the puppy's life, you can no longer care for it, it must be returned to the breeder? (This ensures that no animal bred by this breeder will ever end up in a shelter).

10. Will the breeder maintain contact with you for the life of the puppy to answer questions and help in general?

These are questions that are very important. I have stated over and over in posts on this blog about the importance of researching a breeder before buying. Remember, no responsible breeder sells to a pet store, flea market, Internet or classifieds.

Be Kind To Animals Week.

This week is a special week. It is Be Kind To Animals Week. The American Humane is promoting this to help educate children about animals and why we need to help them and be kind to all animals, not just our companion animals.

Yesterday, I stopped and moved 2 turtles from the middle of the road up on Fairview Ridge. One was a Snapping Turtle. The other was just a box or "painted" turtle. I had my big, brave Chance dog with me, and you would have thought that Godzilla had come to life. He absolutely is terrified of turtles. We walk in the Powell Wetlands alot in the spring and summer and if he comes across a turtle, he will tuck his tail and run behind me and peep around my leg at it.

One day, I was walking him up there and I saw this big rock, or so I thought. As Chance and I got closer, this "rock" rose up on four legs and started to walk! It was a huge Snapping Turtle. Just as I got Chance's attention, he spotted it out of the corner of his eye. He actually squalled out and ran around me and tried to stick his head between my legs to peep at the turtle. Oh yeah, big, brave yellow Lab! Ha, Ha......

Just remember to be nice to everyone and everything and then you have nothing to worry about. Now, if we could just get the rest of the world to follow suit.

Little Victories As Seen With My Own Eyes.

pup with hair

sibling pupJust a tummy scratch is all this little guy wants.

This is just one of the houses in "PuppyTown." See how relaxed the dogs are! They are all that way. Happy and secure.

Today, 5/3/08, I went to Wire Branch Rd. off Rt. 60 in Ona WV, to visit a no-kill shelter called Little Victories that has been the subject of controversy by the residents living on this road. The founder and president, Sue Brown, gave me permission to take pictures while I was there, and I did. What I found were extremely healthy, happy and in all but one case, animals that felt secure. This one animal had been so horribly abused, he just couldn't trust anyone. But, it seems that since the new caretakers took over, he will now sniff the hand of the lady caretaker. That is reassuring.

As I drove down the road to get to the shelter, I passed sign after sign in people's yards that were all against this shelter being built on their road. When the caretaker, Twana, (I am sorry if I misspelled her name) showed me the property line I was amazed. Where the property owned by Little Victories starts, it is over 2 football fields from the nearest house. And, as I cruised down this road, I had my radio off and my windows both down. I heard absolutely nothing until I was abreast with the play area for the shelter dogs. One little fella was in there getting his daily romp, and he alerted I was there. And naturally, the other dogs followed suit, but only for a very short time. The caretaker, Twana, seems to really calm them. I was impressed by this.

The letter from the lady in the Voice of the People of this newspaper, saying that the dogs were dirty and no-one was there is what prompted me to call Sue and get permission to take pictures to show the public that, well, I just don't know what that lady is talking about. The pictures I have on this blog show that they have actual houses, called PuppyTown. Kudos, by the way to the Eagle Scout Troop that built it for the shelter. And, the dogs they have in lots have the entire top of the lot covered, and good houses to get into. All the dogs were clean and their areas are cleaned twice a day. With help, this can be a fabulous place for dogs to get a second chance, and the ones that can't be adopted, will have a place to live out their lives peacefully and securely.

Normally, my personal business is just that, but I am going to put Little Victories in my will. I have the library, too, because of an extensive book collection. But, after seeing what this organization is trying to do, makes me start to believe that there really is some good left in the world. What impressed me the most about the lady that took me around, was the attitude of all, and I mean all the dogs when she approached. They were so happy to see her and they just licked her hands. Even the one dog that is not approachable, he will sniff her hand. Gentle way about her. I liked her. I didn't get a chance to meet her husband.

She told me a story of this blue merle dog that she showed me. She went to bed one evening, and the next morning when her husband got up at 6am to start feeding and cleaning, he came back in and asked her who put the dog in the pen with the little fella already in there? She said there is no "other dog". Sure enough, someone came up there through the early morning hours and put her over the fence and into the pen. They(caretakers) said she was rail thin, but the bizarre thing was, the people left a garbage bag full of treats and food and toys. But the dog was so malnourished she almost died. But now, she is beautiful. And, if you go to the website: http://www.littlevictories.org and look at the 2 puppies they found that didn't have any hair, well I saw them today, and their coats are fabulous. They are pictured up on the left top. Both have full coats. Good work Little Victories!

They are working to get enough money to build an indoor kennel. Chad Pennington gave a donation specifically to be used in the building of the kennel. (The dog blog has a small story about his donation) The lady caretaker was very excited about it. Go see for yourself. I went up without calling the shelter. I had talked to Sue last week and got her permission, but didn't tell her when I would be going. So, no one knew I was coming. What I am relaying to you, comes first hand. With my own eyes.

A Fun Photo Contest.

I tolerate a lot, you guys!

My vet, Dr. Wayne Maass, owner of Guyan Animal Hospital on Rt. 60 near Barboursville, sends out this great magazine called Healthy Pet. It also has on it your pet's reminder for annual shots and heartworm testing. It is really informative.

They are having a dog and cat photo contest with the chance to win a camera worth $1000.00. All you do is send a high quality photo of your pet to this address: cutepets@healthypetmagazine.com . Or you can mail it to: Healthy Pet Magazine, Attn: Cute Pet Photo Contest, 7777 Center Avenue, Suite 35o, Huntington Beach, CA 92647. Check it out and good luck!!!

Hook, Round and Tape Worms.

It is common sense to think that as the number of pets increase, so does the likelihood that both the pets and their owners will be exposed to parasites. The prevalence of major parasites in both cats and dogs remains quite high. The three most common are the hookworm, roundworm and the tapeworm. I will describe each briefly.

Roundworms: Both dogs and cats. A large worm that lives as an adult in the small intestine. Begins as larvae work their way through the liver and lungs before they mature in the small intestine. Time: 2 to 5 weeks. Egg production: 85,000 a day, yes a day! Both humans and pets can get these worms. It is called Zoonotic Diseases. Symptoms: lethargy, diarrhea, weight loss in dogs. In people: the larvae can cause what they call larva migrans in people. When a person ingests a roundworm eggs, the migration of larvae and the resulting damage to internal organs, and that is referred to as visceral larva migrams (VLM. VLM occurs most often in younger kids.

Hookworms: Both dogs and cats. These worms are not especially nice to look at. They are white and reddish-brown with a hook at one end. They live as adults in the small intestine of dogs and cats. They (larva) either enter through the skin or are swallowed. Production: 20,000 per day.

Tapeworms: I always referred to tapeworms as looking like a kernel of rice. If they segment, that is what they look like. They will be stuck to your dogs tail. Usually stuck to the hair closest to the anal region. Sometimes, if the infestation is really bad, you will see live ones at the anal opening. Both dogs and cats. Tapeworms come from dogs and cats ingesting fleas. Fleas are the carriers of tapeworm eggs. Weird, I know.

Human infections usually happens when a young child ingests a flea, inadvertently. Best way is just pure cleanliness. Keep your pet flea free by using the topical (between) the shoulder flea applications and if you have an infestation, clear that area, all dog beds, blankets, etc...and wash the dog in a plain dog shampoo and then put on the flea application between the shoulders.

And, last but not least, a recent article from the CDC (Contagious Disease Center) indicates that 14% of the US population has been infected with roundworms contracted from dogs and cats.
source of last paragraph: Healthy Pet Magazine, mailed from Guyan Animal Hospital to remind it is time for Chance's annual shots and heartworm test....even though he has taken the medication all year, I still have him tested.

***WARNING: DO NOT USE A FLEA SHAMPOO AND THEN PUT ON THE FLEA TREATMENT. YOU WILL KILL YOUR DOG. IT WILL PUT TOO MUCH TOXINS INTO YOUR PET'S BODY AND YOUR PET WILL GO INTO SHOCK, SEIZURES AND THEN DEATH.***

A Very Disturbing Investigation Of The Iams Pet Food Company.

My own words:

Back in 2002 and 2003, PETA went undercover into a contract laboratory employed by the pet food manufacturer Iams. What they found was sickening. For the nearly 10 months the investigator had to endure this to get the footage needed to expose this, the investigator found dogs who had literally gone crazy from intense confinement in barren, steel cages and cement cells. They were left there to see the result of solitary confinement on a dog.

Another sick thing they found were dogs who had been left on a filthy floor after chunks of muscle had been hacked from their thighs, and the ever so "popular" debarked dogs. And, then there were the horribly sick dogs and cats who were just laying in cages, neglected and dying slowly and painfully, alone. They were given no veterinary care at all.

source: www.iamscruelty.com

Even Iams own Executive criticizes the Company's Cruel Caging Policy. Her name is Diane Hirakawa, Sr. Vice Pres. of Iams Research and Development.

Here is the list of violations documented by government inspectors.

Failure to provide pain relief to sheep used in experiments that cause pain/distress.
Failure to ensure that personnel were trained to perform experiments on animals.
Failure to provide veterinary care and to observe animals daily.
Failure to properly ventilate housing facilities for dogs and cats.
Failure to house cats with adequate number of litter boxes and resting surfaces.
Failure to keep animal-housing facilities clean and in good order/resulting in injuries.
Failure to maintain comfortable temperatures in animal-housing facilities.
Failure to provide animals with sufficient space.

If you feed this food, you might want to go to the website I listed above and read about what you are feeding your dog and what the dogs have to go through in order for you to feed it. I feed BilJac.

Do You Own A Senior Pet?

If you are one of the "pet boomers", meaning you have a pet 7 yrs. old or above, here is some vital information on how to care for your aging pet. This video is very interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/v/zU5KBaTgiL0&hl=en

If You Are One Of The People Who Still Wear Fur - Read This.

New York is the first state to ban the extremely cruel practice of anal and genital electrocution of mink, foxes, chinchillas and rabbits. This method is used because it is very cheap. It was signed into law by then Gov. Spitzer, in March of this year and is in effect.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) hopes it will force similar measures in other states.

Blogger note****I personally do not agree with all of PETA's practices and the ultimate end result that they want, which is no human contact with animals. Tamara************

Use The Internet To Order Your Pet's Medications.

When I got my dog, Chance, I immediately took him to the vet for his 2nd set of shots and to get him tested for Heartworms and get him on Heartworm pills and the between the shoulder flea application, as he was old enough.


I use the Heartguard and the Frontline Plus. I love my vet to death, but the cost of the meds when I get them from him, is close to $95.00. Well, the other day, I found a coupon to a company called petcarerx. I decided to check it out. I am amazed at how much cheaper they are than my vet.


I used the code that was on the coupon and got my meds for $83.00. And, shipping is free with any order over $39.00. I don't want to take business away from the vets, but with gas prices the way they are, getting your pets meds delivered to your door, saves a great deal of money.

Warning: If you have never had your dog tested for Heartworms by a vet, do not start them on a Heartworm program until you have had them tested. It can kill them. The test is a simple blood test that is done right in the vet's office and you get the results while you are there with no waiting days or anything like that.


website: http://www.petcarerx.com/

Shelters And Rescues Within A 50 Mile Radius Of Huntington, WV.

source: http://www.save-a-pet-com/

I found a great website that is called Save A Pet. It is a link to shelters across the U.S. There are 28 shelters and rescue organizations within reasonable driving distance from Huntington, WV. Here is the list. This is a two part post, so look for the second part in the next couple of days.


1. Orphan Network - 21515 St. Rt. 243 - Proctorville OH 45669. email: stirling72@zoominternet.net 1mile.


2. Furry Animal Rescue - Proctorville OH 45669 - Ph: 304-416-3202. email:
yorkie_lover2006@yahoo.com 1 mile.

3. Help For Animals - POB 250 - Barboursville WV 25504 - Ph: 304-736-8555. email:
hfatracs@aol.com 5 miles.


4. Huntington-Cabell-Wayne Shelter - 1901 James River Rd. - Huntington WV 25704.
Ph: 304-696-5551 - 9 miles.


5. Holly's Animal Haven - Scottown OH 45678 - Ph: 740-886-9306. email:
tonpowe@aol.com 13 miles


6. Canterbury Tails Animal Rescue - POB 375 - Culloden WV 25510. Ph: 304 562-0807. email: neworleanspearl@aol.com 16 miles.

7. Lawrence Cty. Humane Society (OH) - POB 412 - Ironton OH 45638 - Ph: 740 533-9050. email: sassymom12@webtv.net 17 miles.

8. So. Star MinPin Rescue - WV - Hurricane WV 25526 - Contact - Dawn Russo - email:
dawn@ssmpr.org or their website - http://www.ssmpr.org/ 20 miles.

9. Putnam Cty. Humane Society - Box 461 - Scott Depot WV 25560 - Ph: 304 562-5899 - email: betycal@charter.net 25 miles.

10. WV Saint Bernard Rescue - Fort Gay, WV 25514 - Contact - Jo Ann Betler - Ph: 304 272-6270 - email: betler@frontiernet.net or on this address - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/WV101.html 25 miles.

11. B.A.R.K. - Bluegrass Animal Rescue of KY - 1415 Hwy. 1395 - Louisa KY 41132 - Ph: 606 686-9520 - email: joenik@foothills.net 26 miles.

12. Lawrence Cty. Humane Society (KY) - Isaac Rd., Rt. 3395 - Louisa KY 41230 - Ph: 606 673-4509 - email: potterperry41230@yahoo.com 26 miles.

One Year Anniversary Of The Michael Vick Raid.

Some of this information was gathered from an email sent to me from the HSUS website.

Did you realize that today marks the one year anniversary of the Michael Vick Dogfighting Ring bust? I didn't until I got an email from the Humane Society of the United States today. One very positive note is that raids on dogfighting operations rose from 27 between Jan. and April of last year, to at least 67 busts to date in 2008.

Also, 2 of the states that had been the last holdout with weak penalties for fighting crimes, made dogfighting a felony offense. The states are Wyoming and Idaho. Stronger laws also were passed in Ga., IA., MD., OR., and VA. This was part of a wave of 26 states considering legislation to make stiffer penalties for dogfighting.

The HSUS gives a reward of up to $5,000.00 to anyone that turns in a dogfighter and they are convicted. You can remain anonymous. The number to call is: 202-452-1100. The rewards are made possible by the Ware Foundation and donors to HSUS. The great news is they paid out 20 rewards and have some pending. Fabulous work!

Last but not least, the HSUS helped train over 700 law enforcement officers on animal fighting and made a new video about the subject.

Chaining and Penning Of Dogs Is Abuse.

Chance says "I wish all dogs lived the life I live with my "pack." "I live inside with them, not chained or penned up a 100 yards away from the "den."

An organization called Dogs Deserve Better (DDB) just finished a tour called 12-12-120. They went to 12 states, in 12 days, only expecting to find 120 dogs. They went about documenting the chained and penned dogs in each of the 12 states. West Virginia was the last on their tour. In 6 hrs. of driving, they saw and counted 179 chained or penned dogs in deplorable conditions. The link I am providing shows some of what they saw in our state. (It is one YouTube)

http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001TieZ0g-gLXyWOGcag36gEDz3faCui_vO9SQiSgxQecyR8tOeIwaeFg9-FR1UnrUh2vb9RXLi2XG5MMDw6u5iVZBLmSReAVZ5o0yMA9ZM8obcaX4sdknr2cmDWne_7WeKK2tNv3O9Jv0V2KRjU86i1w

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/

This is their official website.

source: from an email to me from Tammy Grimes at DDB.

The duo found a lot more than they bargained for; 1051 dogs as opposed to the sought-after120, as well as many more aggressive dogs than they expected. Each day they interacted with around 20 caretakers, and left information for at least 20 more who were not home. Each night they posted videos and a diary of the day's events online. Said Ashby, "All I can say is send out the troops!

"What Tammy and I saw blows our minds...Everywhere we went there were more and more dogs on chains and in pens with no water, no food, nothing! Their spirits were either broken or they had already become so aggressive no one could step near them. How can people just forget about their friends like that?"

Tammy Grimes and her friend, Dawn, said that WV was the "saddest underbelly" of chaining and penned up dogs of all the states they visited." This saddens me to no end. I see it everyday where I live. Or, the feral dogs that are running loose. Feral dogs, in my opinion, are much more dangerous. With a chained dog, he cannot just attack you wherever you are. He is hindered by the chain and how far he can reach. With the feral dogs, they are in pack mode, and hunting. Go to the websites I listed above and check it out. Sad, but interesting.

The tour encompassed the following states: Day 1: April 6th, Missouri; Day 2: April 7th, Arkansas; Day 3: April 8th, Lousiana; Day 4: April 9th, Mississippi; Day 5: April 10, Alabama; Day 6: April 11, Georgia; Day 7: April 12, South Carolina; Day 8: April 13, North Carolina; Day 9: April 14, Tennessee; Day 10: April 15, Kentucky; Day 11: April 16, .Virginia; Day 12: April 17, West Virginia.

To read Grimes Top Five List of the Things she Learned on the Tour, and see videos, diaries and photos of the tour visit the website at www.dogsdeservebetter.org

The tour encompassed the following states: Day 1: April 6th, Missouri; Day 2: April 7th, Arkansas; Day 3: April 8th, Lousiana; Day 4: April 9th, Mississippi; Day 5: April 10, Alabama; Day 6: April 11, Georgia; Day 7: April 12, South Carolina; Day 8: April 13, North Carolina; Day 9: April 14, Tennessee; Day 10: April 15, Kentucky; Day 11: April 16, Virginia; Day 12: April 17, West Virginia.:

To read Grimes Top Five List of the Things she Learned on the Tour, and see videos, diaries and photos of the tour,visit the website: http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/dognamictour.html.

Dogs Deserve Better, a 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Tipton, Pennsylvania, is the 2003 First Place.
Winner of the ASPCA Pet Protector Award. The grouphas 150 area reps in 38 states as well as in Canada and France.
Grimes was also a Top Ten Finalist for the 2006 Animal Planet Hero of the Year Contest..
Dogs Deserve Better, a 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Tipton, Pennsylvania, is the 2003 First Place.
Winner of the ASPCA Pet Protector Award. The grouphas 150 area reps in 38 states as well as in Canada and France.
Grimes was also a Top Ten Finalist for the 2006 Animal Planet Hero of the Year Contest.