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FSSA's 2010
Service Dog Award Winner
Wolftree's
Drops of Jupiter.
aka “lo”
DOB 11/11/2009
Owner:
Sheila Miller
Nominated by Sheila
Miller
Breeder: Sheila Miller |
2010 was the year
lo went to school and touched the lives of over 400 people. Her
service began in January 2010 when she and her 8-week old siblings entered my
classroom and became the focus of my 9th grade Biology students' "puppy project". For
two weeks, the puppies taught my students empathy, patience, positive training
methods, and how to nurture another living thing. One by one, lo's siblings moved
away to start their new lives but lo stayed on the rest of the year as our therapy dog in
training, our comic relief, and our friend.
The 2010/11 school year began with 25 Special Education students mainstreamed in
my classes. Among them are students with autism, traumatic brain injuries, and severe
learning and behavioral issues. lo had to come back to school. Her job with my new
students was to greet them as they came into my classroom and as we would walk
around our campus. lo taught them about canine and human behavior, respect,
boundaries, and unconditional love. Her mere presence was enough to reduce stress in
the classroom as well as in the teacher's lounge. She made my classroom feel more
like home.
lo's service
ended in January, 2011. lo has
seven new brothers and sisters
at home and I currently don't
have the time to work with her
at school. Not a day goes by
that several students, teachers,
and even administrators ask
about lo. They ask, "How is lo?"
"When is lo coming back?" "Is
she doing OK at home?" I keep
them abreast of the number of
holes she has dug in my yard,
how she has shredded her bed and
toys, and how much fun she is
having in beginner obedience
school. That brings a smile to
their faces. Her picture is in
our yearbook. She is listed
simply as "lo, Teacher's Pet".
She is that and so much more.
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The purpose of this award is to recognize and encourage Field Spaniels and their
owners who are involved in service work. This is an annual award that will be presented at
the club's awards banquet. The award will be a plaque or other suitable object upon which the
name of the dog earning the award and the year shall be inscribed. The award will be given
to the owner of the dog.
Rules for Award:
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Service dog means a living Field Spaniel, or Field Spaniel
who died during the year of nomination, who works, or has worked in one of the following areas:
therapy dog, special companion to the disabled, search & rescue, hearing dog, in special functions
for police or fire organizations, or similar service-to-mankind endeavors.
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Nominations for this award shall be made by any FSSA member.
The owner of the dog need not be a member of the FSSA.
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Nominations shall include the name of the dog, the name and
mailing address of the dog's owner, name and address of the person nominating the dog, the name
of the breeder, a photo of the dog, and a description of the service activity performed by the
dog. Descriptive information shall be limited to one double spaced 8.5 x 11 letter size
page. *Nominations shall be sent to the FSSA Secretary. Sender of the nomination material
shall be responsible for confirming its timely receipt by the Secretary.
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Nominations shall be made from January 1 through February 28
for the prior calendar year. The Secretary shall place an announcement of the application
process in the FSSA newsletter in a timely fashion.
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Nominations and related information shall be sent to the FSSA
Board of Directors who shall vote by secret ballot, solely upon the written information provided,
and without discussion of the merit of any of the nominations. Should only one nomination
be made, that nominee automatically becomes the award winner, and no vote shall be required.
Should there be a tied vote, the vote shall be held again with consideration given only to those
nominees tied by vote for the award. Should a second vote again result in a tie, and there
are only two nominees under consideration, both nominees shall be declared the "Field Spaniel
Service Dog of the Year."
- A dog may earn this award only once.
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The award winner shall be announced during the annual awards
banquet of the club, with a reading of the nomination information of the dog so awarded.
The owner of the dog need not be present. The award and a congratulatory letter shall be
mailed to the recipient as soon as is practical following the announcement of the award.
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The nomination information submitted about the award winning
dog and the photo shall be published in the FSSA newsletter following the presentation of the
award.
The FSSA has a comprehensive award program that
is a benefit of membership in the club.
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