Rescued Pitbull Mix From Oakland Named Winner of 'My Best Pet Friend' Photo Contest 3/29/2004
From: Belinda Mager of The Humane Society of the United States, 301-258-3071 or bmager@hsus.org WASHINGTON, March 29 /U.S. Newsdesk/ -- Ra, a pitbull mix who was abandoned after he refused to fight in illegal dog fighting contests was named the winner of The Humane Society of the United States' (HSUS) My Best Pet Friend Photo Contest, presented by the AVID FriendChip(tm) pet microchip. "Ra is truly an ambassador (for) his species," said Elisabeth Sikie, from Oakland, California. "We rescued him from the streets after being abandoned for refusing to fight, even though he was starved. His gentle nature, beautiful eyes, and intense commitment to play delight all who meet him. He loves our cats and allows our bird to roost on his head." As grand prize winner, Sikie will receive a seven-day, seven- night Caribbean cruise for four people, courtesy of Vantage Travel, and an 8x10-inch custom oil painting of Ra, courtesy of The Painted Pet. The HSUS will present the prizes to Sikie at PetFest America in Columbus, Ohio on April 17. More than 4,300 pets were entered into the photo contest. Animals received votes in the contest each time their human family and friends forwarded an electronic photo of their pet to others. Votes were tallied and the top 100 vote-getters were narrowed down to 10, which were then voted on by a panel of celebrity judges. "I was touched by how people described their pets and by how much they mean to them," said celebrity judge Patrick McDonnell, award-winning creator of the daily comic strip Mutts. "The contest featured not only heartwarming images, but also insightful stories that showed the enduring bonds we create with our companion animals." The top 500 vote-getters will each receive a free FriendChip(tm) pet microchip courtesy of AVID and a free lifetime enrollment for their pet in AVID's Global Recovery Network, PETtrac(tm). The HSUS urges pet owners to properly identify their pets with a collar and microchip, and check with their local animal shelters to inquire about their capability to read the chip. While AVID scanners are widely in use across the country, other microchip manufacturers have not provided adequate scanners to the nation's shelters. This has prompted The HSUS to urge pet owners to inquire about compatibility between chips and scanners in use in their communities. The top 10 finalists will each receive an 8x10-inch custom graphite drawing of their pet, courtesy of The Painted Pet. All the winning images can be seen at http://photocontest.hsus.org. Ra helps to combat the stereotype that pitbulls are dangerous dogs. "People come up to me and say, 'What a beautiful dog. What kind is he?'" said Sikie. When she tells them that Ra is a pitbull, the reactions are predictable. "So I have to educate them," she said. "Ra is one of the most gentle creatures I've ever met." ------ The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than eight million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS protects all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and fieldwork. The non-profit organization, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2004, is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the country. On the web at http://www.hsus.org. |