Nominate an Animal to the Hall of Fame • View the Winners • 15th Annual Luncheon
2005 Therapy
Some dogs might reduce their activity after losing a leg to cancer, but not “Velvet,” the 10-year-old black Labrador retriever belonging to Kathy Braza of Woodbridge. For five years Velvet has been visiting the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park as part of a busy therapy schedule that also included working with 9-11 families. After her leg was amputated last November Velvet made a rapid comeback, and now her visits to the disabled veterans are even more poignant. She is a special favorite with the veterans, who delight in grasping Velvet's second leash and “walking” her through the facility in their wheelchairs. Velvet was nominated by Drs. Barry Adler and Gene Fink of Woodbridge Veterinary Group.
Click here for video of the 2005 Therapy winner 
2004 Therapy
“Bentley” Zdrodowski is a seven-year-old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel owned by Diane Zdrodowski of Blairstown, NJ. Bentley has been doing pet therapy since he was just a year old, visiting the Tomorrow’s Children Institute for children with cancer and rare blood diseases at Hackensack University Medical Center. When Diane moved to Blairstown she co-founded CARE – Canine Assisted Resources in Education – with Bentley leading the pilot program. CARE has now expanded to six teams, with Bentley making at least one school visit a week. Bentley was nominated by Dr. Carolyn M. Chinnici of Blairstown Animal Hospital.
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2003 Therapy Category (tie)
“Curtsey” McCullough, a seven-year-old Australian Shepherd/Chow mix. Curtsey attends the Lewis School in Princeton, a school for children with learning disabilities. An incredibly sensitive and intuitive dog, she provides love and support to children who struggle academically and helps educate students about positive social behavior.
Owner – Tara McCullough
Veterinarian -- Dr. Mary Moon
Click here for video of the 2003 Therapy winner
2003 Therapy Category (tie)
"Cherokee", a 26-year-old half-Arabian horse. Cherokee, like many of her students is handicapped, having lost an eye in a pasture accident. She has helped many students build self-confidence, especially one young boy who is also visually impaired due to a brain tumor.
Owner – Hunterdon County ESC Therapeutic Riding
Veterinarian – Dr. Dennis Milne
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2002 Therapy
Awarded to Gaylin, a husky/retriever mix, rescued from the streets of Trenton. Gaylin has a resume of volunteer credits -- from giving dyslexic children a calm and non-judgmental environment to practice reading aloud to visiting children at the Katzenbach School for the Deaf where he is the model for a humane education program.
Owner -- Cheryl Mills
Veterinarian -- Patti Maslanka
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2001 Therapy
A tie this year - awarded to Mabel, Winnie, and Amanda. All three dogs are participants in the Pet Assisted Therapy Program at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Paterson, NJ. 
These dogs are exceptional in their abilities to visit pediatric patients and provide an opportunity for remedial play, physical therapy, and assistance with ambulation after surgery, not to mention their availability for lots of hugs and tummy rubs.
Owner - Donna Luzzo (Winnie);
Veterinarian - Dr. Vincent Zaccheo
Owner - Beth Malekoff (Mabel)
Veterinarian - Dr. John North
Owner - Cynthia Kiefer (Amanda)
Veterinarian - Dr. Beth Hunton
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2000 Therapy
Awarded to Dickens, a five-year-old Golden Retriever. Dickens is a value assistant to the psychiatric staff at the Holy Name Hospital. Dickens' weekly visits to patients with mental illness,, mood disorders, Alzheimer's and other illnesses give them a positive, loving experience to anticipate. Dickens' patient, outgoing manner has made him a favorite and his successes include motivating a severely arthritic man, an anorexic woman who began to eat after Dickens' visits, ad an Alzheimer's patient who had been mute but began speaking after his visits.
Owner - Susan Stone
Veterinarian - Dr. John DeVries
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1999 Therapy
Awarded to Spunky, a nine-year-old domestic shorthair cat. Spunky visits senior residents, exhibiting extraordinary calm and patience, as he sits for houses in the seniors' laps.
Owner - Sandra Campbell
Veterinarian - Dr. Ann Ascher
1999 Therapy (Posthumous)
Awarded to Cinnamon Twist, a therapeutic riding horse for Special People United to Ride (SPUR) in Lincroft, NJ. Due to his exceptionally calm demeanor, Cinnamon Twist was ridden by the smallest and most fearful riders, giving them confidence to overcome their physical and cognitive challenges.
Owner - Cynthia Weber (SPUR)
Veterinarian - Dr. Elden Klayman
1998 Therapy
Awarded to Ranger, a ten-year-old mixed breed dog. Ranger was adopted from a shelter at age two, and began a career in a canine search and rescue unit. Following multiple surgeries, Ranger began a new career as a therapy dog. Despite her own disabilities, Ranger willingly serves to bring cheer to nursing home and hospital residents.
Owner - Sandra Righmeyer
Veterinarian - Dr. Larry Hirshenson
1998 Therapy (Posthumous)
Howdy, a ten-year-old Quarterhorse, that was a therapeutic driving horse, receives a posthumous Hero award. Howdy was struck and hit by a hit and run driver while transporting a carriage of three instructors, who were all spared critical injury due to his bravery.
Owner - Handicapped High Riders
Veterinarian - Dr. S.P. Dey, II
1997 Therapy
Awarded to Topaz, a three-year-old Golden Retriever. Topaz and her owner Alice Crans, perform therapeutic visits for frail, infirm, and bed-ridden long-term care residents. Topaz also visits psychiatric patients and has begun visits with preschoolers who are taught proper, gently behavior with animals. One patient with whom Topaz visits said her tensions disappear and tranquility moves in when Topaz arrives.
Owner - Alice Crans
Veterinarian - Dr. Beth Hunton