”Monet.” Photo by Sue Williams

Timbuck2 of Placitas, taking a snooze after a romp in the snow. Photo by Angie Cherry.

Santa’s helper! from the “Santa Paws” pet food drive at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya. Photo by Dorothy Hornbeck

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Local dog named winner in Humane Society‘s second annual Dogs of Valor Awards

The Humane Society of the United States is proud to announce that Baby, a five-year-old Great Dane from Albuquerque, has been named the Valor Dog of the Year. She was chosen to receive the highest honor in the Second Annual Dogs of Valor Awards by a panel of celebrity judges that included big-screen Dog of Valor Benji, “America’s Favorite Animal Artist” Ron Burns, professional race car champion Randy Pobst, and television’s courtroom animal advocate, Judge David Young.

After an exhausting stretch of cancer treatment, eighty-two-year-old Elwood Cardon wanted to get away to his mountain home with his dog, Baby. While driving, Elwood became disoriented and took a wrong turn. His SUV slipped off the road and plummeted twenty feet downhill where it wedged upside down between two trees. Pinned inside with a cracked spine, Elwood honked the horn and screamed for help. The passenger side window had shattered, and as it grew colder Baby snuggled with Elwood, keeping him warm and alert. Several times, she crawled out of the SUV to seek help, but each time she returned alone. Ten hours later, Baby finally got the attention of one of the remote area’s residents who quickly called for help. Firefighters were able to pull Elwood to safety.

To honor her efforts, Baby and her family will receive an original sterling silver dog tag by Bella Tocca Tags, a signed and framed limited edition giclée piece entitled “Sirius” by Ron Burns, and a natural handmade pet bed by designers Ted and Dayna. Sadly, Elwood passed away almost two months after the accident.