Animals Heroes Honored with Diamond Collar Awards

Feb. 11, Portland, OR: The Oregon Humane Society honored five heroes on February 11 with Diamond Collar Awards recognizing pets and people for remarkable achievements in helping others.  

 

Among those honored at the Governor Hotel ceremony in Portland were Sheriff David Glerup of Harney County, Ore ; Zadok, an Akita who travels the country as a crisis intervention therapy dog; and Simon, a Yorkshire terrier  who braved a house fire to save the life of a woman (Simon is pictured at left; photo by Andrea Lorimor).  

 

Also honored were Ken Wells, a longtime volunteer at the Oregon Humane Society,  and the late Les Sarnoff, Portland’s legendary morning radio personality and animal advocate.  More than 300 people attended the ceremony, which also raised more than $80,000 for pets in need.   

 

“The Diamond Collar Award is a chance to celebrate the heroic stories that exemplify how important pets are in our lives,” said Sharon Harmon, OHS Executive Director. Diamond Collar honorees included:  

 

Sheriff David Glerup of Harney County: While other law enforcement agencies might find their resources stretched too thin to deal with animal neglect cases, Sheriff Glerup last year brought criminal neglect charges in two separate cases that were among the largest in Oregon’s history. Thanks to these efforts, OHS and other groups were able to rescue some 200 neglected dogs from notorious breeder Ted Telefson. In a second case, Glerup brought criminal charges against three residents after discovering more than 100 dogs living outside in sub-freezing temperatures. Many of the dogs were chained to farm equipment, surviving in burrows they had dug to seek shelter from brutal winter weather.  Answering Sheriff Glerup’s call, OHS rescued nearly 90 dogs.  

 

Zadock: This 85-pound Akita dog excels at giving comfort and joy to those who need it most. He became a certified therapy dog at age four, with a natural talent for knowing exactly what a patient needs. Zadok has visited cancer wards and intensive care units. Zadock shines in another role: Zadok and his handler, Julie Burk, have completed rigorous training to become an animal-assisted crises response team. Their mission is to help people shell-shocked by disaster and tragedy. They visited Virginia Tech in the aftermath of a shooting that left 32 dead. The pair provided the one thing that students needed most: an opportunity to give and receive love.  

 

Simon: Simon (see picture)  is endearingly nicknamed “The Cowardly Lion” because he can be startled by the most harmless things. But when disaster struck, Simon overcame his ingrained fears to save the life of another. While his human companion was sleeping on the living room sofa, a fire had broken out in the kitchen, filling the room with smoke. Simon did not attempt to escape from the danger. Instead, he jumped on his human friend’s chest, licked her face, and barked frantically. Simon’s efforts were successful--Rajes Phillips woke up and was able to extinguish the flames. Both she and Simon escaped the house without injury.  

 

Ken Wells: Since September of 2002, Well’s has logged nearly 8,000 hours of volunteer time at the Oregon Humane Society--in incredible record. He frequently contributes more than 1,000 volunteer hours a year while also holding down a full-time job. Well’s is an animal advocate of boundless energy. It’s been said he can do more jobs in more areas of the  OHS shelter than anyone else. Ken is known for giving hours of his time to frightened and confused dogs who don’t understand why their world has suddenly been turned upside down. His calm, healing approach can draw the most shy dog of its shell and prepare the pet for a new life in a new home.

Les Sarnoff: The late Les Sarnoff was honored with the Ernest Swigert Lifetime Achievement Award. Sarnoff had a remarkable radio career spanning two decades. Thousands of Portlanders woke to his voice every day while he hosted KINK-fm’s morning broadcast. He talked about OHS frequently on his radio show, and he hosted the annual OHS Telethon nine years in a row. Les also served on the OHS Board of Trustees for five years and was a Community Ambassador for OHS until he passed away last spring after a lengthy battle with cancer.