The American Kennel Club established the AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award in 2006 to recognize and celebrate its volunteer club members. This award honors those individuals who deserve special recognition that have made a difference in the sport of purebred dogs, embodied the AKC code of Sportsmanship, and have been an active and valued member of an AKC Club.
This year’s SMKC awardee, Bev Horner, embodies the spirit of the award through her pioneering activities in one of the AKCs newest titling activities, an activity which brings comfort and joy to many of the community’s lonely and forgotten people.
In July, Bev’s dog Toby received the highest therapy title awarded by the AKC, the AKC’s Distinguished Therapy Dog Title. To earn this title, the dog must complete 400 visits to eligible facilities. However our honoree’s dog greatly exceeded this number. Toby and Bev have over 1500 visits to Nursing Homes, Assisted Living facilities and area schools!
Along the way to the therapy dog title, our honoree also took on the leadership of the Wicomico County Pets on Wheels program and established SMKC’s annual Christmas Giving for the Humane Society effort. She is also known for her famous fudge which raises money for the Humane Society, the SMKC Charitable Trust, and other organizations.
She is an inspiration to all, SMKC is indeed fortunate to have Bev Horner as a member. Thank you Bev!
