HOME OF THE YEAR
The 2003 Annie Raker Rescue Award

The Annie Raker Rescue Award is offered annually to an adoptive home which, in our opinion, has committed to the challenge of an Old English Sheepdog requiring special care and consideration. This home has responded to unusual behavioral and/or medical problems and has shown a willingness to alter lifestyle in order to accommodate their new family member. 
This silver Paul Revere bowl will be engraved by the New England Old English Sheepdog Rescue, Inc. and awarded at the annual meeting. The bowl will be maintained by the recipient for one year. 

The home of the year for 2003 is indisputably a home in British Columbia, a home where the hearts are so huge that they adopted, sight unseen, an OES from Kansas. Sebastian is blind due to two blows of a hatchet that severed his optic nerve and caused him to have seizures. He was delivered to Kathy and Ken by a truly committed rescue volunteer from Tulsa. The story itself was printed in the Tale's End, so in the name of time and not wanting to sink into a tearful recounting of the painful saga, you are requested to refer to http://neoesr.org/sebastian.htm for the full story. It gives me profound feeling of pride to present Ken and Kathy of BC, Canada, the honor of having the 2003 Rescue Home of the Year Bowl.

Respectfully submitted,
Grannie Annie

Engraved on the bowl
Ken & Kathy Shumard SEBASTIAN 2003