NOMINEES OF USA TODAY'S "MOST HEROIC DOG OF 2010" TURN THEIR VOTES INTO VOICES FOR FELLOW NOMINEE, TARGET.

TARGET WAS ERRONEOUSLY EUTHANIZED AFTER SAVING LIVES IN AFGHANISTAN

SAN DIEGO, CA, January 10, 2011… USA Today has narrowed the field down to five dogs in the running for Most Heroic Dog of 2010.  Surf Dog Ricochet, the SURFice dog, and Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog have made the top five, along with Target, the Afghanistan dog who saved many soldiers lives, only to lose hers to an erroneous euthanization.  Ricochet & Sparkles have turned their votes into voices for Target, and are now raising funds and awareness for her.

Voting for the five nominees in USA Today's Most Heroic Dog of 2010 started on Friday, January 7th. Ricochet and Sparkles were honored to be among the five nominees. They began asking their supporters for votes, but quickly joined together, and turned their energy toward fellow nominee, Target.  They are asking people to turn their votes for them into voices by helping with their fundraiser for Target's cause, Target's Bunker, a no kill shelter founded by Target's family.

On the night of February 11, 2010, Target saved the lives of many soldiers in Afghanistan when a suicide bomber walked into a Border Patrol compound.  Target, along with two other stray dogs, sensed something was wrong, and attacked the bomber.  Despite the bombing... she survived.  SGT Terry Young adopted Target, and brought her back to live with him in Arizona. One Friday afternoon, Target got out of the yard, and ended up in a shelter.  Tragically, by Monday morning, she was erroneously euthanized.  "Target's Bunker" has been formed with the hope of keeping another tragedy like Target's from happening ever again.

Ricochet and Sparkles agree... not only is Target USA Today's Most Heroic Dog of 2010, but she is THEIR hero!  After contacting Target's family, they began reaching out to their voters, supporters, donors, and the world to help them raise awareness.  Since "Target's Bunker" is still in it's infancy stages of development, the fundraising campaign is being held through Puppy Prodigies/Surf Dog Ricochet, a 501(c)3 non profit organization.  Tax deductible donations are being accepted on behalf of "Target's Bunker".  Please visit http://www.SurfDogRicochet.com/Target for more information, to make a donation, and to help Ricochet and Sparkles raise awareness of their hero, Target.

Ricochet and Sparkles thank USA Today for giving them such an amazing honor, but more importantly for pointing them in the direction of Target!

For more information, contact Judy Fridono/SurfDog Ricochet at pawinspired@aol.com, 707-228-0679, or Dayna Hilton at dayna@sparklesthefiresafetydog.com 479-979-7328.

http://www.Targetsbunker.org
http://www.sparklesthefiresafetydog.com/
http://www.SurfDogRicochet.com