MISSOULA – The Humane Society of Western Montana held their annual Ken Shughart Award Banquet over the weekend at the University of Montana. The award is given to those who display extraordinary personal initiative toward the welfare of companion animals.
Dr. Peter Rork – who is the founder and president of Dog Is My Copilot Inc, an organization that transports animals from kill to non-kill shelters – was this year’s winner.
“The real heroes of the people who work in the shelters — not the pilots for Dog is my Copilot — so I am so pleased to be part of that organization. When I deliver the dogs these peoples work is just beginning,” Dr. Rork said.
He has flown over 8,000 animals and delivered them to several shelters including the one in Missoula.
The Junior Humanitarian Award winner Larissa Fluck, 7, who baked and packaged over 1,000 dog treats to be sold at a school event. She then donated the proceeds to the Humane Society of Western Montana.
“I want the animals to get nice things like we do. Have nice homes, get good food at the humane society, and have loving homes,” Fluck said.
The award is named in honor of former board chair Ken Shughart Jr., who helped to grow the organization for 13 years.
