Elisabeth Sikie first met the pit bull mix she would name "Ra" after a friend of hers had coaxed the animal away from a group of kids. "These kids had been told to dump him because he wouldn't fight," says Sikie. Knowing that Sikie would consider adopting the dog as a companion for her other canine, the friend phoned her immediately.

Sikie took the dog in. At first listless and frightened, Ra had a breakthrough moment when Sikie introduced him to his first toy. "He had never played," she says. "I threw the ball and his whole face said, 'This is why I'm on the planet'."

Seven years later, Ra sleeps on Sikie's pillow, allows her pet cockatiel to roost on his head, and still chases balls like a retriever. Those traits, and the photograph above, have earned Ra the distinction of being named America's Best Pet Friend. Ra is the Grand Prize winner in The Humane Society of the United States' My Best Pet Friend Photo Contest, presented by the AVID FriendChip™ pet microchip.

Ra edged out nine other deserving finalists, including Connor the ticklish ferret and Aggie the tiara-wearing dog. The ten finalists were selected by HSUS staffers from among the top 100 vote-getters in the contest, which combined a traditional photo contest with a pet popularity contest. More than 4,300 pets competed to give their caregivers a chance to win fabulous prizes, including the Grand Prize, a seven-day, seven-night cruise for four courtesy of Vantage Travel.

Now Sikie, a Bay-area yoga teacher working toward a master's degree in philosophy and religion, will be taking that cruise with her husband, thanks to the dog she named after the Egyptian sun god because of the dog's golden coat and black "eyeliner" markings. Sikie snapped the winning photograph during one of their frequent walks in the Oakland Hills.

In her photo contest description of why Ra is her "best pet friend," Sikie characterized the pit bull mix as an "ambassador" for his species. "People come up to me and say, 'What a beautiful dog. What kind is he?'" says Sikie. When she explains that Ra is a pit bull mix, some people are predictably apprehensive. "So I have to educate them," she says. "Ra is one of the most gentle creatures I've ever met."

Ra was named Grand Prize winner by a panel of celebrity judges: Marty Becker, DVM, author of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul; Ron Burns, artist in residence for The HSUS; Michelle Carolla, Mrs. DC United States 2004; and Patrick McDonnell, award-winning creator of the daily comic strip, Mutts.

The judges were struck by more than just terrific photographs. "I was touched by how people described their pets and by how much they mean to them," said McDonnell. "The contest featured not only heartwarming images, but also insightful stories that showed the enduring bonds we create with our companion animals."

[Edited by Triptolemus on 23-Mar-04 20:34]



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