Human, canine, and feline winners of last year's ASPCA Humane Awards.

Each year, the ASPCA celebrates the important human-animal bond by honoring ten inspiring animals and people who have demonstrated compassion and bravery.

The awards are given to dogs and cats that have demonstrated extraordinary behavior and to people who’ve made a significant impact in the lives of animals in the past year.

Do you know any two or four legged friends who fit the bill? The ASPCA is now taking nominations in the categories of Dog of the Year, Cat of the Year, Kid of the Year, Public Service Award (firefighters, law enforcement officers, etc…), and Other, for the 2010 ASPCA Humane Awards.

Submissions will be accepted until June 30th and the winners will be invited to the Humane Award Luncheon in New York City.

Last year’s winners:

• Dog of the Year: Archie, an assistance dog and the first canine graduate of the Army Wounded Warriors Program.
• Cat of the Year: Nora, a piano playing feline and viral You Tube sensation.
• Kid of the Year: Monica Plumb, 11-year old behind PetMask.com, a web site that raises donations for animal oxygen masks
• Firefighter of the Year: Chief Mark Duff and members of the Hingham Fire Department, who rescued a Labrador Retriever who fell through thin ice.
• Law Enforcement Officers of the Year: Tim Rickey and Kyle Held of the Humane Society of Missouri and Terry Mills and Sergeant Jeffrey Heath of the Missouri Highway Patrol for their participation in the largest federal crackdown on dog fighting in U.S. history.
• ASPCA Henry Bergh Award: Alayne Marker and Steve Smith, founders of Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary in Ovando, Montana.
• ASPCA Lifetime Achievement Award: Richard O’Barry, founder of the Dolphin Project, who led a lifelong crusade to free dolphins and educate the world about the plight of dolphins in captivity.

Nominations for this year’s awards can be submitted online through the ASPCA’s web site.