JELD-WEN Most Reliable Pet Contest Announces Winners

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. June 30, 2005 — A little English bulldog in a wheelchair and a mixed-breed seizure alert dog are the winners among hundreds of entries across the United States and Canada in the JELD-WEN Most Reliable Pet Contest.

A board of independent, qualified judges selected seizure alert dog Chiper, a German Shepherd/Coon Hound mix and her owner, Candice Hernandez of Oviedo, Fla., to receive an amazing pet playhouse worth $5,000 with pet-size JELD-WEN windows and doors. Banfield, the Pet Hospital, will donate a Basic Wellness Plan and membership to Chiper.

Winner of the $5,000 donation pledged by JELD-WEN for the best entry from a shelter or humane society is Lilly, the little English bulldog who uses a wheelchair and is a reliable friend of humans with similar disabilities throughout the city of Gulfport, Miss.

Chiper is trained to alert her owner of an impending epileptic seizure. Candice is a 21-year-old college student who takes Chiper to class with her so she can have a guardian angel nearby. The four-year-old pet was trained by the Canine Partners for Life in Cochranville, Penn.

Lilly came to the Humane Society of South Mississippi after her unloving owners ran over her in the driveway and then did not provide medical care. Her paralysis-along with her spirited good nature-won the hearts of many who helped get the treatment she needed and the little pet wheelchair that helps her get around almost as nimbly as a non-handicapped pet.

A special thank you goes to the distinguished panel of judges who selected the contest winners: Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for The Humane Society of the United States; Wendy Diamond, editor of Animal Fair magazine; Susan Chaney, editor of Dog Fancy magazine; Susan Logan, editor of Cat Fancy magazine; Claudia Kawczynska, editor of The Bark magazine; and Paul Linnman, morning talk show host for KEX radio (1190 AM) in Portland, Ore.

JELD-WEN Most Reliable Pet Contest entries included cats, goats, ferrets as well as dogs. Finalists noted for honorable mentions are (by pet name): Bailey, Blitz, Cinder, Dixie, Duke, Ginger, Gracie, Guy, Jenny, Jesse, Joey and Katie, Maxine, Maxy, Monty and Spirit.

Thank you for submitting your wonderful, heartfelt stories, and best wishes!

Photos and more information on the winners will be available soon. For more information on the contest, visit the press room.

The contest started accepting entries at noon Pacific Standard Time Friday, March 11, 2005 and ended at noon Pacific Daylight Time Friday, May 13, 2005.

For media inquiries, please contact JELD-WEN at (503) 274-7006 or JELD-WEN@cmdagency.com.