MOUNT VERNON — Dedication and compassion for animals earned Heather Fredenburg the 13th Annual Sharon A. Boeshart Memorial Award.
“[Winning the award] is awesome, I’m really proud of my dog,” Fredenburg said.
The Sharon A. Boeshart Memorial award was established as a loving tribute to Boeshart’s life as animal lover and Canine Companion 4-H Club participant and youth guide. Boeshart passed Feb. 7, 1997 due to injuries sustained when she was struck by a drunk driver while driving home from work.
The award is presented to a member of K-9 Companions 4-H Club who mirrors Boeshart, exhibiting leadership ability, a true love and compassion for animals and the desire to help others.
“[Fredenburg] has been taking college classes, showing horses and training her dog this year,” Michelle Boeshart, Sharon Boeshart’s daughter and award presenter, said. “She put a lot of extra time into training and was able to compete with her dog off-lead.”
Fredenburg was unaware she would be receiving the award. In fact, she had left to tend to the horses she is showing at fair when her name was announced.
“My friend had to call me back to the (dog) show,” Fredenburg said.
Performing with her dog, Kuma, Fredenburg placed first in the beginners section of the tricks competition, first in the novice A section of obedience and fourth in the second-year off-lead section of competitive agility during Monday’s dog show.
samantha.scoles@mountvernonnews.com
