OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, May 6, 2009 · 2 Hall of Fame honours Ace Rescue dog found missing Ancaster woman in the snow By Carmela Fragomeni TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER HALL OF FAMER: Ace and his owner Ray Lau, a Hamilton Police Search and Rescue team volunteer were recently honoured by Mayor Rob Burton and Johanne Golder, executive director of the Oakville and District Humane Society during the organization's first volunteer recognition event. On Monday Ace was inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame Oakville's Ace, the hero dog who rescued an Ancaster woman missing for three days following a massive snowstorm in December, is officially a superstar. Feted and celebrated in Toronto Monday, Ace walked the red carpet to music and fanfare as photographers and videographers captured his induction into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame. On stage, on a special podium, the four-year-old Dutch shepherd was presented with the 2009 Service Animal of the Year medal. Ace was inducted with two other dogs and a cat into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame. Ace won a year's supply of dog food and a painted portrait, which his owner Ray Lau, of Oakville, said will hang proudly in his home. In the audience watching was a grateful and emotional David Molnar, husband of the woman Ace found barely alive under a snowdrift on Dec. 22. Donna Molnar, 55, disappeared Dec. 19 on her way to buy baking goods during a howling blizzard. She apparently pulled her SUV off the "If it wasn't for Ace, I wouldn't be visiting Donna in hospital every day. I would be visiting her at the cemetery." David Molnar, husband of Donna Molnar, woman Ace found road in rural Ancaster and became disoriented crossing a field. Searchers scoured the area for three days until Ace, a special rescue dog, found her several hundred metres from her van in a shallow depression nearly invisible under a thick layer of snow. It had been difficult for other search and rescue dogs to find Donna earlier because swirling winds dispersed her scent. The energetic and rambunctious Ace and Lau, a Hamilton Police Search and Rescue team volunteer, were three hours into their search when Ace suddenly bolted away and ran through the deep snow at full speed, leading searchers to Donna, who, to everyone's amazement, was still alive. "If it wasn't for Ace, I wouldn't be visiting Donna in hospital every day," said Molnar after the dog's induction ceremony. "I would be visiting her at the cemetery." Donna was taken to Hamilton General in critical condition and suffering from hypothermia. She remains in hospital, unable to walk, but is soon scheduled for rehabilitation, said her husband. Yesterday was David Molnar's first chance to meet Ace and Lau. "It was an honour and a privilege to be there," said Molnar, his voice cracking with emotion. "The dog is very deserving." Ace found Donna on his first rescue outing. Less than two years ago, the dog was rescued from an animal shelter after being judged too rambunctious for a family pet. Ace's astounding first search success made headlines worldwide. Within days, he got a standing ovation from 5,000 dog lovers at the Iams Superdogs show at Copps Coliseum. Lau, a municipal engineering employee who has undergone extensive training as a member of the volunteer search team, said he is very proud of Ace. Staff Sergeant Mark Cox, ground search rescue coordinator for Hamilton police who nominated Ace for the Purina award, called Ace's story very touching. "It's his moment to shine." 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Oakville man injured in fight Halton police are asking for the witnesses to come forward after a Sunday fight resulted in the severe injury of a 27-year-old man. Police said the incident started at around 2:30 a.m. when two groups of young people, congregated at the AMC Entertainment Complex in the area of the QEW and Winston Churchill Boulevard, began exchanging words. The dispute escalated to the point where two young men began involved in a scuffle during which a 27-yearold man fell to the ground striking his head on a concrete walkway. The man was initially taken to Oakville Trafalgar Hospital, but due to the severity of his injuries he was transferred to Toronto Western Hospital. The man's condition has since been upgraded from serious to fair. Anyone who witnessed this incident is asked to contact police at 905-825-4747 ext. 2205 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).