Rin Tin Tin. Lassie. Benji. And now Jack Pieters.

The Willow Street terrier extraordinaire was named the national winner of the People's Choice Valor Dog of the Year on Friday in the inaugural competition run by the Humane Society of the United States.

Not bad for a dog salvaged from a Dumpster with little more to his name than questionable breeding and dubious intelligence.

"I'm stunned. I can't believe it," said Jack's "mom," Michelle Pieters, on Friday afternoon when she heard she picked a winner from the pound after all. "I can't wait to tell the rest of the family when they get home."

True, Jack's hard-luck story is as heart-wrenching as his tiny terrier face, and the combination make him worthy enough of a Lifetime Achievement Award. After all, just managing to get himself pulled out of that Dumpster was pretty clever. But it's what he did after that that really makes this powerhouse pup a Dog of Valor.

In 2003, the Pieters' youngest daughter, Maya, really needed a friend. In keeping with her diagnosis of the extremely rare Congenital Bilateral Perisylvian Syndrome, Maya struggled with her speech, experienced swallowing and eating problems, and had monumental developmental delays.

"Her brother and sister were both in school all day, so it would just be me and Maya at home together day in and day out," Pieters said. "She was just so lonely and so self-conscious because she was never included anywhere. Nobody bothered with her. That just used to break my heart."

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It was one of Maya's therapists who suggested a dog is a kid's best friend. Michelle Pieters wasn't keen on the dog idea until her daughter's happiness hung in the balance.

For weeks, the Pieters checked in at the Humane League's shelter on Lincoln Highway East for just the right dog — a reasonably-sized dog that wouldn't hurt the petite Maya, who's 8 now, and one that would be attentive and obedient.

In January 2004, as they were leaving the shelter after another unsuccessful search for the right dog, Michelle literally bumped into a police officer bringing in the Jack Russell mix — freshly salvaged from a downtown Dumpster where he had been discovered crying.

"He was this flea-infested, filthy, shaking, trembling little dog," Pieters said. "For three days, all I could think about was this little dog."

Pieters returned to the shelter a few days later with her kids to check out "Cheddar," as he was dubbed by shelter staff. Before she had a chance to get to the kennels, Maya had run ahead and was poised before Jack's kennel — and in full conversation with him.

"It was amazing — Maya was talking more to Jack than I'd heard her talk in a week at home," Pieters said. "This little girl who would never speak because it's so difficult for her and she's so self-conscious had immediately bonded with him from the first second. I got a chill. I thought this was really meant to be."

And that's not even the valorous part.

Maya's doctors predicted she would eventually experience grand mal seizures, and one night in November she did. From then on, Jack showed an uncanny ability to alert the family to Maya's seizures. He even showed an unbelievable ability to predict her seizures, and on those nights, he'd sleep with Maya rather than in his crate on the first floor.

"He claws at her door, barks, he just becomes frantic," Pieters said. "We have no forewarning at all that it's going to happen, but he knows. He's right there with her before it happens. And when it's over, she's just absolutely exhausted, and he just stays right there with her. It's like he's guarding her each and every time."

Jack was nominated for the Dog of Valor Award by his friends at the Humane League. Jack competed against dogs nominated from across the country. Celebrity judges — including tennis great Martina Navratilova; Candy Spelling, mother of actress Tori Spelling; dog trainer Tamar Geller; and "Ugly Betty" creator and executive producer Silvio Horta — sifted through nominations to come up with the top four dogs. But Jack's story resonated with the masses. He was the top vote-getter in an online poll of the people.

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Jack's greatness is nothing new at the Humane League, which featured him in a 2007 promotional video and this year at its annual dinner.

But League CEO Joan Brown admits Jack didn't show his true talent until he was paired with Maya.

"He didn't stand out at the shelter. That's the beauty of it," Brown said Friday. "He only stood out because he was so pathetic. Nobody knew the valor that was in this dog. He's just the greatest little dog. And it's a great and fabulous story, but it's not that incredible. When dogs find people, they find them for a reason."

Brown said Jack is proof-positive that great things come from humble beginnings, and even Dumpsters.

"This little dog is just the greatest story you could ever tell about the Humane League," Brown said. "We're so thrilled. We'll continue to honor him because he continues to honor us."

For his trouble, Jack and his family win an autographed copy of "Marley & Me" by John Grogan and a fancy Nestling Sherpa Snuggle Puff dog bed.

Snuggle Puff bed aside, Pieters said the real prize is the recognition Jack's win brings to the Humane League — and mutts everywhere.

"Not that Jack will know he won," Pieters reasoned. "But he's just so loved. When I think what he's done for Maya, I can just cry. This is such a feel-good story. It's like a Cinderella story."

Jack is a new dog after finding Maya. And Maya is a new girl after finding Jack.

"Socially, she's so much more confident now. She has lovely friends," Pieters said. "I attribute 99 percent of it to Jack. He's the one thing in her life besides her family who was never judgmental and was always accepting. It's like he just radiates when he's around her."

To find your own Dog of Valor at the Humane League, check out their new satellite adoption site every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at That Fish Place, 237 Centerville Road, or visit the shelter at 2195 Lincoln Highway East, Monday from noon to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 7 p.m.; Friday from noon to 5 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

E-mail: slindt@lnpnews.com