In 1998, the golden retriever Buddy (best known for his role as Air Bud in the film of the same name) was nominated for a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for "Favorite Animal Star."

If someone had told you that the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards had an award for "Favorite Animal Star" in the early to mid-nineties, you'd be forgiven for assuming the award was created solely so that the organization would have a suitable honor for Air Bud. With the exception of perhaps the Ninja Turtles (which, it is important to note, were actually humans in costumes) it's difficult to recall another animal star that had the same impact on pop culture, or on the childhood of anyone growing up in the 1990's.

So then how is it that Buddy failed to win what is perhaps the highest honor that a basketball-playing dog actor can achieve? What animal could have possibly edged him out? A hockey-playing chimp? A bird that heroically dialed 911 to save its owners life?

No. A man named Nick Bakay.

The 1998 Kids' Choice Award for "Favorite Animal Star" was awarded to Salem the Cat from the TV show "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." Salem, you may remember, did not appear on the show as a real cat. It was, instead, a puppet. A puppet operated by humans and voiced by actor Nick Bakay.

I'm not denying that Nick Bakay is a talented actor, probably even deserving of awards and acclaim. But when choosing a recipient for the award "Favorite Animal Star" the award could have gone to an actual basketball-playing dog, or to a guy. A guy named Nick.

It's worth noting that prior to his Air Bud fame, Buddy had been featured sinking baskets on America's Funniest Home Videos and David Letterman, highlighted for his impressive athletic displays. He also played the dog Comet on the hit family sitcom Full House for 6 seasons. A seasoned animal actor who, I cannot stress this enough, could actually play basketball.

Three years before his severely unjust loss to "Favorite Animal Star" Nick Bakay, Buddy had been nominated for the same award at the 1995 Kids' Choice Awards, for his role as Comet in "Full House."

He lost to Max, the dog who played the character Milo in hit film "The Mask."

Milo's best scenes in the film were handled with CGI, and Max has next to no other acting credentials. But at least in 1995, the "Favorite Animal Star" award went to an animal.

This is a call for justice. Justice for Buddy, one of the best animal actors and raddest dogs of our generation. He deserves to win a "Favorite Animal Star" award.