Hero Dog Awards Activity Kicks off in Hollywood
The Film & Television Unit of American Humane Association is heading up the search for America’s Hero Dogs. Dogs may be nominated in eight categories: Law Enforcement and Arson Dogs; Service Dogs; Therapy Dogs; Military Dogs; Guide Dogs; Search and Rescue Dogs; Hearing Dogs; and Emerging Hero Dogs.
Finalists in each category will be selected by the public from the pool of contestants, and the winners will be announced at the first-ever American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards celebrity gala, presented by CESAR Canine Cuisine, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California on October 1, 2011.
The Hero Dog Awards recognize the powerful relationship between dogs and people and celebrate the many benefits of animals and people sharing their lives together.
“Championing American values of caring, compassion and hope, the Hero Dog Awards celebrate the animals we love and the people who interact with them on a daily basis,” says American Humane Association president and CEO Robin R. Ganzert.
According to Karen Rosa, senior VP of the Film and Television Unit, “Dogs are an inseparable part of our everyday lives. We work to protect animal actors and animal athletes in more than 2,000 monitored film and television productions every year through American Humane Association’s Film and Television Unit.”
Now, you can nominate a dog in one of the eight categories at www.herodogawards.org. Nominations close on May 31, 2011, and voting by the general public will begin on June 1, 2011.
Finalists in each category will be judged by a blue-ribbon panel consisting of both celebrities and animal experts to determine the winning American Hero Dog.
All of the finalists will be flown to Hollywood, where they will walk the red carpet and be recognized in a moving video tribute at the black-tie awards show on October 1, 2011 when the winning American Hero Dog will be announced.
Seventeen participating charities have a chance to receive a share of $50,000 in grant prizes awarded by the Hero Dog Awards to recognize the work of the organizations. Charities include Canine Companions for Independence, United States War Dog Association and the National Association for Search and Rescue.
Since 1877, American Humane Association has been working to protect children, pets and farm animals from cruelty, abuse and neglect. And CESAR Canine Cuisine is a line of cuisine and treats for small to medium sized dogs.
