With just a few weeks to go until the fourth annual American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards, American Humane Association – the country’s first national humane organization – is revealing the roster of talent to appear at the star-studded Hollywood event.
Co-hosted by football legend Terry Bradshaw and actress and animal advocate Beth Stern, the gala event at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday September 27 will celebrate eight courageous canines, all vying for the coveted title of 2014 American Hero Dog.
Pop vocal group Wilson Phillips will be the featured musical entertainment for the evening, performing several well-known hits from their catalogue. The show will be taped by Mersey Masala Productions for a nationwide broadcast on Hallmark Channel on October 30. The producers are Paul Flattery and Irene Crinita and the director is Dennis Rosenblatt.
Presented by the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation, the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards seek to identify and recognize America’s Hero Dogs – ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things, whether it’s saving lives, lending sight or hearing to those in need, or just welcoming us home at the end of a hard day. The evening will also feature the presentation of the first-ever American Humane Association Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Technician Awards, presented by Zoetis following a nationwide search to find and recognize the achievements of the top veterinary professionals in the country.
Stars from the stage and screen will come together to pay tribute to this year’s crop of heroic hounds and their handlers on the other end of the leash. Together, they will walk the red carpet and then attend the gala in the same room where the Golden Globes are filmed each year. Comedic legend and “Saturday Night Live” veteran Martin Short, “America’s Got Talent” winner and Las Vegas entertainer Terry Fator, and “CSI: NY” star Gary Sinise will all contribute special pre-taped segments to the show.
Featured presenters for the evening include “America’s Veterinarian” Dr. Marty Becker, Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin, world-renowned dog trainer Victoria Stilwell, “NCIS” star Pauley Perrette, television and movie star Billy Baldwin, “Desperate Housewives” star James Denton, “Nashville” star Charlotte Ross, and more to be announced soon. As the television broadcast partner for the show, Hallmark Channel has enlisted many of its own stars to also appear at the Hero Dog Awards as presenters, including Larry Miller, Lori Loughlin, Lacey Chabert, Mark Steines, Cristina Ferrare, Bailee Madison, Barbara Niven, and Kellie Martin. Reality television star Lisa Vanderpump and her famous Pomeranian Giggy will also do a special live auction during the show.
The 2014 American Hero Dog will be determined by the public and a panel of select special celebrity judges, including country superstar Naomi Judd, philanthropists and animal advocates Philippe and Ashlan Gorse Cousteau, “The Bachelor” Prince Lorenzo Borghese, “True Blood” star Kristin Bauer van Straten, actress Christie Brooke, “Tough Love Miami” star Leilani Dowding, “Saving Mr. Banks” actress Victoria Summer, actress and animal advocate Alison Eastwood, actress Emmanuelle Vaugier, supermodel Joanna Krupa, NASCAR driver Blake Koch, actor Lou Wegner, singer Shara Strand, Hollywood talent manager Joanne Horowitz, businesswoman and philanthropist Paige Dunham, and 2011’s Law Enforcement/Arson Dog Category winner Sadie and Jerry Means, along with Lisa Vanderpump, Victoria Stilwell, and Bailee Madison.
“We have such an incredible roster of talent set to appear at the 2014 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane Association’s president and CEO. “But of course, the brightest shining stars in attendance that evening will be our eight amazing Hero Dogs and their courageous handlers. It’s going to be an incredible evening, and I can’t wait to see who America has chosen as its 2014 American Hero Dog.”
For ticket information for the 2014 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards, please call 202-841-6080 or email jilln@americanhumane.org.
