Well, here it comes. The votes are in, and after nearly a full year and over 400 nominations, we’re all about to find out who “America’s Hero Dog” is.
If that sounds too subjective, I’m referring more specifically to American Humane’s Hero Dog Awards. The country’s first national humane organization hosts this annual event, which is sponsored by the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation.
Platinum Presenting Sponsor Lois Pope explained the awards’ value:
“The Hero Dog Awards celebrate America’s often unsung heroes. From those who defend our country to those who help us heal, guide us, protect us, and help find the lost, every single contender exemplifies the courage and heroism we seek to spotlight in this campaign.”
Details About The 11th Annual Event
For the 2021 awards, held on November 12th at 6 pm E.S.T. at the Eau Palm Beach Resort in Palm Beach, Florida, seven hero dogs who all won their individual categories in the finals will go head to head. The national television finals aired in October on Hallmark Drama.
Carson Kressley hosts and celeb guests Vivica A. Fox, Lisa Loeb, Naomi Judd, and Cande Rivers will all appear. Also present will be the winners from 2020’s event.
American Humane president and C.E.O. Dr. Robin Ganzert said this about the upcoming awards:
“More than a million votes were cast by the American public over the past year to help choose these finalists and now the top American Hero Dog will be revealed. This once-a-year event, recognizing the outsized contributions that animals make in our lives each and every day, is something every one of us should support.”
The official winner will ultimately be determined through a combination of votes from the public and a blue-ribbon panel of leading animal experts and famous dog lovers.
You can purchase tickets to the event here. Of course, if you can’t make it there, you can still donate to support American Humane via that same link. You can also watch the show online at WatchHallmarkTV.com.
The 2021 Dog Finalists
2021 served up some really tough competition! The seven dogs up for the top prize are:
- Henna: She works as a guide dog for her deaf and legally blind handler and literally saved her life on one terrifying occasion.
- K-9 Hansel: Seized from a dogfighting ring and slated for euthanasia, this Pittie is now a detection dog.
- Summer: She retired from the Marines Corps in 2013 and also recently retired as a Police Explosive Detection Dog after serving for seven years.
- Little Man: This skilled dog was the winner of the Search and Rescue Hero Dog of The Year award!
- Sobee: Formerly neglected, this girl was rescued in 2016 by K9s on the Front Line and began her training as a veteran service dog.
- Deputy Chance: A survivor of abuse, this hero is now the face of the Deputy Dogs Person Patrol program in Lee County, Florida.
- Boone: Due to horrible cruelty in his past, he lost his back legs. Today, the brave pup is an ambassador for the nonprofit Joey’s P.A.W. (Prosthetics and Wheels).
Clearly, these pups all deserve to win. We’ll find out who does on November 12th!
Toledo, United States.
