The Hero Dog Awards Honors America's Best Friends

The American Humane Association honored eight dogs at its awards gala hosted by Kristin Chenoweth.

Last night (Nov. 8), the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards finally aired on the Hallmark Channel. (The event took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Oct. 6.) It was a star-studded affair -- or so we imagine. Our cable plan is apparently one that does not offer the Hallmark Channel, a fact we realized far too late to do us any good.

Anyway.

We know it was a great night, because Kristin Chenoweth was the host, and she brought her Maltese, Madeline Kahn Chenoweth, along for the ride. Imagine them up there on the stage -- we had to, Time Warner.

Here's a bit of what went down on the red carpet, via YouTube:

The Hero Dog Awards is a national competition that recognizes "ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things," according to the organization's site, "whether it’s saving lives on the battlefield, lending sight or hearing to a human companion, or simply the tail-wagging welcome a pet owner relishes at the end of a hard day."

Winners in eight categories were selected by the public from a pool of more than 350 contestants. Those winners were flown to the show to be feted by celebrities, serenaded by Jewel, nuzzled by Chenoweth, doted over by Betty White, and subsequently watched by America (at least, those of you who get the Hallmark Channel). Out of those eight winners, one dog was picked to reign supreme for the night as the 2012 American Dog Hero.

Here are those eight winners:

Daniel, a Beagle who survived a gas chamber in Alabama.Tatiana, a hearing dog who suddenly transformed into an asthma dog one night when her owner had a severe attack.Tabitha, a guide dog who helped her person regain confidence and go back to college.Stella, a therapy dog who volunteered at Richmond Community Services and comforted people with developmental disabilities and critical health problems.Soot, an "air scent, scent discriminating, certified search and rescue dog" who found a lost, 78-year-old hunter in the woods.Jynx, a K-9 police dog who saved the lives of his fellow officers in the field. Holly, a seizure alert and response service dog who raises money for charity with her owner.Gabe, a military dog with "210 combat missions with 26 finds of explosives and weapons" while deployed in Iraq.

Who was the night's big winner, landing the 2012 American Dog Hero award? The military dog Gabe, who appeared with his handler, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Shuck. Here's his story:

"Him going out there, searching for the explosives and finding them," Shuck said, according to Zap2it, "he does not know that he potentially can die. He goes out and smells for this bad stuff, and if he finds it, he gets his ball, his reward."

Shuck added, "I want the world to know what military working dogs are. They are so valuable on the battlefield, and they need the support of the American people."

Congratulations to all the winners, and to the 2012 American Dog Hero Gabe!

Photo via the Hallmark Channel's Facebook

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America’s Top Hero Dogs Get Well-Deserved Recognition

Devoted certified service dog Zurich calmly surveyed the audience when he took the stage with his sick partner, who cannot walk or speak, at the inaugural Hero Dog Awards in Los Angeles. He can retrieve anything for her, and adds light to her life. Zurich overcame a cancerous tumor and continues to assist his partner. (Photo: Maria Goodavage)

Hey Dogsters! Yes, I know, I’m not supposed to be here. I’m supposed to be writing my book, Soldier Dogs, while on my leave of absence from Dogster. But partly because of that book, I took some time last weekend to fly to Los Angeles to attend the inaugural event for the American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Awards. First, these hero dogs are all incredible creatures — devoted, mellow, hard-working, truly amazing. I wanted to meet them.

And it was work-related, because among the heroes was Bino, a 13-year-old former military working dog who was up for the award for top hero dog. His adoptive owner, Debbie Kandoll, and I had missed each other while I was in Texas for book research, but since she was coming to my state with him, and since I’d been invited to attend by the nice folks at Cesar canine cuisine, I decided to leave my writing cottage in San Francisco for some time out of my cave.

Wow, was it worth it. It was a splendid gala event, star-studded, and, more importantly, hero-dog-studded. These dogs were true luminaries, gracious with the throngs who gathered at the Beverly Hills Hilton for this red-carpet event. They impressed the crowds with their poise and calm. Nearly every hero dog sat or lay down shortly after arriving on the stage during  the awards portion. Jake would have run amok and jumped off the stage to whatever table of filet of beef tenderloin was nearest. (Maybe this is why no one nominated him?)

Throughout the night, the award ceremony featured video tributes of each of the eight finalists. When I looked around the audience after the films, there were many cloth napkins dabbing away tears. Each finalist received a $5,000 donation to his or her designated AHA Charity Partner, as well as a very cool trophy — a sculpture created by Elizabeth Taylor’s daughter, Liza Todd Burton.

At the end of the night, the winner was Roselle, a yellow Lab guide dog who led her blind handler, Michael Hingson, down 78 flights of stairs in World Trade Center’s Tower One on 9/11. Sadly, Roselle died on June 26, while the contest was in full swing, but she received the award posthumously — a most deserving dog if ever there was one. Hingson brought his new guide dog, Africa, in her place. You can read about Roselle in Hingson’s bestselling book, Thunder Dog.

The Hero Dog Awards will premiere on the Hallmark Channel on November 11. The 90-minute special will air at 8 p.m. ET. If you’re a Dogster, you’ll love it. (I hope they show the behind-the-scenes look at Mickey Rooney’s voiceover of the Rin Tin Tin video. It’s hilarious.)

Here are some exclusive photos from the event. Enjoy! And see you next month when I’m done writing about canine heroes of the military persuasion.

The ever-iconic Betty White with Michael Hingson with his dog Africa. His dog Roselle won the night's top honors for leading him safely down 78 flights of Tower One of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Sadly, she passed away this summer. (Photo: Maria Goodavage)

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Military Working Dog Bino enjoyed some red-carpet action. It was a long way from Iraq, where he once served, to this gala evening. (Photo: Charley Gallay @ WireImage Cesar Canine Cuisine)

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Darla, the face of Cesar canine cuisine, wasn't up for a hero award, but she won hearts on the red carpet as she stood up and waved. (Photo: Laura Altair Hanson)

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Surf Dog Ricochet got all dolled up for the event. Ricochet, as many Dogsters know, surfs with children and adults with disabilities for therapeutic purposees. She inspires people all over the world, encouraging them to focus on what they CAN do, as opposed to what they can't. (Photo: Laura Altair Hanson)

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My daughter, Laura Hanson, attended the event with me and was on cloud nine all night. She loved all the dogs, and was thrilled to meet NCIS star Pauley Perrette, who is a huge dog lover and shelter rescue advocate, and a really nice, appealing, down-to-earth person. I wanted to give her a copy of my book, The Dog Lover's Companion to California, because I thought she would enjoy it. She asked me to sign it, since she collects signed books. Talk about role reversal! When I asked if I could take a photo of her with my daughter, she insisted on holding up the book, and my daughter held up my business card for Soldier Dogs. A great end to a very fun evening! (Photo: Maria Goodavage)

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BIG Bus Tour in ‘America’s Finest City’

It’s their last stop in California, and the last week of the BIG Bus Tour!

Dr. Marty Becker, Gina Spadafori and McKenzie the Dog will be in the self-titled “America’s Finest City,” San Diego, Calif., today, Thursday, June 2, to celebrate the release of “Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual: Hundreds of Secrets, Surprises, and Solutions for Raising a Happy, Healthy Dog.”

Join them at the PETCO at 154 Encinitas Blvd. in Encinitas from 12:30 to 2:00 PM. Come on down! Bring your dogs!

Television viewers in the area can catch Dr. Becker on KSWB Fox 5 for two segments, one this morning at 8:20 AM and the second at 9 AM.

The entire tour schedule is at DrMartyBecker.com. You can also follow Dr. Becker on Facebook and Twitter, and McKenzie on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo: Dr. Becker at the PETCO appearance in Canoga Park, with Parker Bartlety and two of her three rescue dogs, Wally and Kaya. Kaya was a street dog in Guatemala! Her other dog is Tosh, a rescued Lab. She does pack hiking in the mountains with dogs.

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‘America’s Veterinarian’ answers your questions about your furry and feathered pals

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