Based on nearly half a million votes cast by animal lovers across the country, MacKenzie, a six-year-old rescue from Hilton, has advanced to the semifinals of the 2020 American Humane Hero Dog Awards®. MacKenzie is one of three semifinalists in the Shelter category. The American Humane Hero Dog Awards will be broadcast nationwide as a two-hour special on Hallmark Channel. The show will be broadcast in conjunction with the network’s pet adoption advocacy initiative, which aims to empty shelters and end this country’s epidemic of pet homelessness.
MacKenzie’s handler, Sue Rogers said, “MacKenzie uniquely represents a rescue hero because she went from being a rescue dog to helping hundreds of other rescue dogs. She provides care for baby animals with birth defects and educates people of all ages. On December 31, 2013, an amazing dog named MacKenzie (Kenz for short) was born with a cleft palate. She was tube-fed from day one for almost a year and survived bouts of aspiration pneumonia. I have never seen such a will to live. She was sick, but more concerned with the baby animals at the rescue. At almost one year of age, she had her life-saving cleft palate surgery. She could eat and drink on her own and focus on what she was born to do. Most of the animals that we rescue are babies that can’t stay with their mother due to their medical needs. Kenz takes an interest in each baby from day one, regardless of species or size. She plays nurse and cleans, comforts, and cuddles them. She also acts as their mom and teaches them how to socialize, play, and have good manners. Kenzie’s other important hero role is to interact with children at schools, so they learn to be open-minded toward animals and people with physical differences. They learn kindness, patience, and that you can make a difference in the world no matter how small you are. Kenz also raises awareness about animals with disabilities. She may have lost her ability to bark, but she still makes herself heard and speaks for other animals born with a defect. She’s a shining example of how rescue saves more than just one life.”
MacKenzie is one of 21 heroic hounds who were chosen by the American public to advance to the semifinals from a field of 408 candidates. Visit www.HeroDogAwards.org between now and July 16 to vote once per day in each of the seven Hero Dog categories. The winning dog in each category will take part in the nationally televised Hero Dog Awards this fall, and this year’s top American Hero Dog will be revealed.
The seven categories for 2020 are: Therapy Dogs, sponsored by World Pet Association; Service Dogs, sponsored by Lulu’s Fund; Military Dogs; Law Enforcement Dogs; Shelter Dogs; Search and Rescue Dogs; and Guide/Hearing Dogs.
During the past nine years, Americans have cast millions of votes for more than a thousand dogs, all seeking the coveted title of American Hero Dog. The program reaches more than one billion people each year and draws the support and participation of top celebrity dog lovers from all over the world.
“The American Humane Hero Dog Awards are our way of honoring the best of our best friends,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane president and CEO. “This unique effort brings attention to the life-changing, life-saving power of the human-animal bond – something that has been a core part of our organization’s mission since 1877.”
For information about the 2020 American Humane Hero Dog Awards, and to vote daily, visit www.herodogawards.org.
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