America has spoken and following nearly a million votes cast, seven remarkable canines – including one from Hilton – have been named finalists in the 2020 American Humane Hero Dog Awards®, broadcast nationally on Hallmark Channel. The two-hour special, now in its 10th year, will be aired this fall in conjunction with the network’s pet adoption advocacy initiative, Hallmark Channel’s Adoption Ever After, which aims to empty shelters and end this country’s epidemic of pet homelessness.
“The American Humane Hero Dog Awards celebrate the tremendously important roles dogs play in our lives,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane president and CEO. “The American public now has an extraordinarily tough task ahead of it in determining who our top dog will be because all are worthy winners.”
All seven finalists took top honors in their individual categories from an initial field of 408 nominees. MacKenzie, from Hilton, was selected as the Shelter Dog of the Year. Other finalists are: Therapy Dog of the Year, Olive from Jefferson City, Missouri; Service Dog of the Year, Dolly Pawton from Naples, Maine; Military Dog of the Year, Blue ll P491 from Lawrenceville, Georgia; Guide/Hearing Dog of the Year, Aura from Brunswick, Maine; Law Enforcement Dog of the Year, K-9 Cody from Newport News, Virginia; and Search and Rescue Dog of the Year, Remington from Montgomery, Texas.
MacKenzie’s handler offered the following description: “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.”
All finalists will be featured in the Hallmark Channel broadcast and are in the running to be top American Hero Dog. This will be determined by public voting at www.herodogawards.org, open now until September 10. Individuals can vote once per day.
Provided information and photo
