Emmy-winning television star Carson Kressley, who hosted the inaugural broadcast of the American Humane Hero Dog Awards®, is returning to host the two-hour 10th anniversary celebration of the awards on Hallmark Channel on Monday, October 19, at 8 p.m. This star-studded annual celebration of heroes on both ends of the leash honors outstanding working dogs from around the country.
Hilton is home to MacKenzie, who was voted Hero Shelter Dog of the Year. Born with a cleft palate, MacKenzie struggled for almost a year before life-saving cleft palate surgery allowed her to eat and drink on her own. She takes on a mother role to other rescued babies (regardless of species or size) and teaches them how to socialize, play, and have good manners. MacKenzie also interacts with children at schools so they learn to be open-minded toward animals and people with physical differences.
The program will honor MacKenzie and six other courageous canines whose work has improved and saved lives, and will reveal which dog will be honored with the country’s top “American Hero Dog” title for 2020. The winner, one of 408 original entrants, was determined on the basis of more than one million votes by the American public and the deliberations of a panel of celebrity judges, including Jamie Chung, Erik Estrada, Danielle Fishel, Daniel Henney, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Marcus Scribner, Alexa and Carlos PenaVega, and Ariel Winter.
Other celebrities taking part in the broadcast include Mayim Bialik, A.J. Buckley, Kristin Chenoweth, Vivica A. Fox, Jack Hanna, Naomi Judd, Keltie Knight, General Spider Marks (Ret.), Richard Marx, Debbie Matenopoulos, Cameron Mathison, Melissa Rivers, Alison Sweeney, and more. Grammy-winning singer Lisa Loeb will perform. Larissa Wohl and Nick and Joanna Swisher will present a special award to Lance Bass for his humane efforts.
To read all the Hero Dogs’ stories or for more information about the 2020 American Humane Hero Dog Awards®: 10th Anniversary Celebration, visit www.herodogawards.org.
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