Recording Artist, Actress and "Dancing with the Stars" Champion Julianne Hough Teams up with CESAR® Canine Cuisine and American Humane Association to Kick Off Voting Campaign for America's First Ever National Hero Dog Awards
To celebrate the heroic dogs in our lives, CESAR® Canine Cuisine joined forces with "Footloose" star Julianne Hough to visit with patients and therapy dogs at New York Harbor Healthcare System today, kicking off the voting campaign for the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™ presented by CESAR® Canine Cuisine.
The Hero Dog Awards celebrates the thousands of dogs making a difference to people in need every day by providing compassion, comfort and transforming lives with their tenderness and intuition. Hero dogs come in all sizes and breeds. They are therapy dogs, hearing dogs, military dogs, service dogs, guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, law enforcement dogs and ordinary dogs doing extraordinary things. No matter how big or small, a Hero Dog provides unconditional love and support for those that need it most.
"I am thrilled to be working with CESAR and American Humane Association to raise awareness and celebrate these amazing dogs," said Hough. "My two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels mean the absolute world to me, so I know how powerful the relationship with a dog can be, and I'm happy to be involved in such a great cause."
Based on the shared belief that having a relationship with a dog can improve every life, CESAR Canine Cuisine and the American Humane Association have partnered to shine a spotlight on these heroic therapy dogs who genuinely transform lives. Through the Hero Dog Awards, they will ensure that people in need continue to receive the powerful benefits of a dogs' love with therapy dogs.
"Julianne is a passionate dog lover who truly understands the importance of the human-animal bond, just like we do at CESAR," said Tierney Monaco, director, CESAR Canine Cuisine. This cause is so close to our hearts, and we are excited to have found such a compassionate person to help us share the love and bring awareness to therapy dogs and the Hero Dog program," Monaco added.
SPREAD THE LOVE: Beginning today, dog lovers can log on to www.HeroDogAwards.org and vote for a hero dog whose story touches them. For every vote, CESAR Canine Cuisine will make a donation to American Humane Association to help provide more specially trained animal assistance therapy dogs to people who need them most. By voting for nominated dogs in the Hero Dog Awards, the public can participate in an exciting opportunity to truly make a difference in thousands of lives. Once finalists are determined, they will fly to Hollywood to walk the red carpet and be recognized at the celebrity-studded awards show on October 1, 2011 when the winning Hero Dog will be announced. The awards show will be televised on Hallmark Channel on Veterans Day, November 11, 2011.