Monday, March 19
The nation’s top dogs, humane heroes, and musical stars gathered at a glamorous gala event to honor America’s most courageous canines. The annual American Humane Hero Dog
Awards gala luncheon paid tribute to the best four-legged friends and to two of the country’s best friends to animals, philanthropist Lois Pope, and longtime animal welfare advocate, John Payne.
American Humane kicked off this year’s nationwide campaign to identify and honor the nation’s most heroic hounds by celebrating the extraordinary accomplishments of the top winners of the 2017 American Humane Hero Dog Awards.
In addition to honoring the nation’s hero dogs, American Humane honored two of its human heroes for their outstanding work in supporting efforts to build a better world for the protection of animals. American Humane President and CEO Robin Ganzert named philanthropist and Platinum Presenting
Sponsor of the Hero Dog Awards, Lois Pope, the country’s First Lady of Compassion. Ganzert also presented board member and national animal healthcare executive John Payne with the organization’s prestigious Humane Hero Award.
Since every hero pet relies at some time on the skills of a hero vet, American Humane specially recognized Dr. Patti Canchola, the winner of the 2017 American Humane Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Nurse
Awards, sponsored by leading animal health company Zoetis.
Complementing the animal stars of the day was a galaxy of top entertainment and television stars, including Hero Dog Awards co-host
Beth Stern, and Daisy Fuentes, with dazzling performances by Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer Richard Marx, and the renowned Alex Donner Orchestra.
American Humane is the country’s first national humane organization, founded in 1877. For more information, please visit americanhumane.org