Carson Kressley to Host Inaugural American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards, 11/11

Hallmark Channel, Cesar(R) Canine Cuisine, and American Humane Association announced today that popular television star and current "Dancing with the Stars" contestant, Emmy(R) Award-winning Carson Kressley ("Carson Nation", "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy") will take to the stage as host of the inaugural American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards, presented by CESAR(R) Canine Cuisine and produced by Emmy(R) Award-winning MRB Productions. Following a red carpet, star-studded gala at the Beverly Hills Hilton on October 1, the "Hero Dog Awards" will premiere as a 90-minute special broadcast on Hallmark Channel November 11, 2011 at 8:00 pm ET/PT.

"As a dog owner and lover, I am delighted to be a part of this unique program with American Humane Association," says Kressley. "It's a wonderful way to recognize how Hero Dogs are a part of our lives every day."

Kressley joins a roster of celebrity judges and presenters for the Hero Dog Awards, including among many others Betty White, Victoria Stilwell, Whoopi Goldberg, Hayden Panettierre, Joe Magnaniello, Michael Vartan, Pauley Perrette, Jason Lewis, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and Faith Ford, in addition to a special musical act.

Following nationwide voting in which more than 400,000 ballots were cast by the American public, eight remarkable finalists were chosen, one winner in each of eight categories: Law Enforcement and Arson Dogs; Service Dogs; Therapy Dogs; Military Dogs; Guide Dogs; Search and Rescue Dogs; Hearing Dogs, and Emerging Hero Dogs (ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things). These eight finalists will be flown to Beverly Hills with their human handlers, where they will walk the red carpet and be presented with a special Hero Dog award, following moving video tributes that bring their stories to life. The evening will be capped off when one of the eight finalists will be announced as the winning American Hero Dog of the year.

Voting is currently underway at www.herodogawards.org, where a full list of the eight category winners, along with a summary of each dog's poignant story, can be found.

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