American Humane is the country’s first national humane organization, founded in 1877. The organization announced the official start of the 2022 American Humane Hero Dog Awards campaign. The 12th annual, yearlong campaign seeks to identify and honor the best of our best friends and will culminate this fall with the star-studded American Humane Hero Dog Awards Gala on November 11, 2022, in Palm Beach.
Dog owners across the country are invited to visit herodogawards.org and nominate their heroic hound in one of seven categories. This fall, the top dog in each category will appear at the star-studded, red-carpet awards gala and one of the seven will be named the American Hero Dog of the Year – the most prestigious honor a canine can receive.
The seven categories include: Law Enforcement and Detection Dogs, Military Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Service Dogs, Shelter Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs, and Guide/Hearing Dogs. Following the nomination period, which ends on March 16, 2022. The top three dogs in all seven categories, twenty-one semifinalists, will be chosen in a first round of voting by the public. The second round, featuring a combination of public and celebrity judge voting, will narrow the field to seven category finalists who will then vie, through a final round of public and celebrity judge voting, for the title of 2022 American Hero Dog.
“Whether they protect us on the battlefield, help us with medical challenges, or just lighten our spirits with an enthusiastic kiss after a hard day, dogs save and improve our lives every day,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane’s president and CEO. “The American Humane Hero Dog Awards is our way of saluting our best friends and we invite every dog lover to take a few minutes to recognize the love, skill, and loyalty these remarkable animals show us every day by nominating their canine companion.”
Key dates for the 2022 American Humane Hero Dog Awards contest include:
Nominations: January 13 – March 16
1st Round Voting: March 30 – May 12
2nd Round Voting: June 2 – July 22
3rd Round Voting: August 5 – September 13
Hero Dog Awards Gala: November 11
For more information about the 2022 American Humane Hero Dog Awards, including complete contest rules and entry information, visit herodogawards.org.
