Hallmark Channel to Present a Special Telecast to Honor Hero Dogs

LOS ANGELES, June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Actress, comedian, author and co-star of TV Land's Hot in Cleveland, Betty White, will grace the stage of the Beverly Hilton at the inaugural American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™ presented by CESAR® Canine Cuisine on October 1, 2011 in Los Angeles.  The Hero Dog Awards, produced by Emmy® award winning MRB Productions, are a celebration of the powerful relationship between dogs and people and will be broadcast on Hallmark Channel on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2011.  There are just two weeks left to nominate a dog for an award at www.herodogawards.org.  

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Betty hosted Saturday Night Live on May 8, 2010 and the episode was one of the highest-rated in the show's history, which won her the Emmy® for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, bringing Betty's Emmy® total wins to seven.  She also recently starred in the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, The Lost Valentine.

"I just love dogs and all they do for people," said Betty.  "When I learned that the American Humane Association was honoring Hero Dogs and that I could share the stage with Roselle, the guide dog who led her blind master down 1,463 stairs to survival just before the World Trade Center collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001, as part of a special ten year tribute, I just knew I had to be part of this incredible celebration.  I am so happy to be a presenter for the first ever American Hero Dog Awards."

According to Robin Ganzert, Ph.D., President and CEO of American Humane Association, "It may be Hot in Cleveland this summer but we think it's going to be even 'Hotter in Hollywood' as animal champion and American icon Betty White is welcomed on our stage to honor and celebrate America's most famous dogs – including RIN TIN TIN – at the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™.   Betty will be joining star of It's Me or the Dog, Victoria Stilwell, as a presenter and our dear friend Whoopi Goldberg as a celebrity judge for the  Hero Dog Awards."

"Golden Girls has been an immensely popular mainstay on Hallmark Channel for three years now," said Bill Abbott, President and CEO of Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel.  "With her love of animals and our audience's clear love for her, Ms. White is a perfect fit for Hero Dog Awards and I am so pleased that she is on board." 

Betty serves as the President Emeritus of Morris Animal Foundation and has been a trustee since 1971. She has been a long-time supporter and national spokesperson for Guide Dogs for the Blind, one of 17 charity partners with the Hero Dog Awards.  Her adopted dog Pontiac is a career change dog adopted from that organization.

American Humane Association's Hero Dog Awards™ are seeking dogs to be nominated in 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 to honor "ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things." Nominations close on June 17, 2011 and voting by the general public will begin on June 20, 2011. Finalists in each category will be judged by a blue-ribbon panel consisting of both celebrities and animal experts, to determine the winning American Hero Dog. The winner will be announced at the first-ever American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™ celebrity gala, presented by CESAR® Canine Cuisine, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles on Oct. 1, 2011.  Table sales and sponsorship information is available at www.americanhumane.org/herodogs or by calling (800) 227-4645.

About American Humane Association

Since 1877 American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting children, pets and farm animals from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.

About CESAR® Canine Cuisine

CESAR® Canine Cuisine is an exceptional line of high-quality cuisine and treats for small- to medium-sized dogs. We offer individually prepared entrees available in two textures, original pate and gourmet filets in sauce. From the filet mignon flavor to CESAR SUNRISE breakfast entrees, CESAR® CANINE CUISINE features a variety of irresistible flavors and caters to the taste of small- to medium-sized dogs. Visit www.cesar.com to learn more.

About MRB Productions

MRB is an Emmy winning production company specializing in producing content across all media platforms.  MRB's recent projects include the acclaimed web series The Confession, staring Kiefer Sutherland, which acquired paramount success, leading to a feature deal with Image Entertainment.  MRB's feature department is currently in post-production on a Stephen Gyllenhaal film Grassroots, slated to premiere later this year.  On the television side, MRB produces the pre-taped segments, coordinates talent logistics and the VIP program for the past decade for ESPN's ESPY Awards.  Most recently, MRB garnered two Emmy nominations for the 2010 NBA Draft Opening Sequence.  Additional TV projects include two seasons of the mockumentary comedy show Free Radio on VH1 and Comedy Central.  MRB's commercial repertoire includes collaborations with Leo Burnett, Periera O'Dell, Team Detroit, Goodby, Silverstein and Partners for clients such as Geico, Kellogg's, Ford, Sprint, Mattel, Corona, Miller Lite, Smirnoff, Sony, NBC, Wal-Mart, Hyundai and University of Phoenix.

About Hallmark Channel

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming available in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) to a national audience of 87.5 million subscribers.  The top tier program service is distributed through more than 5,450 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country.  Hallmark Channel is the nation's leading network in quality family programming with an ambitious slate of original TV movies, lifestyle and general entertainment content, and is the home of "The Martha Stewart Show", which anchors the channel's new daytime HOME block.  Hallmark Channel's sibling network is Hallmark Movie Channel, also available in HD and SD, which focuses on the family-friendly movies with a mix of classic theatrical films, presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library, original Hallmark Channel movies and special events.

SOURCE American Humane Association