Tissue Alert! World Dog Awards Features a Touching Reunion

January 10, 2016 Laura Goldman

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For the second year in a row, the World Dog Awards, which airs Thursday night on The CW, will celebrate pooches for their work in entertainment, health services and the military, along with everyday dogs who found fame on the internet.

The show, hosted again by George Lopez, was taped Saturday in the appropriately named Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Airport. (This seems to be a pawpular venue for canine-related shows. “The All-Star Dog Rescue Celebration,” which has aired on Thanksgiving night the past two years, is also taped there.)

“Dogs are man’s best friend, and tonight we celebrate the best of the best,” Lopez said at the start of the show. “By the end of the night, there won’t be a dry eye in the house – or a dry place to stand. I’m still cleaning off my shoes from last year.”

During the ceremony, winners received edible awards in categories ranging from “Top Movie Dog,” to “Celebrity Dog Selfie,” to “Most Dog-Like Animal.” The winners were determined by online votes.

Have a box of tissues handy: For the first time, the World Dog Awards will feature a live reunion between Brandon Harbaugh, an active-duty U.S. soldier, and Saint, his pet dog. This touching reunion was arranged in partnership with Dogs on Deployment, a nonprofit that connects service members with volunteers who take care of their pets during service commitments.

The celebrities appearing at the World Dog Awards include Paula Abdul, Amy Brenneman, Melissa Rivers, Joanna Krupa and JB Smoove.

Kirstin Maldonado, from the Grammy Award-winning vocal group Pentatonix, sings “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” in honor of Toto from “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Wiz,” who’s receiving The Dog’s Life Achievement award. The award celebrates an iconic dog character in pop culture that has had a huge cultural impact.

And the Golden Hydrant Goes To…

Congratulations to all the 2016 World Dog Awards winners and nominees. The following dogs took home the coveted Golden Hydrant.

Dog of the Year: Gabe, who is the service dog — and served as the best man — for U.S. Army veteran Justin Lansford, who lost a leg in an IED explosion.

Top Movie Dog: Carlos as Max from the film, “Max”

Most Amazing Journey: Sissy, a Miniature Schnauzer who managed to find her way to her dog mom in a hospital

Top Trick: Norman, the Bike Riding Dog

Hot Dog: Dally, the Horserider

Top TV Dog: Scruffy as Whoopty Woo in the television series “Empire”

A-List Dog: Finn and Amanda Seyfried

Pawpular: Manny the Frenchie

Supporting Actor to a Dog: Jason Schwartzman in the film “7 Chinese Brothers”

Best Dressed: Doug the Pug

Top Spot: “Mastery” / Chase (a commercial that featured a dog)

Celebrity Dog Selfie: Wolf and Joey Graceffa

Happiest Reunion: Calla and Wrigley and Army E-5 SGT Krista Coey