Tag: Paris Hilton

Milwaukee Brewers’ Mascot Hank Wins Top Honor at World Dog Awards

Hank the Dog — the formerly scruffy stray who became an internet sensation after he wandered into the Milwaukee Brewers’ spring training facility in Phoenix last February, was rescued by the team and then became its unofficial mascot (he’s named after the legendary Hank Aaron, who’s posing with him in this photo) — won the top honor at the first-ever World Dog Awards, which aired on The CW Thursday.

“Hank has been working his magic over the past few months, and has touched people in ways you can’t imagine, and other dogs he has single-handedly — single pawedly? — helped find homes for,” said Marti Wronski, Hank’s dog mom and the Brewers’ vice president and general counsel, in her acceptance speech. “We promise to keep taking good care of him so he can keep everyone smiling. Please remember to keep looking into dog rescue and adoption.”

The other nominees for Dog of the Year included Duke, the canine mayor of a village in Minnesota; Peanut, a burn survivor who was crowned the 2014 World’s Ugliest Dog; Sky, winner of Best in Show at the 2014 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show; and Wacha, a hound mix rescued by Bravo TV’s Andy Cohen.

For a show that promoted dog rescue and adoption, it was disheartening that the Dog of the Year award was presented by Paris Hilton, who recently paid $25,000 for two teacup Pomeranian puppies. Really, World Dog Awards?!

Pet parents who, unlike Hilton, opted to adopt instead of shop were asked to share their own rescue stories on social media using the hashtag #dogtales. Some of the posts will be featured on The CW’s Dog Tales web page.

Nearly 2 million viewers watched the World Dog Awards last night, according to Deadspin Hollywood. The show was produced in conjunction with and for the benefit of the ASPCA and the PEDIGREE Foundation.

Photo via Twitter

Golden Globes, Schmolden Schlobes: First-Ever World Dog Awards Airs Thursday

Last night the Golden Globes kicked off the start of awards season. Next up? The World Dog Awards, which will air on The CW this Thursday, Jan. 15.

“For the first time, dogs will be celebrated for their work in entertainment, health services and the military, along with everyday dogs who found fame on the internet,” the network stated in a press release last July.

The show, hosted by George Lopez, was taped Saturday afternoon in the appropriately named Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Airport. (This seems to be a pawpular venue for canine-related shows. “FOX’s Cause for Paws,” which aired on Thanksgiving last year, was also taped there.)

“The dogs and their humans walked down a green carpet and paused for photos ops and questions,” writes Juliet Bennett Rylah on LAist.com, which published plenty of those photos.

“Bodhi [the dapper fella in the photo to the right] was described to us as an Instagram-famous Shiba Inu, and we were also introduced to Duke, a 7-year-old dog who was elected mayor of Cormorant, a village in Minnesota. We also met Peanut, the ‘World’s Ugliest Dog.’ Before making fun of Peanut’s appearance, though, remember that this little survivor was set on fire as a puppy and lived to bark about it.”

During the ceremony, winners received edible awards in categories ranging from “Best in Film,” to “Celebrity Dog Selfie,” to a “Most Dog-Like Cat” award for a feline. People were asked to vote for their favorites in each category from Dec. 15 to Jan. 9.

Four honorary awards were also presented:

  • Dog’s Best Friend: Presented by the ASPCA, this award will go to a celebrity who has advanced the welfare of homeless dogs and dog-related causes.
  • K911: Presented by Subaru, this award will go to a dog who’s an everyday superhero for helping to save a child’s life.
  • “The Dog’s Life” Achievement Award: Awarded to an iconic dog character in popular culture who has had a huge cultural impact.
  • Underdog: This honor will be bestowed upon a dog who overcame incredible obstacles or odds.

Among the celebrities scheduled to appear at the WDAs were Ian Somerhalder, Lance Bass, Lisa Vanderpump and Andy Cohen.

“We also saw Paris Hilton’s new dog, which is said to have cost $25,000 and fits in the palm of her hand,” Rylah writes.

Ugh. Hopefully there was an award for “Dog Mom Who Really Should Adopt Instead of Buy.”

The World Dog Awards was produced in conjunction with and for the benefit of the ASPCA and the PEDIGREE Foundation. The show airs Thursday at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. CT) on The CW.

Photos: The CW, Twitter

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