Hero Dogs Awarded in Star-Studded Ceremony in Hollywood

Number one New York Times bestselling author and blind 9/11 survivor, Michael Hingson will appear as guest judge for the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards show being taped for broadcast nationwide next month on the Hallmark tonight.

Hingson, owner of Roselle, who was posthumously named 2011 American Hero Dog Award Winner for her heroic service on September 11, 2001, will help select the 2012 American Hero Dog award winner with fellow celebrity judges: Whoopi Goldberg, Miranda Lambert, Victoria Stilwell, Michelle Forbes, J.R. Martinez, Candy Spelling and Kristin Bauer Van Straten.

The guide dog Roselle, Hero Dog for 2011, worked fearlessly with Michael Hingson to guide him and countless others down 1463 steps to safety from tower one of the World Trade Center on 9/11.

Dogs will strut their stuff in eight categories on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at the Beverly Hilton hotel: Law Enforcement & Arson Dogs; Service Dogs; Therapy Dogs; Military Dogs; Guide Dogs; Search and Rescue Dogs; Hearing Dogs; and Emerging Hero Dogs (the category for family pets).

Finalists in each category were selected through online public voting and judged by a blue-ribbon panel consisting of both celebrities and animal experts, to determine the winning American Hero Dog. For more information visit: www.herodogawards.org