SUSIE STEALS THE SHOW AT THE HERO DOG AWARDS

Over the weekend, I hit the red carpet at the American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Awards, one of my favorite events of the year. The evening’s festivities were hosted by Beth Stern and James Denton, and Lisa Vanderpump + Giggy, Lori Loughlin and Pauley Perrette were all in attendance with Wilson Phillips performing.

But the real stars of the show were the hero dogs themselves. The categories included military dog, law enforcement dog and search and rescue. Although they were all amazing and so very impressive in all that they do, but one dog in particular stole the show for me. A pit bull mix named Susie, who was only a puppy when she licked a baby’s face. For that, she was beaten, set on fire and then left for dead by her horrible owner. She was discovered in a park ten days later with third degree burns over most of her body. Thankfully, she was rescued, rehabilitated and adopted by a woman who had been almost fatally attacked by another dog only months before.

Susie, American Humane Association’s Hero Dog of the Year

They healed together and now Susie and her new owner have worked together to pass Susie’s Law in North Carolina, making animal cruelty a felony instead of a misdemeanor. Susie also serves as a therapy dog and holds no grudges against humans, even after all that she went through. So it is no surprise that she was awarded Hero Dog of the Year at the show. And a true hero she is.

On the red carpet with Bretagne, the last remaining search and reuse dog from 9/11

Stay tuned for my interviews with the celebrities and the dogs coming soon on Red Carpet Roxy. And you can watch the Hero Dog Awards on Thursday, October 30th on the Hallmark Channel. Do you have a hero dog at home?