“This year’s ASPCA Humane Award winners cover a wide variety of issues – from dogfighting and kitten advocacy to equine safety and protecting pets from poverty – but what unites them is a deep commitment to protecting vulnerable animals and communities,” said Matt Bershadker, President and CEO of the ASPCA. “We congratulate and commend the winners, and hope their stories inspire compassionate advocacy and action across the country.”
The Humane Awards Luncheon honors animal heroes who have gone above and beyond to help humans, as well as people who are making significant strides to improve animal welfare aligned with the ASPCA’s mission of providing effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals. Following a nationwide public call for nominations, an expert ASPCA committee reviewed hundreds of entries and selected winners in seven categories including Kid of the Year, the Equine Welfare Award, Cat Advocate of the Year, Dog of the Year, the Public Service Award, the Henry Bergh Award and the Presidential Service Award.
NBC anchor Chuck Scarborough will return this year as the host of the Luncheon at Cipriani 42nd Street. The ASPCA’s annual Humane Awards Luncheon is sponsored by Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group. Accommodations for honorees are being generously provided by the Loews Regency New York Hotel on Park Avenue and additional support is being provided by west elm.
PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD: Sully of America’s VetDogs (Washington, D.C.)
An extraordinary yellow Labrador, Sully was former U.S. President George H. W. Bush’s official service animal, bringing not just assistance but love and joy to the former President in the last months of his life. Trained and placed by service dog provider America's VetDogs, Sully was immortalized in iconic images during President Bush’s funeral last December – at one point laying down in front of the President’s casket. Following his Presidential service, Sully was appointed to the rank of hospital corpsman second class and now works with patients at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. For demonstrating outstanding dedication to President Bush and veterans at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Sully is the recipient of the 2019 ASPCA Public Service Award.
For more information on the 2019 Humane Awards Luncheon or to make a donation to the ASPCA, visit www.ASPCA.org/2019HumaneAwards.
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About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.