The following is a press release from Hallmark Channel:
Hallmark Channel announces the first-ever annual “Cat Bowl,” part of the network’s core philanthropic effort ADOPTION EVER AFTER, which uses entertainment programming to showcase animals available for adoption in neighborhoods all across America, is set to premiere exclusively on the network, Saturday, February 2, 2019 (10 p.m. ET/PT). “Cat Bowl” is a companion program to the network’s storied pet franchise, “Kitten Bowl,” the first animal competition on television to create awareness for the plight of homeless animals and the joys that adopted pets bring to our lives. The “Kitten Bowl” franchise is responsible for the adoption of more than 25,000 shelter pet adoptions over five years through partnership with North Shore Animal League America and its shelter partners across the country.
“Cat Bowl” will showcase adorable and adoptable adult ‘cat-letes’ as they compete on the gridiron for a special place in viewers hearts. Inspirational stories of senior and special needs cats will highlight the special event. During each year’s broadcast of “Kitten Bowl,” awareness for pet adoption rises dramatically. Hallmark Channel announces that with its partner North Shore Animal League America, “Cat Bowl” and “Kitten Bowl” will be a part of the biggest pet adoption event in the country. More than 500 shelter partners will showcase local animals available for adoption from February 2-February 16.
TV personality, author and animal advocate Beth Stern is the host for this year’s event from Hallmark Channel Stadium. Stern is joined by Hallmark Channel star Alison Sweeney and “Home & Family” co-host Cameron Mathison for all the play-by-play action. The special will also feature Where Are They Meow, stories that follow up on some former “Kitten Bowl” cat-letes such as Jerry Mice, Puma Esiason and last year’s star, Swirl.
North Shore Animal League America and Last Hope Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation drafted the cats for a more heartwarming “Senior Bowl” than has ever taken place on the gridiron.
“Cat Bowl” is part of Hallmark Channel’s evergreen pet initiative, ADOPTION EVER AFTER, committed to educating the public about the many rewards of pet adoption in hopes of inspiring viewers to open their homes and hearts to shelter pets.
“Cat Bowl” is produced by 3 Ball Entertainment with Todd A. Nelson, Ross Weintraub and Kathy Sutula serving as executive producers.
Jonah Hauer-King and Ashley Judd in “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger)
The dramatic film “A Dog’s Way Home” chronicles the heartwarming adventure of Bella (voiced by Bryce Dallas Howard), a dog who embarks on an epic 400-mile journey home after she is separated from her beloved human. The film, which is directed by Charles Martin Smith, has a cast that includes Jonah Hauer-King as Lucas and Ashley Judd as Lucas’ single mother Terri, who are Bella’s owners; Alexandra Shipp as Olivia, Lucas’ co-worker who is with Lucas when they find her as a stray puppy; and Edward James Olmos as Axel, a homeless veteran who takes ownership of Bella during her journey. The adult Bella is played by Shelby, a mixed breed that in real life was a stray dog rescued from an animal shelter. “A Dog’s Way Home” opens in North American cinemas on January 11, 2019. Here are photos and videos from the movie:
A scene from “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger)
Lucia Walters in “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger)
Jonah Hauer-King in “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger)
A scene from “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger)
A scene from “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger)
A scene from “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger)
A scene from “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger)
A scene from “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger)
A scene from “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger)
Jonah Hauer-King in “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger).
A scene from “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger)
A scene from “A Dog’s Way Home” (Photo by James Dittiger)
“Dogs” launches globally on Netflix on November 16, 2018. An elegant, engaging and cinematic verite documentary series celebrating the deep emotional bonds between people and their beloved four-legged best friends. The series tracks six incredible stories from across the globe including Syria, Japan, Costa Rica, Italy and the U.S.—each proving that the unconditional love one feels for their dog is a beautiful universal truth. With episodes helmed by critically acclaimed directors including: Academy Award-nominated Amy Berg (“Deliver Us From Evil”), Academy Award-winning Roger Ross Williams (“Life Animated,” “Music by Prudence”), Academy Award-nominated Heidi Ewing (“Jesus Camp,” “One of Us”), Emmy Award-winning Richard Hankin (“The Jinx”) and Academy Award-winners T.J. Martin and Daniel Lindsay (“Undefeated”), “Dogs” takes us on an inspirational journey exploring the remarkable, perhaps even magical qualities that have given these animals such a special place in all of our hearts.
“Dogs” is a Netflix Original Documentary Series, developed as a documentary series by Glen Zipper with Academy Award-nominated Amy Berg of Disarming Films and Zipper, of Zipper Bros Films, serving as executive producers.
Episode 1: The Kid with a Dog
Directed by: Heidi Ewing (“Jesus Camp,” “One of Us”)
A scene from “Dogs” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
Corrine, an 11 year old girl who suffers from traumatic seizures, is forever changed when she meets Rory, a certified dog who has been trained to detect oncoming seizures. This episode highlights the depths of a closely formed friendship between a child and their dog, the unbreakable trust they have in each other and the incredible power of a dog’s ability to assist humans in health and wellness.
Episode 2: Bravo, Zeus
Directed by: Amy Berg (“Deliver Us From Evil”)
A scene from “Dogs” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
Two years after fleeing his home in war-torn Syria, Ayham has made a new home for himself in Germany. He cannot feel at peace however, until he is reunited with his best friend, a Siberian Husky named Zeus. Ayham and his friends risk everything they have to bring Zeus across the border from Syria to Lebanon in the hopes of ultimately being reunited in Germany.
Episode 3: Ice on the Water
Directed by: Richard Hankin (“The Jinx”)
A scene from “Dogs” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
In a picturesque town off of Lake Como, Italian fisherman Alessandro relies on his partner, Ice, a 10-year-old Labrador to help with the family business as they get ready for the busy tourist season. The fishermen in town struggle, but Ice continues to stand guard and do all he can, even in the coldest winter months.
Episode 4: Scissors Down
Directed by: Roger Ross Williams (“Life Animated”)
A scene from “Dogs” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
In Japan, people’s relationships with their dogs is on a whole new level. Dogs are dressed in clothing to match their owners and the craft of dog grooming is a true artform. This episode follows two of the world’s most renowned dog groomers as they fly to California to compete in the ultimate dog grooming competition.
Episode 5: Territorio de Zeguates
Directed by: T.J. Martin and Daniel Lindsay (“Undefeated,” “LA 92”)
A scene from “Dogs” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
Territorio de Zeguates is a sanctuary deep in the Costa Rican rainforest that houses thousands of dogs and saves them from living on the streets. But with that many dogs, how long can the organization sustain without running out of resources? The people who run the shelter dedicate their lives to making these dogs lives better, even at their own expense.
Episode 6: Second Chances
Directed by: Amy Berg (“Deliver Us From Evil”)
A scene from “Dogs” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
New York City has a love affair with adopting dogs. There are more dogs in New York than there are people in the city of Cleveland—and thousands of them are rescues. This episode follows every step of this adoption ecosystem through the charity Hearts and Bones as they go on a rescue mission to bring dogs from a kill shelter in the south to the Big Apple for a better life.
Jane Lynch with Toast at ASPCA ‘Noseblind’ Event at 24th Street Loft in New York City on February 25, 2015. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
The following is a press release from NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations:
NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, a division of NBCUniversal, today announced its fourth annual pet adoption campaign Clear the Shelters™ returns next month with NBC’s Jane Lynch joining the pet adoption campaign as spokesperson and host of a special “Clear the Shelters” show that will air next month. Launching in August and culminating with Clear the Shelters™ day on Saturday, August 18, the fourth annual Clear the Shelters™ pet adoption campaign will include the participation of NBC and Telemundo stations in more than 70 markets plus more than 600 animal shelters and rescues. On Saturday, August 18, shelters and rescues will reduce or waive pet adoption fees to help families adopt a new pet.
“Clear the Shelters has become a memorable event that communities look forward to every summer. We’re excited to work with our shelters partners once again to help families find their perfect pet. We also look forward to working with Jane to help raise even more awareness about animals needing homes,” said Valari Staab, President, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations.
An Emmy® Award and Golden Globe® Award winner, host of NBC’s hit show “Hollywood Game Night,” successful actor and advocate of pet adoption issues, Lynch has four rescue dogs of her own including her two 11-year old dogs “Millie” a Pit-Shepherd mix and “Bernice” a Cocker Spaniel, as well as one-year old Cocker Spaniel “Rumi” and “Arbuckle” a seven-year old Australian Cattle dog that is an internet and social media sensation with more than 71,000 followers on Instagram @allaboutarbuckle.
“I am so looking forward to clearing the shelters with NBC and Telemundo stations! Every pet deserves a loving human and nothing loves a human more than rescue pets!,” added Lynch.
This August, Lynch work with the NBC and Telemundo stations to help raise awareness about the fourth annual Clear the Shelters™ pet adoption campaign and the importance of pet adoption. Lynch will also host a special show that will recap this year’s pet campaign. The special show will air on NBC stations on August 25 (check local listings).
For more information and news about the NBC and Telemundo stations’ Clear the Shelters™ ® pet adoption campaign including participating shelters/rescues, visit CleartheShelters.com. You can also follow the effort on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by using the hashtag #CleartheShelters. To access information in Spanish, please visit DesocuparlosAlbergues.com and follow #DesocuparlosAlbergues. Since 2015, more than 150,000 pets have been adopted through Clear the Shelters™, an initiative spearheaded by NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations. Clear the Shelters™ is sponsored nationally by Cat’s Pride® and Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
About NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations
NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations is the division of NBCUniversal that includes 38 NBC and Telemundo local television stations serving 26 markets, a regional news network and their associated websites and digital platforms, as well as a group of out-of-home properties, a production company, an in-house marketing and promotions company and two national multicast networks, COZI TV and TeleXitos. The local stations, which can be viewed in 37 percent of U.S. homes and in Puerto Rico, produce and deliver their local communities compelling and unique local news, real-time weather forecasts, consumer and investigative reports and entertainment programming across all platforms to help keep their English and Spanish-speaking audiences informed anytime and anywhere.
The second annual Cat Camp, a fan convention/adoption event, takes place May 5 and May 6, 2018, at the Penn Plaza Pavilion in New York City. The event will feature cat adoptions, panel discussions, meet-and-greets and vendors selling cat-related items and services. Guest speakers/panelists are well-known cat enthusiasts involved in cat rescuing, spaying/neutering and adoptions. The Petco Foundation is a presenting sponsor.
Here are some of the key differences between the event in 2018, compared to 2017:
New Partner: Cat expert Jackson Galaxy, host of Animal Planet’s “My Cat From Hell” and “Cat vs. Dog,” will be the keynote speaker and will do a meet-and-greet like he did in 2017. But in 2018, he has become a partner in the event, whose official title is now Jackson Galaxy’s Cat Camp. Cat Camp was co-founded by Christina Ha, owner of Meow Parlour, New York’s City first cat cafe, which opened in 2014. She is still a partner in Cat Camp.
New Location: The event has moved from the Metropolitan Pavilion to the larger Penn Plaza Pavilion in order to accommodate more people.
New Season: The 2017 Cat Camp took place in March at the tail end of the winter season, when it can still get very cold in New York City. Switching the event to May, a warmer month in spring (and just in time for kitten season), is a smarter choice and better for the event’s overall appeal.
New Pricing: The price of general admission for one adult has gone up from $10 to $25 per day, not including taxes and other additional fees. The price of general admission does not include access to the celebrity presentation panels or celebrity meet-and-greets. The meet-and-greets are separate ticketed events. In 2018, Galaxy, Hannah Shaw (also known as The Kitten Lady) and Lil Bub (with her owner Mike Bridavsky) are doing separate meet-and-greets on both days, so that means an attendee who wants to attend all meet-and-greets for Galaxy, Shaw and Lil Bub will have to pay for each meet-and-greet separately, with no discounts if you buy a ticket for more than one.
In 2018, that means Cat Camp admission for one adult for one day at this event can be as little as $25 (for general admission only) or as high as $300 for access to everything, including all three meet-and-greets. Multiply those numbers by two if you plan to attend on both days. The good news is that kids under the age of 6 still get free admission, but they must be accompanied by an adult with a Cat Camp ticket. There are also discounts for children ages 6 to 12.
While some people may have a problem with Cat Camp’s price of general admission nearly tripling in one year, the big jump in admission price probably has a lot to do with the fact that having the event at a bigger venue means a higher cost to do this event. The event organizers obviously want to make a profit, but they might want to consider getting celebrities who are more famous in order to justify the higher prices. For example, CatCon, the California rival to Cat Camp, has famous actors who are cat owners as part of its lineup. Ian Somerhalder (“The Vampire Diaries”) and Kristen Bauer (“True Blood”) are part of the 2018 CatCon lineup, and CatCon has more celebrity names at about the same admission price as Cat Camp.
New Panelists: Returning guest speakers from the 2017 Cat Camp include “The Kitten Lady” Shaw and CatTown founder Adam Myatt. CatTown (located in Oakland, California) is the first permanent cat cafe in the United States.)
Andrew Marttila, cat photographer/videographer (He also happens to be Shaw’s boyfriend, photographer and videoographer, so if you follow The Kitten Lady on social media, you’ve seen him and his work.)
Although this is an event for cat enthusiasts, the only cats allowed at Cat Camp are those that have been pre-approved for adoptions or guest appearances. In other words, people have to leave their pet cats at home (for legal and health reasons, obviously), and this policy will be strictly enforced, say event organizers.
CatCon®, the biggest cat-centric, pop culture experience in the world, announced their 2018 talent line-up, schedule, and tickets on sale today. The all-immersive cat-stravaganza will once again take place at the Pasadena Convention Center, Saturday, August 4, and Sunday, August 5, 2018, in Pasadena, California.
UPDATE: “Vampire Diaries” star Ian Somerhalder is returning to CatCon in 2018 for a meet-and-greet.
Adoption will once again have a significant paw print, with Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA facilitating adoptions in the CatCon Adoption Village, in partnership with 9Lives® Cat Food and World’s Best Cat Litter™. Over 150 curated exhibitors will also be onsite, selling products in the areas of design, art, fashion, accessories, toys, and more, for cats and their people. Rounding out the weekend’s activities are seminars, workshops, interactive experiences and evening events.
CatCon’s charity of record for 2018 is the Ian Somerhalder Foundation for the second year in a row. The convention will donate $2 of every general admission ticket sale to the Foundation; funds generated from Meet and Greets will also benefit ISF, as well as Lil BUB’s Big Fund, Milo’s Sanctuary, Kitt Crusaders, and Kitten Rescue. Full details can be found on CatCon’s ticketing page.
Sponsors for CatCon 2018 include: ASPCA®, CatGenie®, Halo® pet food, Litter Genie®, Modern Cat Magazine, 9Lives® Cat Food, VIP Pet Care, World’s Best Cat Litter™, and The Westin Pasadena. More to be announced.
Ticket information, details on Meet and Greets, and a full schedule of events can be found here.
DATES: Saturday, August 4: 9am – 5pm
Sunday, August 5: 10am – 5pm
About CatCon: CatCon is the biggest experience of its kind, with 43,000 attendees to date. In the past three years, CatCon has donated $140,000 to organizations including the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, FixNation, Lil BUB’s Big Fund, Milo’s Sanctuary and Kitten Rescue, and helped to facilitate 327 adoptions onsite. Parent company Ticket Out Inc. also runs Cat Art Show, an exhibition series that has showcased some of the biggest names in the art world, including Shepard Fairey and Mark Ryden.
The following is a press release from Animal Planet:
PUPPY BOWL, the cutest competition in sports history, returned to Animal Planet on February 4, 2018, for an epic matchup between adoptable puppy players from #TeamRuff and #TeamFluff who go paw to paw and nose to nose to win the CHEWY.COM “Lombarky” PUPPY BOWL XIV trophy. PUPPY BOWL XIV aired simultaneously on both coasts, featuring two hours of fuzzy faces, sloppy kisses, incredible interceptions, puppy penalties and hard-won touchdowns. After the pup-tastic game of ear pulls and tail tugs is over, all the PUPPY BOWL puppy players end up as winners when they find their forever homes.
PUPPY BOWL XIV was played at the all-new bone-shaped GEICO® stadium which features more than a dozen cameras, including those embedded in the end zone pylons, to help get audiences closer to the PUPPY BOWL action than ever before. The game kicked off with Jokgu the piano playing chicken from Season 12 of America’s Got Talent pecking out “The Star-Spangled Banner” on the keyboard as an adorable blended bunch of baby barnyard cheerleaders, including ducklings, piglets and baby bunnies, help excite fans on the sidelines throughout the game.
For PUPPY BOWL XIV, Animal Planet worked with 48 different animal shelters and rescue organizations from 25 U.S. states and territories, to fill the rosters of #TeamRuff and #TeamFluff with 90 adoptable players for this puppy pile-up – the most puppies and shelters in PUPPY BOWL history. With the help of DNA testing conducted by WISDOM PANEL™, these puppy athletes go beyond fur-deep to find out what they’re really made of and use it to their advantage.
PUPPY BOWL XIV features pups rescued from areas that were devastated by natural disasters in 2017, including Houston, Puerto Rico and Florida. A Pit Bull puppy player from Villalobos Rescue Center, the largest Pit Bull rescue in the U.S., is also featured in PUPPY BOWL XIV with Marcel from Pit Bulls & Parolees. Other special needs puppy players this year include, among other players, Ryder (a sight-impaired Husky), Chance (a deaf Dalmatian), Moonshine (a sight-impaired and deaf Border Collie) and Luna (a Pomeranian mix with a cleft palate), who won’t let anything stop them from trying to score the winning touchdown and a loving forever home.
Animal Planet audiences can learn more about the shelters, rescues and organizations that participated in PUPPY BOWL XIV by visiting https://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/puppy-bowl/.
Two-Tone Jones in “Kitten Bowl V” (Photo courtesy of Hallmark Channel)
The following is a press release from Hallmark Channel:
Hallmark Channel, America’s favorite family-friendly cable television network, is recreating Kitten Bowl live in the Dayton Building of Nicollet Mall as part of the 10-day Super Bowl Live experience in Minneapolis, MN. Nearly 100 furry “cat-letes” will take the field over a 10-day period to see which team will be crowned Feline Football League champions and take home the coveted Hissman Trophy. This year’s show is truly unique as is it includes back stories about the rescues of some of the Cat-letes – including many from the devastation of Hurricane Irma. Viewers will also see some of kittens find their forever homes, on-set, at the end of the show. Kitten Bowl is part of Super Bowl Live from Friday, January 26 at 4 p.m. Central Time and through Sunday, February 4 at 3 p.m.
Fans coming to Kitten Bowl Live Presented by Hallmark Channel will be greeted by a life-like version of Rodney Peete, former NFL great and current Kitten Bowl play-by-play announcer, in the broadcast booth.
Rodney Peete and his wife, Holly Robinson Peete, stars of Hallmark Channel’s new family reality series “Meet the Peets” will make appearances on NFL Radio Row, January 31 (2-6 p.m.), February 1 (8 a.m.Noon), and February 2 (8 a.m.-Noon), and host media at Kitten Bowl Presented by Hallmark Channel at Nicollet Mall, January 31 (8 a.m. -Noon), February 1 (2-6 p.m.), February 2 (2-6 p.m.).
Fans will tour the Purr-king Lot for pre-game tailgating and the locker room where kittens chill before hitting the field.
Next, it’s on to Hallmark Channel Stadium to see kittens claw out a victory as the felines show off their best Stefon Diggs catches and leaps through the goal posts for extra points.
Fans will memorialize the experience at the Paws of Fame Trophy Room and capture a photo worthy of social sharing in front of the MVK (“Most Valuable Kitten”) Wall. Snap a photo with former greats of the game: Tomcat Brady, Tabby Romo, Mew Brees, Joe Montuna, and more.
Kitten Bowl is an entertainment program produced by Hallmark Channel to bring awareness to the plight of homeless animals and to show the most beautiful animals in the world are available for adoption from your own local shelter.
The final stop on the tour is the Adoption Ever After room which features shelter pets from Minneapolis and surrounding areas who need a loving and forever home. A simple act of adoption helps to clear the shelters. Kittens on the field are provided by North Shore Animal League America and all furry players are available to be adopted.
For those who cannot make it to Minnesota there are 500 Kitten Bowl parties at local shelters all across the country. To find a Kitten Bowl Party near you go to www.hallmarkchannel/kitten-bowl. Have fun and do good! Come to the Kitten Bowl Presented by Hallmark Channel, January 26 – February 4. You just might bring home the love of your life.
“Kitten Bowl V,” a three-hour original special premieres on Hallmark Channel, Sunday, February 4 (Noon and 3 p.m. ET/PT).
“Kitten Bowl” host Beth Stern (Photo courtesy of Hallmark Channel)
The following is a press release from Hallmark Channel:
January 13, 2018
Hallmark Channel brings “Kitten Bowl V” on the road to Super Bowl LII as a major activation hosted in Minneapolis, Minnesota for ten days leading up to the day of the big game. The announcement was made today as part of Crown Media Family Networks’ TV Critics Association Winter Press Tour. Beginning Friday, January 26th through Sunday, February 4th, guests taking part in all the excitement surrounding the Super Bowl can celebrate Kitten Bowl, the nation’s most beloved rescue pet adoption event of the year. Fans who visit will see kittens compete on the field at Hallmark Channel Stadium, tailgate in the purr-king lot, tour the Paws of Fame trophy room, take a photo with the Hissman trophy and share their memories via social media. Guests will even be able to take home a souvenir: an official pack of “Kitten Bowl” trading cards. The major component of the activation is to support Hallmark Channel’s Adoption Ever After campaign and, with the help of North Shore Animal League America, kittens will be available for adoption on site.
“Bringing ‘Kitten Bowl’ to the Super Bowl is a dream come true. We have seen the franchise grow tremendously in support of animal adoption over time, evolving from entertainment into America’s most beloved national rescue pet adoption event,” said Bill Abbott, President and CEO, Crown Media Family Networks. “This is the first time Hallmark Channel will have a major media presence at the Super Bowl and the activation of ‘Kitten Bowl V’ will help elevate the network’s Adoption Ever After initiative of finding all animals forever homes.” The presence among the NFL and Super Bowl LII leads in to the kick-off of “Kitten Bowl V” premiering exclusively on the network, Sunday, February 4 (12 p.m. Eastern Time/Pacific Time). The 2018 version of “Kitten Bowl” features countless displaced kittens rescued from some of the country’s recent natural disasters of 2017, all of whom will be vying for the National Championship of Feline Football trophy – and a loving, forever home in which to display it.
TV personality, author and animal advocate Beth Stern hosts this year’s television event. Stern embodies the spirit of adoption in her everyday life, having fostered countless animals in need. Stern’s tireless, year-round efforts to find homes for animals makes her a synergistic fit to lead the charge for “Kitten Bowl V,” truly a super day of adorable pets. On the day of the big game, four-time Pro Bowl quarterback and Feline Football League Commissioner Boomer Esiason calls the play-by-play action making “Kitten Bowl V” super Sunday’s MUST-SEE viewing party. Hallmark Channel’s Dean Cain, Alison Sweeney and former NFL star Rodney Peete, animal lovers and adoption advocates, provide commentary throughout the event, in addition to heartwarming adoption stories.
North Shore Animal League America and Last Hope Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation rescued the 2018 team. “Kitten Bowl” is part of Hallmark Channel’s Adoption Ever After pet initiative, which highlights the plight of homeless animals and the joys rescued and adopted pets bring into our lives.
The following is a press release from Hallmark Channel:
Hallmark Channel, the country’s leading provider of family friendly entertainment, announced today the rebranding of its corporate pet initiative with a new name, logo, and reinforced commitment to educating the public about the many rewards of pet adoption. Originally launched as Pet Project in 2012, the campaign has been rebranded as Adoption Ever After, bringing the core call to action – adopt – to the forefront. Working in collaboration with the country’s leading animal rescue and welfare organizations, activists, distribution and advertising partners, and celebrity influencers, Hallmark Channel’s Adoption Ever After aims to dismantle common misconceptions about shelter animals, provide resources, inspire the public to adopt, and ultimately put an end to this country’s epidemic of pet homelessness. As Adoption Ever After grows, Crown Media will forge new partnerships with other companies and brands to raise awareness for shelter animals.
The first such partnership is with Bissell and Bissell Pet Foundation, which works tirelessly on their “Empty the Shelters” campaign. Proving that highly successful brands can band together. The hope is that this venture is the first of many alliances that will help clear the shelters. “Every year, millions of perfectly healthy and lovable animals needlessly die in shelters – and while progress has been made in recent years, we still have a long way to go in the movement against pet homelessness,” said Crown Media Family Networks President & CEO, Bill Abbott. “With Hallmark Channel’s Adoption Ever After, we are honored to give these animals a platform, spark a national dialog about the importance of adoption, and save lives.”
The initiative includes such programming elements as “Kitten Bowl,” “Hero Dog Awards,” “American Rescue Dog Show” and daily pet adoption segments on “Home & Family,” as well as off-air elements, grassroots efforts, social media outreach and strategic partnerships. In addition, Hallmark Channel’s two shelter pet mascots, Happy the Dog and Happy the Cat, continue to embody the beauty, intelligence and lovability of adopted pets on-air and through public appearances.
“2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
The following is a press release from Hallmark Channel:
Hallmark Channel’s inaugural “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” premieres exclusively on the network on February 19, 2018 (8 p.m. ET/PT). The special features shelter dogs of various breeds from across the country vying for top dog in the world’s most adorable categories. The “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” is hosted by Rebecca Romijn and Rich Eisen, with celebrity judges Linda Blair, Rick Springfield, Brandon McMillan, Ross Matthews, Andrea Arden and Larissa Wohl covering all the action ringside. The announcement was made today as part of Crown Media Family Networks’ TV Critics Association Winter Press Tour.
The “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” will focus on the heartfelt traits and benefits of mixed breeds and rescued purebreds. Breeds competing for first place include Basset Hounds, English Bull Dogs, Maltese, St. Bernard, Mixed Breeds and many more. Categories they are competing for include Best in Couch Potato, Best in Wiggle Butt, Best in Underbite, Best in Talking, Best in Snoring, Best in Senior Dog, Best in Fetcher, Best in Kissing, Best in Special Needs and Best in Listener. The top 10 dogs will face off in the finals of which one will be crowned Best in Rescue. In addition to competition in the ring, the show will highlight heartwarming stories of courageous dogs who have overcome tremendous odds to be rescued and find forever homes.
“We are proud to honor rescue pets and raise awareness of how truly special these animals are,” said Bill Abbott, President and CEO, Crown Media Family Networks. “There are beautiful animals available at local shelters and we encourage our viewers to choose adoption through our pet programming, which is at the heart of our brand.” The mission of the “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” is to celebrate rescue dogs in a personality-driven competition. The goal of the show is to spotlight these incredible pets and inspire viewers to adopt their next dog from their local shelter or rescue organization.
Whether already in homes or waiting to be adopted, these dogs are all heart and full of personality. The pedigree of these dogs is pure love. Serving as the show’s official mascot is the network’s own rescued and adopted pet, Happy the Dog. In addition to starring in movies and specials, Happy the Dog is a certified therapy dog and emotional support animal.
“2018 American Rescue Dog Show” is produced by Michael Levitt Productions. Executive Producers Michael Levitt and Jennifer Schulz are both animal advocates and rescuers whose lives are dedicated to increasing awareness of pet adoption. Levitt, an accomplished TV producer, and Schulz, a communications professional for pet brands and organizations, joined forces to create a show that is both entertaining and heart-warming. Their goal is to celebrate rescue dogs with the hope of inspiring Hallmark Channel viewers to adopt their next pet.
Lastly, the Petco Foundation is providing $75,000 in non-profit grants to the winners and AdoptAPet.com will be showcased throughout the show as a great resource for viewers to find their next pet.
Latissa Wohl in “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
Rebbeca Romijn in “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
“2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
“2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
“2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
Rebecca Romijn in “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
Rebecca Romijn, Linda Blair and Rich Eisen in “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Kimberly Nunneley/Alexx Henry Studios)
Rebecca Romijn, Larissa Wohl and Rich Eisen in “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Kimberly Nunneley/Alexx Henry Studios)
Ross Matthews and Larissa Wohl in “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Kimberly Nunneley/Alexx Henry Studios)
Rebecca Romijn,and Rich Eisen in “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Kimberly Nunneley/Alexx Henry Studios)
Rebecca Romijn, Rick Springfield and Rich Eisen in “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Kimberly Nunneley/Alexx Henry Studios)
“2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
“2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
“2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
“2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
“2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
“2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
“2018 American Rescue Dog Show” (Photo by Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios)
