Hollywood’s red carpet is known for showcasing all the biggest trends in fashion, hotshot movie stars, entertainers and – now – dogs.
On Oct. 1, the American Humane Association held its annual Hero Dog Awards in Beverly Hills to honor the best of the best of the canine service industry.
From more than 400 service dogs nominated throughout the nation, eight finalists were chosen by a public vote on the AHA website, held June 20 through July 31.
With more than 300,000 votes, Bino (pronounced Bihn-oh), a Dutch Shepherd hailing from Las Cruces, won the “Military dog” category, and together with owner Debbie Kandoll, hit the red carpet for the paw-studded event.
“It was like the Academy Awards, with the red carpet and the ‘puperazzi’ doing interviews. But Bino just did his thing, he was very cute,” Kandoll said.
Bino began his career serving the country as a military working dog in 2002, stationed at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga. Bino was deployed to war-stricken Iraq in 2006 and returned home 14 months later. He “retired” from the military in 2010, when he was adopted by the Kandoll family As a 13-year-old “retiree,” Bino and Kandoll still make weekly visits to Fort Bliss to educate soldiers and train other service dogs to be used by soldiers who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries or severe depression and anxiety.
Several animal-loving stars attended the black-tie gala, including Betty White, Julienne Hough and Jason Lewis.
“Dancing with the Stars” contestant and “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” starlet Carson Kressley hosted the awards show and presented the winners from the categories of emerging hero, guide dog, hearing dog, law enforcement/ arson dog, service dog, search and rescue dog, therapy dog and – of course – military dog.
Highlighting the end of the evening was the presentation of the “American Hero Dog of the Year,” selected by a panel of judges including White, Whoopi Goldberg, Kristen Chenowith and Victoria Stillwell.
Roselle, a seeing-eye guide dog from New York, took home the honor. Roselle led her blind handler, Michael Higson, down 78 flights of stairs in Tower One of the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Unfortunately, Roselle, at 13 years old, died in June, but her compelling story attracted more than 400,000 votes.
The Hero Dog Awards show will air as a special presentation by the Hallmark
Bino the Military Dog Hero and owner Debbie Kandoll show off Bino’s medals Tuesday, Oct. 4, from the Hero Dog Awards show that took place in Beverly Hills Saturday, Oct. 1.
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