Real Life Pet Heroes

National Pet Week is widely celebrated throughout the United States and other parts of the world. In 2011, National Pet Week is celebrated from May 1-7. The goals of National Pet Week are to promote responsible pet ownership, celebrate the human-animal bond, and promote public awareness of veterinary medicine.

You know your dog is the BEST! Let the rest of the world know why. The AVMA and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation are teaming up with the American Humane Association's (AHA) Hero Dog Awards contest.

How it works:
The AHA Film & Television Unit is accepting Hero Dog nominations through May31 and voting by the general public begins June.

Dogs may be nominated in eight categories:

• law enforcement and arson service
• therapy
• military
• guide
• search and rescue
• hearing
• emerging hero. Emerging Hero Dogs are ordinary dogs that do extraordinary things. Put simply, tell us why your dog is important to you. Why is your dog not just another wet nose in the crowd?

The judges & the prize
The judging panel consists of celebrities and animal experts. Your inspiring story could land you and your dog a spot on the red carpet in Hollywood for the first American Hero Dog Awards. All finalists will be flown to Hollywood, Calif., where they will walk the red carpet and be recognized in a video tribute at the black-tie awards show Oct. 1, when the winning American Hero Dog will be announced.

How to enter
Rules and entry information about the contest are available at www.herodogawards.org.

This National Pet Week nominate your dog for the Hero Dog Awards and recognize the special bond between dogs and people and celebrating the extraordinary achievements of individual dogs.