Local Four-legged Hero Competing with 265 Courageous Canines

Every dog has its day, and one four-legged local is hoping that day will come for them on September 29 at the eighth annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards® in Beverly Hills. Eli, a 12-year-old mixed breed from Feasterville, PA will be competing against 265 other courageous canines for the nation’s highest honor recognizing mankind’s best friend. You can vote for Eli by going to www.vetcares.com (scroll down to see "Click here to vote for Eli").

"Eli defines excellence and hero dog in many ways," according to his "mom" Ali Gottlieb. Ali is the ICU nurse and education coordinator at the Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services (CARES) in Langhorne, PA. "Eli has significantly helped both an entire community and an individual in his short 11 years. Eli came into my life from a rescue organization when he was 1.5 years old and in need of a home. At that time our 3-legged anxious female pup was in need of a companion, exercise partner and submissive housemate. Eli filled all of those roles until the day she died. However, it is what he does on a daily basis that makes him so special. Eli comes to work with me every day at CARES and is always willing to help. He mostly nurses and encourages patients and staff through emotional and physical pain. He spends time with anxious animals, and gives great hugs when the emotions of our job get staff members down. He has helped get anxious dogs out of cages and to eat. He donates blood and often gives his blood serum for patients with ocular ulcers (he even donated to a cat once). He patiently lays while doctors teach ultrasound and teaches a restraint class to keep staff safe. Eli lives with and nurses the cats there as well. He loves and cares for them and me every minute. He has gotten me through some real hard times and therefore comes with me everywhere! Eli is always thrilled to help my dad who is a quadriplegic. He has encouraged several employees to get pit bulls after getting to know him, making him a true breed ambassador. He is not only my hero but a hero to everyone’s lives he has touched."

Eli is competing in the Emerging Hero category.

You can vote for Eli once per day, by visiting www.vetcares.com

(scroll down to see "Click here to vote for Eli")

Following the first round of voting, which ends April 25 with the selection of 21 semifinalists (the top three in each category), a second round, featuring a combination of public and celebrity voting, will narrow the field to the seven category finalists. The winning dog in each category will be flown to Los Angeles and celebrated at a red carpet, star-studded awards gala on September 29, when this year’s American Hero Dog will be revealed.

Over the past seven years, Americans have cast millions of votes for more than a thousand dogs, all seeking the coveted title of American Hero Dog. The program reaches more than 1 billion people each year and draws the support and participation of top celebrity dog lovers from all over the world. Hosts, judges, award presenters, and entertainment acts have included Jay Leno, Billy Crystal, Betty White, Alison Sweeney, James Denton, Beth Stern, Bindi Irwin, Derek Hough, Richard Marx, Katharine McPhee, Michelle Beadle, Victoria Stilwell, Whoopi Goldberg, Denise Richards, Joey Lawrence, Lisa Vanderpump, Burt Reynolds, Chelsea Handler, Martin Short, Jewel, Wilson Phillips, John Ondrasik, Carson Kressley, Miranda Lambert, Pauley Perrette, Kristen Chenoweth, Naomi Judd, Lori Loughlin, Lea Thompson, Eric Stonestreet, Fred Willard, Danica McKellar, Bailee Madison, and many, many more.

Winners in each category will earn $2,500 for their designated charity partner and the overall winner’s charity partner will win an additional $5,000 prize. Each charity partner is dedicated to celebrating the role of working dogs in our lives, and like American Humane, celebrates the importance of the human-animal bond.

Key dates for the 2018 American Humane Hero Dog Awards contest include:

• 1st Round Voting: Now until April 25, 2018
• 2nd Round Voting: May 16, 2018 – July 11, 2018
• 3rd Round Voting: July 25, 2018 – September 5, 2018
• American Humane Hero Dog Awards gala event in Los Angeles – September 29, 2018