Ragan Awards: American Humane honors the nation’s best dogs, driving social media success

Everyone thinks their dog is special, but some stand out a little more through their work with law enforcement, people with disabilities or those needing some canine therapy, among other jobs. The Hero Dog Awards sought to find the very best of these animals and share their stories across the country.

The campaign began with a nomination period, supported by Facebook ads and press releases, which helped move 411 dogs to the voting rounds. To spread these pooch’s stories, American Humane took a national approach, enlisting celebrities such as Vivica Fox, Carson Kressley, Lisa Loeb and others to use their social platforms to rally votes. Email, social media posts and blogs encouraged voting and shared inspirational stories.