The American Kennel Club (AKC) is excited to announce that its popular special, AKC HEROES: 2023 AWARDS FOR CANINE EXCELLENCE, will premiere on Sunday, December 10th at 10:30pm ET on ESPN2. The show features incredible stories of this year’s AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) winners. These annual awards celebrate loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and/or communities.
This one-hour special will take a deep dive into the stories of five remarkable dogs and why they were selected as this year’s honorees in their respective categories from a pool of over 600 nominations. The five award categories include: Exemplary Companion, Search and Rescue, Service Dog, Therapy Dog, and Uniformed Service K-9. The broadcast is hosted by Sportscaster, Carolyn Manno.
“Every year, dogs continue to show us how important they are in our lives and these five dogs are the perfect example,” said Gina DiNardo, AKC Executive Secretary. “Their impact can be felt throughout their communities and we are proud to share their stories.”
ACE award recipients in each category will be awarded a donation to a pet-related charity of their choice. The 2023 AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence are proudly sponsored by YuMOVE™, the official joint sponsor of the AKC, and EUKANUBA™ premium dog nutrition.
The special will re-air on Sunday, December 17th at 8pm ET and Sunday, December 31st at 11pm ET.
Mark your calendars now for AKC HEROES: 2023 AWARDS FOR CANINE EXCELLENCE airing on ESPN2 and the ESPN app on Sunday, December 10th.