Finally, a Televised Dog Show Just For Rescue Dogs!

Picture this scene: the Westminster Dog Show is on TV, and your sweet rescue dog looks wistfully up at the screen. He knows, deep down, that he could be a star too—but he's a mutt, and therefore not eligible to participate. Next door, the neighbour dog is a beautiful purebred Golden Retriever rescue—but as a special-needs pup in a wheelchair, she can't compete either.

Enter the 2018 American Rescue Dog Show! Recognizing that these dogs are just as beautiful and loveable as all the dogs on the Westminster Dog Show, Producer Michael Levitt and his team created a program to showcase rescue dogs. The goal of the show is to provide a platform to get help homeless dogs get rescued.

Premiering Monday, February 19th on the Hallmark Channel (8/7c), the 2018 American Rescue Dog Show will have a format similar to the Westminster Dog Show, but will star participants that are rescued rather than bred. While some dog shows may judge their participants on bloodlines, the 2018 American Rescue Dog Show includes highly competitive categories that include “Best in Wiggle Butt,” “Best in Couch Potato,” “Best in Underbite,” “Best in Kissing,” “Best in Talking,” “Best in Listening,” “Best in Snoring,” “Best in Fetching,” “Best in Special Needs,” and “Best in Senior Dog.”  At the show's conclusion, all of the finalists face off to compete for the title of “Best in Rescue.”  The only requirement to participate is that rescues are spayed or neutered.

Rescues that win each semi-final category will receive a $5,000 grant, awarded to the rescue organization or society that saved them. As for the overall winner, he or she will win a $25,000 grant for their rescue courtesy of the Petco Foundation. 

As if this wasn't heartwarming enough, the 2018 American Rescue Dog Show also provides the opportunity for currently unadopted rescues to find homes. Partnering with AdoptAPet.com, the American Rescue Dog Show provides viewers with the opportunity to locate adoptable rescues within their own communities. Recognizing rescues for the awesome dogs they are and helping pups to find their forever homes… what could be more perfect than that?

Check out the adorable promo below—we know we'll be checking it out!

Update 4/17/18: Check out the full list of winners below!

http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/2018-american-rescue-dog-show/2018-american-rescue-dog-winners