Malibu local Megan Blake and dog Super Smiley attended the American Humane Society Hero Dog Awards, which honors efforts made by war dogs, therapy dogs and service dogs at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in October. The event, hosted by actress Kristin Chenoweth, is airing on the Hallmark Channel Nov. 8.
Accompanying Blake and Smiley to the awards show were dog Susie and her person, Donna Lawrence, who were visiting from North Carolina. Susie inspired North Carolina’s Susie’s Law, which advocates for stronger punishments for those who commit acts of animal abuse, after she was brutally set on fire in 2010. Her tale of survival sponsored the film “Susie.”
Both Smiley and Susie are therapy dogs and Smiley is also an Animal Assisted Crisis Response Dog with the nonprofit organization Hope.
Smiley was featured in the film “Super Smiley Flash Mob: A Dogumentary,” which was honored with the Visionary Award at the Awareness Film Festival and won the Regional Competition at Film Festival Flix in September.