Hollywood Mom Blog

Hollywood Life: Vote for your favorite Dog Star!

Posted on 07. Oct, 2009 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

Americans love their dogs, and Hollywood is no exception.  From Lassie and Toto to Bengi and Beethoven, dogs have always had a profound impact on tinsel town. In celebration of its 125 Anniversary, the American Kennel Club and AOL’s PawNation.com asks America to weigh in on their favorite canine movie stars. As dogs have graced the silver screen on numerous occasions, the AKC and PawNation have spilt this pop culture category in two parts, so if your favorite isn’t listed below now, check back next week to make your “bark” heard.

This week’s nominees are:

Lassie – The genius heroine Collie in the 1943 movie Lassie Come Home who saved many from villains and natural threats. This movie inspired many sequels and a television show.

Toto – Dorothy’s Cairn Terrier in the movie The Wizard of Oz.

Rin TinTin – The famous German Shepherd who was found in a trench by an American soldier and appeared in films since 1922.

Benji - The focus of several movies since 1974, Benji was a mixed-breed with an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time to help others overcome various problems.

101 Dalmatians – Based on the novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith, this 1961 Walt Disney movie centers on the fate of kidnapped Dalmatian puppies Pongo and Perdita.

Beethoven – The rollicking Saint Bernard in the movie series of the same name.

Sandy – The mixed-breed Annie rescued in the movie Little Orphan Annie.

Copper – Loosely based on the Daniel P. Mannix novel The Fox and the Hound, the 1981 Disney animated movie centers on the story of two unlikely friends, a young hunting dog and a baby fox, who struggle to preserve their friendship despite their emerging instincts.

Lady and the Tramp – The 1955 animated Walt Disney feature film that pairs a privileged female American Cocker Spaniel named “Lady” with a male stray mutt named Tramp.

Beasley – The crime solving Dogue de Bordeaux in the Tom Hanks movie Turner & Hooch.

Which TV pooch will be the star of the silver screen? Visit http://www.pawnation.com/category/akc-top-125-dogs to cast your vote and make your “bark” heard.

Underscoring America’s love affair with dogs and celebrating its 125^th Anniversary, the American Kennel Club (AKC) collaborated with AOL’s PawNation.com to compile a list of the Top 125 Dogs in Popular Culture. The list brings together canines from diverse backgrounds for a candid look at how dogs have been woven into the fabric of America. From movies and music, mascots and literature, to cartoons and TV characters, each week a new poll allows Americans to review the list, debate it with their friends and colleagues, and pick their favorites. Dog lovers can return each week to vote and have a final say to end the doggie debate andhelp determine who’s the top Hollywood Dog. The AKC will tabulate results and unveil the final list of America’s Top 125 Dogs in Pop Culture on December 7, 2009.

The American Kennel Club (AKC), proudly celebrates its 125th Anniversary in 2009. Since 1884 the not-for-profit organization has maintained the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world, and today its rules govern more than 20,000 canine competitions each year. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc. All other marks are the properties of their respective owners.

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