North Shore Animal League America will hold its annual DogCatemy Rescue Awards Dinner on Thursday, December 8th at 6:00 pm at the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square, New York City.  Highlighting the life-saving efforts of the Animal League, this annual event will begin with the Closing Bell Ceremony, followed by a celebrity Red Carpet cocktail hour and a program that will spotlight NSALA's guests of honour: Cesar Millan, World Renowned Dog Expert, and David Wicks, Vice President of The NASDAQ OMX Group. 

Animal lover and nationally respected co-host of FOX News Channel's FOX and Friends, Brian Kilmeade, will lead the program as Master of Ceremonies.  The evening is themed around the rapidly expanding Mutt-i-grees® Curriculum, where beginning at a very young age students are learning about social and emotional skills, and strategies to promote shelter pets, otherwise known as Mutt-i-grees®.

The Animal League will bestow the inaugural "Cesar Millan Award for Excellence in Mutt-i-grees Education" to Cesar Millan, internationally renowned dog rehabilitation expert and star of Nat Geo WILD's 'The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan'.  The award recognizes the impact Cesar Millan is having in the humane field and honours him for his many contributions, including the founding of the Millan Foundation.   This Foundation funds the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum, a collaboration between North Shore Animal League America and Yale University's School of the 21st Century, promoting the development of calm, confident and caring children who can make a difference in the lives of people and animals.

"Cesar Millan has truly set himself apart as a leader and adoption advocate," said John Stevenson, President of North Shore Animal League America.  He added, "His generosity and financial support, as well as his commitment and extensive involvement in the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum are raising the standard for humane education.  Cesar's dedication is evident in contributing to new trends and lessons for people and pets to ensure a happy, loving life together."

The Animal League's Corporate Champion Award will be presented to David Wicks, Vice President of The NASDAQ OMX Group.  The award recognizes the deep appreciation that Wicks has shown for the precious animals that can be found in shelters and his continuing efforts to identify opportunities to promote the adoption of homeless pets.

"David Wicks has wholeheartedly embraced the Mutt-i-grees Movement, both professionally and personally," said Stevenson.  "He has taken every opportunity to promote the message that adoption is the best option when looking for a pet.  He himself adopted a German Shepherd Mutt-i-gree from the Animal League and appropriately named the dog Freedom."

The evening will include a special presentation featuring prize-winning Public Service Announcements created by students nationwide, encouraging Americans to adopt Mutt-i-grees.  The students participated in a national contest that is part of the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum.  A $10,000 Grand Prize grant and three $1,500 Regional Prize grants will be presented to each winning school at the event. The winning schools are from Pennsylvania, California, Kentucky, and Texas.  Funding for the contest and grant prizes was made possible through the generosity of the friends and family of Tamara Tullman, a North Shore Animal League America volunteer who adored animals and loved to teach children.

The DogCatemy Rescue Awards Dinner reflects North Shore Animal League America's belief that all shelter pets find a loving home.  Since its inception in 1944, the Animal League has saved more than one million lives. The proceeds from the DogCatemy Rescue Awards Dinner will enable the Animal League to strengthen its nationwide rescue efforts, saving nearly 20,000 lives each year.  To learn more about North Shore Animal League America, visit AnimalLeague.org. 

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