HOGAN FAMILY FOUNDATION'S LIFELINE 4 PAWS PROGRAM RECEIVES FIRST ''WAGGY'' AWARD

(Newbury Park, CA)  The Tailwaggers Foundation in Hollywood recently presented its first “St. Francis Waggy Award” to the Hogan Foundation’s Lifeline 4 Paws program.  Lifeline 4 Paws has sponsored over $1.6 million in non-routine medical treatment for more than 2,000 sick and injured rescue dogs in the past four years.

In accepting the “Waggy” at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel ceremony, Chris Hogan, executive vice president of the Hogan Family Foundation and head of Lifeline 4 Paws in Newbury Park, said, “We have dedicated ourselves to helping over 100 qualified rescue organizations in our community obtain the veterinarian assistance needed to improve the lives of seriously ill or injured dogs in their care.  We are honored to be the first recipient of this prestigious award that brings more attention to the plight of these helpless animals.”

Todd Wagner, founder of The Tailwaggers Foundation, said, “We wanted to publically honor individuals who we feel have demonstrated remarkable spirit and conviction in the crusade to improve the health and welfare of animals in our local community and around the world.  Chris Hogan’s tireless efforts and contributions have made a significant difference in the lives of thousands of rescue dogs and in the families that have adopted them.  She is a silent hero and my role model.”

Inspired by Hogan’s Lifeline 4 Paws, Wagner formed The Tailwaggers Foundation, which is now also providing financial support to other rescue organizations.  He says, “This funding approach extends our reach tremendously and enhances the number of animals we can help.  Most animal rescues spend up to 50 percent of their budgets to medically treat sick and injured animals, but, sadly, their limited finances are not nearly enough to care for the sheer volume of animals that come through their doors.  There is little hope for those they cannot afford to help.”

In addition to Hogan, a 2014 Waggy award went to Manuel Oteyza and Gabriela Cowperthwaite, producer and director of the critically acclaimed CNN documentary film “Blackfish,” which details the lives and captive treatment of the highly intelligent orcas.  A third award was presented to Mitch O’Farrell, Los Angeles 13^th District City Council Representative, who led the effort to ban the use in Los Angeles of abusive “bull hooks” to train and discipline elephants.