Posted: November 11, 2008, 5 a.m. EST
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Hosts David Frei (left) and John O'Hurley |
The National Dog Show Presented by Purina is set to air on Nov. 27 at noon EST, PST, following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC.
Launched in 1876 and run continuously since 1933, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia competition is one of the oldest dog shows in the United States. This is the seventh year the show will appear on NBC.
The event, which reaches an audience of almost 20 million viewers each year, will be hosted by TV personality John O’Hurley and David Frei, dubbed the “voice of Westminster.”
More than 2,000 dogs and 150 different breeds will be featured, with appearances by some familiar faces. Uno the Beagle, Best in Show winner of the 2008 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, will make a celebrity appearance. Uno was the first Beagle to win Westminster in 100 years.
Last year’s winner was Swizzle, an Australian Shepherd from the Herding Group.
The show will also announce the winner of the Purina “Doing More for Pets” Rescue Stories Contest. Hundreds of pet rescuers have submitted their stories and now 10 finalists are competing for a chance to win $5,000 worth of pet food for their rescue group. The winner will be determined by popular vote on the website.
This year’s National Dog Show charity beneficiary is The Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.