‘Paw-paparazzi’ take note: World Dog Awards honor star pets

This Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 photo Duke a 7 year old Great Pyrenees who was elected mayor In Cormorant, Minn. lounges on a couch with David Rick during the 2015 World Dog Awards at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica. Awards season in Hollywood has begun. For at least one show, though, there will be no "Lights, Camera, Action," no tables to maneuver around, no long speeches and no seat fillers. That's because the show and nearly every award in it is going to the dogs. Canine winners, along with a few humans and a cat, will be presented with golden fire hydrant statuettes. Dogs will lounge on sofas and overstuffed chairs in front of the stage. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) This Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 photo Duke a 7 year old Great Pyrenees who was elected mayor In Cormorant, Minn. lounges on a couch with David Rick during the 2015 World Dog Awards at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica. Awards season in Hollywood has begun. For at least one show, though, there will be no "Lights, Camera, Action," no tables to maneuver around, no long speeches and no seat fillers. That's because the show and nearly every award in it is going to the dogs. Canine winners, along with a few humans and a cat, will be presented with golden fire hydrant statuettes. Dogs will lounge on sofas and overstuffed chairs in front of the stage. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

By Associated Press January 14, 2015 3 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Awards season is underway in Hollywood, but one show will roll out green turf instead of red carpet and celebrate achievements like best mutt instead of best actor.

At the inaugural World Dog Awards hosted by comedian George Lopez, dogs will walk in on artificial grass and wag out with golden fire hydrant statuettes honoring the best in entertainment and social media.

There are no long speeches or fashion critics at the show airing Thursday on the CW Network. At this event, the podium is packed with dog treats, patches of grass allow pets to do their business and signs call for barking instead of applause. Plus, pooches lounge on couches and sniff out swag bags boasting pet food, collars and toys.

The World Dog Awards are the latest in a series of canine kudos weaving their way into Hollywood’s human awards landscape.

The Pawscars gives accolades to animals in film roles, including a tarantula that won best supporting arachnid a few years ago for appearing in “Salt” with Angelina Jolie. Voting is open for the show, scheduled to air March 4.