Pasadena Humane earned national recognition this week as the winner of the 2025 Wagsies People’s Choice Award, announced Nov. 5 at The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement’s annual conference in Atlanta. The award, presented in partnership with Hill’s Pet Nutrition, honors excellence in video storytelling by animal welfare organizations across the country, according to a press release issued by Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
Pasadena Humane’s winning entry, “Skinny Minnie,” tells the story of a cat displaced and injured during the Eaton fire. After four months of care, Minnie was reunited with her family. The video also won Best Shelter Brand Awareness in the Wagsies category awards. Pasadena Humane received a $20,000 prize for the People’s Choice win, which was determined by public voting on Hill’s website.
The Wagsies also recognized One Tail at a Time of Chicago as the People’s Choice runner-up for its video “Fostering,” which encourages viewers to consider fostering shelter pets. That organization received $5,000. One Tail at a Time also won Best Public Service Announcement for the same video.
The Professional Choice Award, selected by animal welfare marketing experts, went to Greater Birmingham Humane Society for “Gizmo,” a video about a Shih Tzu rescued from severe neglect. That entry also won Best Emotional Story. Gizmo’s story highlighted the intensive grooming and care provided by shelter staff before his adoption into a permanent home.
Other category winners included Maricopa County Animal Care & Control for Funniest Video (“Puppy Love is Blind”) and Hawk Creek Animal Shelter for Best Adoption Story (“Rotisserie’s Story”).
“These awards serve as a powerful platform to applaud the creativity and dedication of animal welfare organizations across the country,” said Carrick Massey, senior vice president of marketing at Hill’s US, in a company statement. “This year’s winners showcase the stories of many resilient pets and draw our attention to the heroic care provided by shelter teams every day. We are proud to partner with The Association to honor the vital work of these organizations and their innovative approaches to storytelling.”
“Each year, the Wagsies remind us of the profound impact that an emotionally compelling story can have on animal welfare,” said Jim Tedford, president and CEO of The Association. “The 2025 entries have once again demonstrated exceptional talent in advocating for animals in need and driving community action, and we are thrilled to highlight their contributions alongside our friends at Hill’s.”
The Wagsies are part of Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program, which was founded in 2002. The program helps feed pets in more than 1,000 North American shelters every day and is based on the belief that science-led nutrition, combined with the care of shelter professionals, helps pets become happy, healthy and more adoptable.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, founded more than 75 years ago, is a leading veterinarian-recommended pet food brand. The company employs nearly 200 veterinarians, PhD nutritionists and food scientists to develop innovations in pet health. Its products include Hill’s Prescription Diet therapeutic nutrition and Hill’s Science Diet for everyday wellness. More information is available at HillsPet.com..
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, established in 1970, is the only international membership and professional development organization dedicated exclusively to animal welfare and animal care and control leaders. Its mission is to champion, advance and unify the animal welfare profession. More information is available at www.theaawa.org.
For more information and to view the winning videos, visit HillsPet.com/Wagsies-Awards.
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