Hill's Pet Nutrition Names Wagsies Award Winners
Ten animal welfare organizations earned top honors for their video efforts to help shelter pets find homes.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Pets — General
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Hill's Pet Nutrition and The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement have announced the 2026 Wagsies Animal Welfare Video Awards winners. The honors celebrate organizations that successfully use video content to engage communities and promote pet adoption.
Why it matters
These awards provide critical financial support and recognition to shelters using creative storytelling to inspire community action. By highlighting these efforts, the program encourages shelters to adopt digital tools that improve pet placement outcomes.
People's Choice winners received $10,000, while Professional Choice winners earned $5,000 for their organizations. Both categories were split between shelters operating above and below a $2 million annual budget threshold.
The players
Hill's Pet Nutrition
This global company specializes in pet food and provides significant nutritional resources to animal shelters worldwide.
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
This professional organization supports those working in the animal welfare sector through training, resources, and recognition programs.
Pasadena Humane
This animal welfare organization provides comprehensive care and adoption services for pets in the Pasadena area.
Central Missouri Humane Society
This organization operates in Missouri to support the health and adoption of homeless animals.
The details
The People's Choice winners were determined by public votes on the company website, while the Professional Choice category was judged by experts in animal welfare marketing. Winning organizations like Pasadena Humane and the Central Missouri Humane Society were selected from a pool of ten finalists.
Timeline
The 2026 Wagsies Animal Welfare Video Awards were announced on October 28, 2026.
Culture Shift
This initiative follows the precedent set by the Wagsies Animal Welfare Video Awards in incentivizing digital engagement. It marks a broader shift in the nonprofit sector toward prioritizing viral video storytelling to meet modern audience expectations.
Readers looking to support local animal shelters can look for the winning videos to see how these organizations use funds to improve pet care. This recognition highlights the importance of public participation in digital campaigns that directly impact the daily operations of local rescues.
The takeaway
Supporting shelters that utilize digital storytelling can lead to increased visibility for animals in need of adoption. Residents can contribute by participating in public voting processes or donating directly to local organizations that demonstrate excellence in pet welfare.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in animal care and welfare at Pets — General.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Petage.
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