SHIBA INU TAKES VICTORY LAP AS ANIMAL PLANET'S WORLD PUP NAMES ITS "TOP DOG"

-- The World's Favorite Dog Barks up a Storm While Animal Planet Delivers a Day Full of Dog Programming With BAD DOG! Marathon, Leading into New Season Premiere at 8 PM ET/PT --

(July 10, 2014) - Today, Animal Planet collared the Shiba Inu as the WORLD PUP champion. The Shiba Inu may be the smallest of Japan's native breeds, but it's the biggest dog in terms of international 'pup'ularity. WORLD PUP is the network's cute, cuddly and shamelessly adorable alternative to this year's World Cup, All month long, Animal Planet fans visited the WORLD PUP website at AnimalPlanet.com/worldpup to vote on which country's pup deserved to be named 'Top Dog.' Although Japan didn't win a single game in this year's World Cup, its representative, the Shiba Inu, was the paws-down favorite throughout the tournament, taking down other powerful pups such as United States' Alaskan Malamute and the dachshund, which represents World Cup's frontrunner, Germany.

Although WORLD PUP comes to an end (at least for another four years), the tail wagging doesn't stop there. On Saturday, July 12, Animal Planet treats viewers to a full-day of dog programming, beginning with a marathon of BAD DOG!, beginning at 2 PM ET/PT, leading into the series' season premiere at 8 PM ET/PT. BAD DOG! sneaks up on some of world's most adorable but naughty dogs that are up to no good, whatsoever! Viewers should stick around because at 10 PM ET/PT, Animal Planet airs a new episode of AMERICA'S CUTEST DOG.

Animal Planet Media (APM), a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, is the world's only entertainment brand that immerses viewers in the full range of life in the animal kingdom with rich, deep content via multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a centralized online, television and mobile community for immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment, information and enrichment. APM consists of the Animal Planet television network, available in more than 94 million homes in the US; online assets www.animalplanet.com, the ultimate online destination for all things animal; the 24/7 broadband channel, Animal Planet Beyond; and other media platforms including a robust Video-on-Demand (VOD) service; mobile content; and merchandising extensions.