THE CW ANNOUNCES WINNERS FOR FIRST-EVER "THE WORLD DOG AWARDS"

Star-Studded Ceremony Honors Exemplary Dogs in Categories Including Best in Film, Top TV Dog, and Dog of the Year

Ian Somerhalder ("The Vampire Diaries"), Andy Cohen ("Watch What Happens Live") and Quvenzhané Wallis ("Annie") Among the Night's Big Winners

Telecast Airs Thursday, January 15 (8:00-10:00 pm ET) on The CW

January 15, 2015 (Burbank, Calif.) - Tonight, celebrities and their famous canine companions honored man's best friend at THE WORLD DOG AWARDS. Hosted by George Lopez ("George Lopez," "Beverly Hills Chihuahua"), THE WORLD DOG AWARDS will debutThursday, January 15 (8:00-10:00 pm ET) on The CW Network.

THE WORLD DOG AWARDS honored some of the most commendable pups from around the globe. The winners ranged from viral sensations like Hank T. Dog and TV star dogs like "Modern Family" celebrity dog "Stella," to everyday dogs that have made a positive impact in their communities. By casting their votes at www.worlddogawards.com, fans chose winners in viewer-generated categories such as "Most Pawpular" (awarded to the dog with the most influential social media presence) and "Hot Dog" (awarded to the most talented extreme sports dog).

Event host and veteran entertainer George Lopez kept a crowd of full of dogs and celebrities in line. "Backstage, there was some out-of-control drinking," Lopez admitted, "mostly out of the toilets."

"The Vampire Diaries" star Ian Somerhalder was honored with the first ever "Dog's Best Friend" award. Presented by the ASPCA(R) (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R)), "Dog's Best Friend" is awarded to a celebrity who has advanced the welfare of homeless dogs and other dog-related causes. Somerhalder, a passionate advocate for the welfare of dogs and other animals, has performed numerous good works on behalf of the animal community via his charitable organization, the IS Foundation.

"This is truly such an honor," Somerhalder said during a heartfelt acceptance speech. "To be here tonight with all these furry creatures that truly impact our lives, it's a blessing and it's incredible."

Celebrities in attendance and appearing in taped segments included Lisa Vanderpump ("The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"), Nikki Reed (the "Twilight" films), Drew & Jonathan Scott ("The Property Brothers"), Penn & Teller (legendary illusionists and stars of The CW's "Penn & Teller: Fool Us"), Paris Hilton, Beth Behrs ("2 Broke Girls"), Andy Cohen ("Watch What Happens Live"), Ross Mathews ("E! News"), Pauley Perrette ("NCIS"), NeNe Leakes ("The Real Housewives of Atlanta"), Kat Graham ("The Vampire Diaries"), Tommy Lasorda, Lance Bass (singer; N'Sync), Jenna Marbles (YouTube personality), J.B. Smoove ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"), Mark Feuerstein ("Royal Pains"), Perrey Reeves ("Entourage"), Rico Rodriguez ("Modern Family"), Robert Herjavec ("Shark Tank"), Katherine Schwarzenegger (author), Melissa Peterman ("Reba"), Jason Gann ("Wilfred"), Justin Silver ("Dogs in the City"), and G. Hannelius ("Dog with a Blog").

Full list of winners from the inaugural THE WORLD DOG AWARDS:

· Best in Film: "Air Bud"

· Top TV Dog: "Stella" from "Modern Family"

· A-List Dog: Prince Hilton, Paris Hilton's dog

· Supporting Actor to a Dog: Quvenzhané Wallis, for her role in "Annie"

· Top Movie Dog: "Baxter" from the "Anchorman" films

· Dog of the Year: Hank, "The Ball Park Pup," a.k.a. Hank T. Dog, mascot for the Milwaukee Brewers

· Top Spot: "Best Friends" from Budweiser

· Best Mascot: Jr. Smokey, mascot for the University of Tennessee Volunteers

· Best Actor Playing a Dog: Jason Gann from "Wilfred"

· Celebrity Dog Selfie: Paris Hilton with her dog Prince Hilton

· Rookie of the Year: Apple

· Talking Dog: Yuki

· America's Top Mutt: Bizkit

· Top Trick: Jesse

VIEWER-GENERATED CATEGORIES

· Most Pawpular: Jiff the Pomeranian (@jiffpom on Instagram)

· Performing Pups: DJ Mama (@mamathefrenchie on Instagram)

· Happiest Reunion: Izzy and Daniel, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

· Hot Dog: Tillman, the skateboarding dog

· Most Dog-Like Cat: Poonchic (@poonchic on Instagram)

HONORARY CATEGORIES

· Dog's Best Friend, presented by the ASPCA(R) (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R)): Ian Somerhalder

· K911, presented by Subaru: Clover

· "The Dog's Life" Achievement Award: Scooby-Doo

· Underdog: TurboRoo (@turbo.roo on Instagram)

THE WORLD DOG AWARDS is produced by Juma Entertainment with executive producer Robert Horowitz, Josh Greenberg and George Lopez, and presented by Pedigree and Subaru. THE WORLD DOG AWARDS is produced in coordination with and for the benefit of the ASPCA and the PEDIGREE Foundation.

ABOUT THE CW NETWORK

THE CW TELEVISION NETWORK, a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation, made its debut on September 20, 2006 as America's fifth broadcast network and is the only network specifically targeting viewers ages 18-34, a demographic highly sought after by advertisers. Delivering a total of 20 hours of programming a week, The CW offers a five-night, 10-hour primetime lineup that runs Monday through Friday. In daytime, The CW programs one hour on weekday afternoons, and a five-hour Saturday morning educational and informational block. A leader in digital and social media, The CW's shows are also available to stream on cwtv.com and on its popular mobile and tablet app, and the network also recently launched a digital-only studio, CW Seed. For more information, visit www.cwtvpr.com.

ABOUT JUMA ENTERTAINMENT

JUMA Entertainment is a full-service production and event management company known for its character-driven unscripted series. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and New Hope, PA, JUMA is the co-creator and executive producer of the hit variety game show THE SINGING BEE (NBC/CMT). JUMA's other credits include SORORITY SISTERS (VH1), VANILLA ICE GOES AMISH (DIY/HGTV), WORLD'S WILDEST COMMERCIALS (ABC), AMISH RENOGADES (DIY), BARN HUNTERS (GREAT AMERICAN COUNTRY), MAGIC MAN (TRAVEL), DECEIVED (TV ONE), SUPER BOWL'S GREATEST COMMERCIALS (CBS), CLASH OF THE COMMERCIALS - USA VS. THE WORLD (CBS), THE CLIOS (NBC), SUPERSTARS (ABC), OCHOCINCO: THE ULTIMATE CATCH (VH1), THE ULTIMATE MERGER 1-2 (TV ONE), YARD ATTACK! (DIY), DOUBLE EXPOSURE (BRAVO), DEER VALLEY CELEBRITY SKIFEST (CBS), TATTOO HIGHWAY (A&E), MANHUNT: THE SEARCH FOR AMERICA'S MOST GORGEOUS MALE MODEL (BRAVO), and BATTLE OF THE NETWORK REALITY STARS (BRAVO). For more information, visit JUMATV.com.