Jackson Galaxy to Receive 2015 “Humane Award”

Helen Woodward Animal Center Celebrates the Extraordinary Animal Advocacy of a Paws-itively Giving Individual

Saturday, July 11th, Helen Woodward Animal Center will present Jackson Galaxy (animal advocate, best-selling author, luminary for the International Remember Me Thursday™ campaign and host of Animal Planet’s hit show My Cat From Hell) with the 2015 “Humane Award.”  The prestigious annual award will be presented in front of an invitation-only group of special guests at 4:00pm at the home of gracious hosts and long-time Center supporters, June and Neil Ash, in Rancho Santa Fe.

Jackson Galaxy (“The Cat Daddy”) has over two decades of experience in the cat behavior world.  He began his career in the trenches of an animal shelter, working 9 years on staff at Boulder Valley Humane Society where he met Dr. Jean Hofve, a respected holistic veterinarian.   Together they refined her line of holistic remedies for animals and began “Spirit Essences” in 1995, using the products as part of a holistic approach to health & behavior in the shelter as well as in Jackson’s private cat consultation business.  Jackson ran both companies for 16 years and eventually moved them to Los Angeles where he became an internationally known T.V. host and star when Animal Planet premiered My Cat From Hell in 2011.  The show followed Galaxy as he made house calls to pet guardians and their cats, offering clients a deeper understanding of why cats act out, with insights and exercises from his unique “Cat Mojo” philosophy.

Galaxy is also a celebrated author and an award-winning co-designer of the Jackson Galaxy Collection cat product-line.  He published his first book (a memoir), Cat Daddy: What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean in 2012 and co-authored with cat style expert Kate Benjamin, the book Catification: Designing a Happy & Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You!) in 2014.  Upon its release, it reached #1 on the New York Times Animal Bestseller list.  His innovative cat products, released in partnership with Petmate Pet Products, won the Industry Recognition Award from Pet Business Magazine and the Editor’s Choice Award from Cat Fancy, ranking the line among the year’s best products for cats.

Today, Jackson is intensifying his work for animals through the Jackson Galaxy Foundation, whose mission is to better the lives of sheltered animals by transforming the places they live and helping the people who care for them.

The Humane Award is presented annually by Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO, Mike Arms, to a person or entity that has made a significant positive impact on the animal welfare world – devoting their time, energy, and resources to improving the quality of life for orphaned animals.  Past recipients include Kristen Bell, Diane Keaton, Betty White, Tippi Hedren, and Linda Blair.  This year’s presentation is a very personal one for Arms who championed the International Remember Me Thursday™ campaign. Galaxy signed on as a luminary in 2014, pledging to share the campaign’s important message on the September Day of Remembrance for orphan pets who had lost their lives without finding forever homes.  His social media posts and tweets single-handedly resulted in thousands of media impressions and shares in a single day, increasing awareness and touching the lives of shelter pets waiting for rescue.  He has signed on again as a luminary for the 2015 campaign. 

“We are honored to present this award to such a truly outstanding individual,” stated Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms, “Jackson Galaxy has dedicated himself and his life to these beautiful creatures and he has our enduring respect and unwavering friendship.”