At Saturday’s 25th Annual Genesis Awards in Los Angeles, KTLA news anchor and reporter Lu Parker was awarded a Genesis Award for Outstanding News Feature.

The event honored mainstream news media and entertainment that helps to raise public awareness about animal issues and promote the message of advocacy and the humane treatment of animals.

One of the three news features that Lu won the award for was her undercover investigative piece titled “Puppy Mills Exclusive Investigation,” which opened people’s eyes to the truth behind the connection between pet stores and puppy mills through undercover footage of a puppy mill provided by Elizabeth Oreck and Jennifer Krause of Best Friends puppy mill initiatives and Lu’s personal investigation of a California based chain of pet stores called Barkworks.

The other two news features that Lu won the award for were investigative pieces titled “Dogfighting Investigation” and “Hatchery Hell – Investigative Report.”

Elizabeth, who was in attendance at Saturday's event, had a chance to speak with Lu before the awards began and she expressed how honored she was to be one of the nominees for news feature. When her name was called as the winner, Lu was in shock and walked up to the stage surrounded by the sound of applause and even a few ‘thumbs up’ signs.

In what Elizabeth described as, “an incredibly inspiring acceptance speech,” Lu thanked KTLA, her boyfriend Antonio Villaraigosa, who is the Mayor of L.A., and “all of the amazing volunteers who work in the shelters every day, but never receive acknowledgements like this [award].”

Lu, who as a little girl once wanted to stay home from school to rescue an insect, has grown into a talented, dedicated and inspiring woman who is making some pretty amazing changes in the lives of that animals and people through her investigative reporting and her nonprofit The Lu Parker Project. 

“We are so proud of Lu,” says Elizabeth, “and could not be more thrilled that she was recognized for her excellent investigative work to expose animal cruelty.”

• Read about Best Friends’ puppy mill initiatives. and learn about building awareness about inhumane conditions in puppy mills, encouraging people to adopt rather than buy pets and advocating for better legislation to combat puppy mills.
   

Photos courtesy of Kim Rodgers/Bark Pet Photography