Dr. Ernest Ward, DVM, or "Dr. Ernie," is a practicing veterinarian who is dedicated to helping pets and their humans live healthier lives. He appears regularly on the Rachael Ray Show, and has been featured on Animal Planet, NBC Nightly News, and CNN. He has authored and contributed to over forty-five veterinary journal articles in North America, England, Canada, Japan, and China, and has published two training videos. He lectures extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China, and was awarded the Speaker of the Year award from the North American Veterinary Conference in 2004. An athlete himself, he is an avid racer; he completed the inaugural Ford Ironman World Championships and the 2008 Escape from Alcatraz triathlon.