2018 American Rescue Dog Show

Monday, 8 p.m., Hallmark Channel

The mutts of the “2018 American Rescue Dog Show” may not have the panache of a Westminster Kennel Club winner, but they do have unheralded talent. The Hallmark Channel competition features celebrity judges who rate the canines — most already have homes, but several are available for adoption — in quirky categories such as “Best Couch Potato,” “Best in Snoring,” “Best in Underbite” and “Best in Wiggle Butt.” From more than 2,000 entries nationwide, 52 dogs — from breeds including basset hound, English bulldog and St. Bernard — competed in 10 semifinal categories. The semifinal round winners faced off for the title of “Best in Rescue” at the finals last month in Pomona, Calif. Among the judges is actress Linda Blair, 59, who shot to fame as the head-spinning demon child Regan in “The Exorcist.” She has worked with animal humanitarian programs for 22 years and in 2004 founded her own nonprofit rescue organization, the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation.

Blair — who calls herself “the grandmother of rescue” — recently spoke by phone with The Post from the organization’s facility in Acton, Calif.

What is the format of the competition?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            We’re going to show them off in the same style as a dog show. Rescue animals can delight the audience just as much. They are getting to strut their stuff.

What qualifies you to be a judge?
You don’t have to be qualified to look at an underbite; there is a little bit of a silly humor to it. We’re not looking for exact particulars of a breed like you would in a showing. This is to make people laugh and smile.

How did the dogs fare in the agility contest?
It was fun to watch some of them do really well, and others were like, “Nah, I think I’m just gonna go over and say hi to this person instead.”

The foundation is your full-time job, but do you still act, too?
It’s hard to get the time, kiddo. I’ve done a few festival-type films because they only require a few days. But the other stuff is all travel; I can’t run the foundation. I would love to go back to work and entertain you. The dogs don’t always enjoy my singing and dancing [laughs].

Why are rescue organizations important?
We are not able to sustain the pet overpopulation in America. Nowadays there’s so much sadness because shelters have to euthanize so many animals. Without rescue groups, the animals do not have a good rate of survival.

How rewarding is it when you deliver a rescue dog to a good home?
You leave out the back because you don’t want them to see you go. [Blair’s voice breaks] You get in your car and you cry like I am now because you did it. You did it. That’s why I do what I do — because they deserve it.

— Eric Hegedüs

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