He was once abandoned. Now he's being honored with an enormous banner in downtown Louisville.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A famous Kentuckiana canine has been honored with an enormous banner in downtown Louisville.

The 60x20 foot banner reads "Ethan, Kentucky's Hometown Hero" and hangs on the Marriott building in downtown.

The project is a collaboration between Ethan the dog's team, the Marriott Hotel, Porch Restaurant and the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS), according to a KHS news release.

While it is not an official "Louisville Hometown Hero" banner, KHS says the project has the organization's support.

“We love Ethan’s new banner and join the entire KHS community and animal lovers throughout the country in taking great pride in Kentucky’s Canine Hero,” Mike Sheehy, President of Greater Louisville Pride Foundation’s Hometown Heroes banner program. 

Ethan the dog, Jack Harlow meet on the red carpet at Kentucky Derby

According to the KHS release, Hometown Heroes doesn't do banners for animals.

Ethan’s owner, Jeff Callway, said, "I am humbled and honored for Ethan to be recognized in such a wonderful way in his community. Ethan’s life has brought pride and kindness to Kentuckiana and I’m so very thankful to everyone that continues to support Ethan and his message of spreading love and kindness."

Ethan the dog, also known as "Ethan Almighty", was left emaciated and dying in the parking lot of the Humane Society in Louisville back in January 2021.

He weighed just 38 pounds when he should've weighed about 90 pounds and he was severely dehydrated. Veterinarians weren't sure if he'd even make it past the first night.

Fast forward two years, Ethan is celebrated by Louisvillians and has been honored in dozens of events benefitting animals and the community.

Ethan has been honored with several awards, including: 

• May 2021, he was given the job "Chief Tasting Officer" for Busch Beer. 
• Sept. 2021 he was inducted into the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association Animal Hall of Fame. 
• June 2022 he won the Muhammad Ali Center's C.H.A.M.P. award. 
• August 2022 he won the "2022 Shelter Hero Dog" award.
• November 2022 he beat out 400 other remarkable dogs to win the "2022 American Humane Hero Dog Awards"
• Jan. 2023 Gov. Andy Beshear named January: "Ethan Almighty Shelter Animal Awareness Month." 

Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.

Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.