Struttin’ their stuff: Pups parade at Doggy Dash fundraiser
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Mesa McKee and her dog, Lego, a border collie walk at the Doggy Dash.
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Bella
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Doggy Dash best kisser Aussie kisses owner Lois Hart. Aussie also has a politician routine she performs.
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Dawn Faialaga, Brody, her Boston terrier, and Chica head out for a few laps around the track at Linderman Elementary School.
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Dennis Anderson holds Sami, one of the Anderson family’s Yorkshire terriers. Sami won worst behaved at the Doggy Dash.
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Mesa McKee and her dog, Lego, a border collie walk at the Doggy Dash.
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Midget
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Pennie, a parti-colored cocker spaniel, keeps an eye on bees as she walks with owner Sharon Hawke and Mercedes Marie, her cocker spaniel roommate.
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Bella, a cock spaniel, competes in the tiny tail contest at the Doggy Dash.
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Toby
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Kate, a red heeler, carries her Frisbee and casts an anxious eye on Wilfred, a Pharaoh hound cross.
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Wilfred
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Heather Knutson’s puppy, Zeus, catches a nap after some running and playing at the Doggy Dash.
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Aussie Hart smiles for the camera at the Doggy Dash. Aussie won best kisser and received a dog toy.
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POLSON — Every dog has a story, and many were shared at the Doggy Dash, a fundraiser held by the Mission Valley Animal Shelter board of directors on Sept. 7.
For instance, Mercedes Marie, a liver and white parti-colored Cocker Spaniel, was found in Charlotte, N.C. at 10 months old. Her person, Sharon Hawke, found her on Petfinder, after Mercedes had spent a year being fostered in South Carolina.
A Pharaoh hound cross, Wilford was given to Laurel Toland’s brother by a homeless man in California. Now Wilford lives in Montana.
Karen Woodger’s red heeler, Kate, has a favorite Frisbee, a soft vinyl number with a harder edge. It’s worn, but Woodger can’t find another like it.
Dog lovers brought their pooches to the Doggy Dash from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. to walk around the track at Linderman Elementary School. Each owner solicited sponsors for laps walked to raise funds for the MVAS. Pups also competed for prizes, typically dog toys. There were treats for dogs and people, too.
Jackie Smart, treasurer of the MVAS board, said there were 17 walkers this year and as of Saturday she didn’t have a count on the money raised. Smart started the Doggy Dash, and it’s been going for 16 or 17 years.
Photographer Pat Salmon was on hand to take photos of dogs and their people.
Doggie Dash awards were:
• Oldest: Max, 11-Nila and Dennis Anderson
• Cutest face: Zeus-Heather Knutson; Sami, Nila and Dennis Anderson
• Best fetcher: Kate-Karen Woodger
• Best trick: Lego-Mesa McKee
• Worst behaved: Sami-Nila and Dennis Anderson
• Shortest tail: Mercedes Marie-Sharon Hawke
• Best kisser: Aussie-Lois and Arn Hart
• Best dressed: Zeus-Heather Knutson; Bella-Sheena Madsen
