Strutting with the Mutts

On Saturday, Mom and I went to the Mutt Strut for the Champaign County Humane Society. I ended up raising $220. Cool, huh? That money went to help the doggies and kitties at the local shelter.

My friend Molly and her Mom went to the Mutt Strut with us. We got there super duper early. We were both excited. (Can you tell our moms both like pink stuff?)

There were storms all day yesterday, but we were lucky 'cause it didn't rain on our Mutt Strut...it just looked like it was gonna.

While we were waiting for things to start, Mom looked at some tables of stuff. Here's what I did...

Then, a guy in a white robe stood up in front of everyone and read some things then prayed. Mom said it was called the "Blessing of the Dogs." Pretty cool. It's good to be blessed. If you look by the tree in this picture, you can see the guy who said the blessing.

And then you know what happened? We strutted! Here's the very start of our walk. (See those other Shih Tzus?!)

We were all very safe, too, 'cause we had our own security while we walked!

Here's Molly during the strut. She was a sniffin' and peein' fool.

I stayed right between my Mom and Molly's Mom. Right between 'em. And a little behind 'em. Mom said I was a super good girl 'cause I was so well behaved. I didn't let on to the fact that I was just a little freaked out by all the other doggies, so that's why I was right by Mom's side. I'll let her think I was good, and not just being scared.

After we all strutted around the park, they had all sorts of games for us to play. We could play the "shell game" with some cups. They put a cookie under a cup and we had to guess which one it was under.

Yeah...it looks like I played, but I didn't. I was still a little freaked by all of the people and doggies, so I just stared at the cups and refused to eat the cookie. Molly played the game, though. She also did the "bobbing for hot dogs" game and was the first little dog to dive right in and eat ALL of the hot dogs that were in the tub!

Molly went through an agility tunnel, too.

They had lots of water for us in case we were thirsty. No cups for the humans...just paper bowls for doggies!

They also had doggie paw print painting and some contests. Molly was in the tail wagging contest and she did a great job. Here's what I did.

I did a lot of sitting and watching. I just took everything in. Wasn't much on participating 'cause of all of the doggies and people. Yes, I was a little freaked out. Just a little.

So I showed you the walk and the games...how about some pictures of the other doggies?

I thought this doggie was my former foster sister Shawnee. She wasn't, though.

This Shih Tzu looked just like me, only he had a black nose. Maybe he's my friend Mattie's twin?

The dog in front here looked a lot like my friend Lou, mainly in his face.

I met this Maltese named Coco and I thought at first that she was my friend Ody.

And the black dog in this picture didn't remind me of anyone, but Mom and I both thought it was funny that he was playing with his leash. He kept attacking it.

Mom and I also saw lots of dogs in red vests. The vests said "Adopt me!" Mom told me that these were all doggies who were in the shelter and were looking for their forever homes. That made me a little sad 'cause there were a lot of dogs in those red vests. I hope they find families soon.

The grass was all wet at the park 'cause it had been raining earlier in the morning. So, all of us doggies got a little wet and a little muddy, too. Well...maybe a lot wet and a lot muddy... See my paws? They were white when we got to the park!

When we got home, Mom showed me the stuff that she picked up at the Mutt Strut. It was a LOT of loot. I kept taking the orange and black ball from her, but Mom says it was a people "stress ball" and not a doggie toy. So, the meanie Mom stole it and hid it from me. Boooo!

She did buy me a cool squeakie toy at one of those Mutt Strut tables, though, so I suppose I shouldn't complain too much.

So the Mutt Strut was pretty cool. There was a LOT going on, though, and it really wore me out. This is what I did yesterday.

And this is what I've done most of today...

And this...

Mom says maybe I'll be rested again in time to do the Mutt Strut next year.