Mutt Strut Recap!

Oh, how embarrassing...I went to the Mutt Strut for my local humane society almost a month ago and forgot to post my recap!  So sorry, my friends.

The Mutt Strut took place way back on May 4. The weather people were saying, "rain, rain, rain," but we really lucked out.  The rain actually held off until the events were almost completely over.  We had a great turn-out and it was a great morning!

Each year I've raised money for the Mutt Strut.. After all, it's one of the ways that the local shelter gets money to help take care of all of those doggies, kitties, gerbils, etc.  This year I actually managed to raise a whopping total of $670!  Mom and I were SO VERY thankful that all of our friends helped out so much.  Would you believe that I was only $5 short of being the top fundraiser at the entire event?!  Way to go, friends!!!

Since we had a nice turn-out that day, the overall event raised around $28,000 for the shelter.  YEAH!

There was a LOT of stuff going on at the Mutt Strut. We had 15 different booths for sponsors, vendors, and humane society into.  There were activities like the doggie obstacle course, bobbing for Milkbones, the doggie fortune teller, and Paw Print Painting.

Mom let me off the hook for lots of the activities 'cause my allergies were bad and I wasn't feeling so good.  We did do the Paw Print Painting, though.

Here's Benjamin, sitting behind his mom who was helping with the Paw Print Painting.

His tail was orange because he went to the doggie body painting station. It was SO funny, Benjamin just wagging and wagging that orange tail!

And here's my Paw Print Painting masterpiece:

Mom took some pictures of the tents and stuff before lots of people arrived.

I spent most of the Strut in my doggie stroller. Since I wasn't feel well, I didn't want to walk much.  And, the stroller kept me up off the ground, so I wasn't as accessible to some of the overly-friendly dogs.

My cool neighbor went with Mom and I, and she helped push me around in my stroller. Mom talked to lots of different vets about my liver issues.

The Mutt Strut had a few demonstrations, too.  There was a Police K-9 Dog Demonstration in the fenced-in area.  A Giant Schnauzer named Solo is a local K-9 Policeman, and he sniffed out some drugs that were hidden in one of those blue boxes.  He's a SMART sniffer!

Lots of people watched the demonstration.

Here's Solo!

I got out of my stroller for a bit while Mom and my neighbor watched the demonstrations.  That gave me the opportunity to do some woogling.

I was a little crazy.  I'll admit it.  And Mom knew I was probably rolling in pee-pee, but she let me have fun 'cause she knew I hadn't been feeling well.  Gotta love that!

Most of the shelter dogs got to come to the Mutt Strut, too.  They were wearing vests that said "Adopt Me!"  So many sweet pups!  All of the shelter dogs even participated in the Shelter Dog Show.  They all walked the catwalk and showed everyone just how cool they are.

I headed back to my stroller during the agility dog demonstrations.  I was a pooped puppy.

The Mutt Strut finished up with several different contests -- best kiss, biggest paw, smallest paw, best trick.  The most popular contest was the peanut butter licking contest!  Just look at all of those pups going after the peanut butter...

I'm not a fan of peanut butter, so I just hung out with my neighbor.

What a great Mutt Strut we had this year!

Mutt Strut!

It's almost time for the Mutt Strut!  Mom and I have participated in the Mutt Strut every year since I got adopted.  This will be my 4th time strutting my stuff!

The Mutt Strut is a fundraiser for my local humane society. I was adopted from a wonderful rescue group in New Jersey, but Mom and I still think it's important to support the local shelter. Every doggie and kitty and gerbil deserves to have a forever and ever family.  Mom and I mean so much to each other...we think ALL animals and people deserve this type of loving relationship!

So that's why I strut my stuff each year.  Would you please consider sponsoring me?  Every dollar goes to supporting those animals at the shelter.

Click here to sponsor me!

Last year the Mutt Strut was held on Cinco de Mayo, so Mom made me wear a stupid sombrero.

She got herself a sombrero to wear, too.  That way we could be coordinated.

What a dork...

Thankfully, the Mutt Strut is NOT being held on Cinco De Mayo this year.  Whew.

Thanks for considering a donation!
   

Mutt Strut Recap!

Thanks SO MUCH to all of my friends who helped sponsor me in the Mutt Strut!  I actually raised $455 for my local humane society. Can you believe that?!  I was even one of the top fundraisers!

There was lots and lots of stuff going on before the Mutt Strut began.

As usual, I did my best to look pathetic and let Mom know I wasn't thrilled about being around so many other doggies and peoples.

One person who was there that I was SUPER DUPER happy about having with me, though, was my awesome neighbor.  She's the neighbor who has toys just for me at her house.  And lots of cookies.  And bully sticks.  (She really spoils me rotten!)  Mom took a picture of me and our cool neighbor.

You may have noticed something on my head in that picture.  Um...yeah.  Here's a better pic of that.

Because the Mutt Strut took place on May 5 -- Cinco de Mayo -- Mom decided that I needed to wear a sombrero.  Seriously.  I was so embarrassed.  She made it worse, too, when SHE wore one along with me...

Yep.  She's seriously weird.

Anyway, at the beginning of the festivities, the humane society had a "Blessing of the Dogs."  It's good to be blessed.

After the blessing, the Strut began!  There were tons of people walking, but silly Mom didn't take any pictures of that for some weird reason.  Anyway, this is the back of the people in front of us at the beginning of the strut.

And here's me, strutting my stuff.

It was a pretty hot day out, and the sun was super shiny.  Mom was afraid I was overheating after we walked 3/4 of the strut.  So, I got to "roll" the rest of the way.

We walked around all of the vendor tents after the strut.  Mom tried to win me a new toy but didn't get the bean bag things into the right spot.  She owes me for that, I think.  After the tents, we went to do "paw print painting."  Here's my artwork, created with my right, front paw:

By this point, I was hot. And tired. And drooly. And I had grass stuck in my chin drool.  I was ready to go HOME.

I could barely keep my eyes open in the car.

And this is what I did for the rest of the day:

We got home from the Mutt Strut at 10:30 in the morning and I didn't wake up to potty or eat anything until 9:30 that night.  Strutting your stuff can sure wear you out!

Strutting My Stuff

On Saturday, I strutted my stuff at the Mutt Strut!

The Mutt Strut is an annual fundraiser for my local humane society. Last year I helped to raise $220 for the shelter. You know how much I raised this year? $225! Isn't that great??? Thanks so much to everyone who helped sponsor me!

Last year my friend Molly walked with me in the Strut. Well, my Aunt Ronda has two doggies and this year it was Gus's turn. He's still just a puppy, so he had a lot of energy for strutting. Aunt Ronda even had to put him in time-out a couple of times when he got a little too excited. Can't blame him, though. There was a LOT of stuff going on!

This was the biggest Mutt Strut my humane society had ever had. They raised over $22,000 for those shelter animals! Isn't that amazing?!

Different vendors had tents set up at the Strut. Mom & Aunt Ronda both won squeaky toys at one tent!

Here's Gus waiting for the Strut to start...

And here's a little time-out...

The opening festivities included the Blessing of the Dogs. It's good to be blessed. The guy in the white robe is the one who did that part.

And then the Strut began!

I strutted like a pro, of course.

Mom kept trying to get a picture of Gus and I walking together, but he was a little busy.

The park had a cool drinking fountain with a bowl on the bottom just for dogs.

I kept close to Mom and Aunt Ronda for the Strut. I get a little anxious when there are other dogs around...and there were a LOT of dogs at the Mutt Strut!

After we finished our walk, the doggies did paw print painting and agility stuff and had contests and did bobbing for Milkbones. Me? I worked on acting pathetic. I was tired and I wanted to go home. The other dogs freaked me out.

And I mean I really, really acted pathetic...

Gus liked watching the contests and stuff, though. I think he had a super time.

Here's me and Gus taking a break. Mom says it took multiple attempts to get a picture of both of us looking at the camera...or at least facing the right direction...


Lots of the dogs who are up for adoption were at the Mutt Strut. They even showed everyone all of the cool tricks they can do. And you know who else is up for adoption at the humane society? PIGGLES!

OK, so Piggles is a piggy, but he could do tricks just like dogs. Mom was a little obsessed with Piggles. He strutted right along with all of us!

Anyway, you remember how I said that Mom and Aunt Ronda both won TOYS from a vendor? Well, when we got in the car to leave after the Mutt Strut, I saw Aunt Ronda put Gus's new toy in a plastic sack on the floor of the car.

You know me and my toy radar. Well, just as soon as everyone was distracted, I made my move.

I acted all innocent when I thought they might be on to me. (That gray blur on the left is Gus.)

And then I settled right back in to playing with Gus's toy.

I got a pink whale toy...but I had fun playing with Gus's toy while I could!