Rascal, Ugly Dog Contest winner (Photo - Dane Andrews)
There are no ugly dogs, in the opinion of San Diego Dogs Examiner. However once a year here in San Diego county we pretend there are, and throw a party to celebrate them, all in the name of charity.
The Del Mar Kiwanis Club, founders and organizers of the 15-year-old event, gives prizes to the dogs and their people, and proceeds from the party go to animals in need.
A seven-pound Chinese Crested named Rascal was selected as the Ugliest Dog in the contest held Sunday. His person is Dane Andrews of Sunnyvale, California.
“I know dogs aren’t ugly, though some kind of are,” said show producer and Del Mar Kiwanis member Sheila McDonnell in a telephone interview, “but they are so loved by their owners that it doesn’t matter.”
While the tally for this year’s show proceeds isn’t in yet, McDonnell estimated that last year’s Ugly Dog fest raised about $10,000 from ticket sales, entry fees, and donations.
“A huge supporter has been County Supervisor Pam Slater,” McDonnell reports. “She donated $3,500.”
McDonnell was pleased that the weekend’s wet weather failed to discourage attendance. “It didn’t seem to stop the turnout,” she said. “It was standing room only. We had a 20,000 square foot building and we took up every darn inch.”
Beneficiaries of the events’ fundraising efforts include:
• Rancho Coastal Humane Society Safehouse Program
• Helen Woodward Therapeutic Riding Program
• Friends of Del Mar Parks
Photo at right (left to right) - Sheila McDonnell, Rascal, and Dane Andrews - courtesy Sheryl Roush
For more articles about animal issues, check out Katerina's Animal Policy Examiner page.
ABOUT KATERINA
A lifelong dog addict and rescuer, Katerina (a.k.a. Kathryn Makris) wrote Your Adopted Dog: Everything You Need to Know about Rescuing and Caring for a Best Friend in Need (The Lyons Press, 2007) with coauthor Shelley Frost
.
Katerina's other credits include seventeen novels, numerous newspaper and 
magazine articles, and a CBS teleplay.
Her story Small Change was a finalist in The Bark magazine's short fiction contest, and will be published this year.
Katerina is also the Animal Policy Examiner.
Email Katerina at youradopteddog@yahoo.com, and visit her and Shelley at www.youradopteddog.com
Comments
Such a great picture! Ugly is in the eye of the beholder...
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