Costume winner. Cutest small dog._________Last weekend was the annual Andersonville MidSommarfest. They have what they call a Pet Parade on Saturday morning each year. It is really not a parade but they have contests, including a Best Costume contest. Our dogs, Topo and Bowie, are two-time winners. Last year, they won for their rendition of Bonnie and Clyde and the year before for their Sonny and Cher. Topo also won second place the previous year when we foolishly bought her a hot dog suit; we obviously didn’t know anything about dressing a dog, yet. She also won as Prettiest Dog in Andersonville that year and I don’t think that has changed! Sadly, they did not compete this year. Time got away from us and, more importantly, our designer was in the middle of moving to Phoenix. I woke up on Saturday sad that there were not two adorable outfits waiting for them on the sun porch, but we put our sniffles aside and went down the street to watch the festivities anyway. The past two years there was also another set of dachshunds competing and I knew they would be pleased that Topo and Bowie were on hiatus this year. The costume contest was small this year but, sure enough, our archrivals took first place. Congratulations to them, but beware: Topo and Bowie are certainly not retired and will return next year to hopefully regain their titles.
There was also competition for the prettiest large and small dogs, cats and even fish. The one cat and the one fish competing took home the blue ribbons. Although the crowd watching was fairly large, the contest itself seemed a bit smaller this year, possibly because the stage moved down a block.
The street fair has really grown in the past few years. Later in the day we went back (without the dogs) to hear some bands and I noticed all the dogs in attendance. It was far too crowded, hot and loud at that point for dogs to be there. Most looked miserable, many were shaking or had their tails tucked. Please leave your dogs at home at that point. It was painful to see some of them so obviously suffering and I am lucky no one slugged me when I suggested they take their dogs home.
