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Dogs, Dog Owners Strut Their Stuff
The annual event benefits the Humane Society
by Mary Rae Bragg, Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, IA
May 2, 2005
Puzzle Heacock's first attempt at the Radar Run wasn't much of a success.
The collie-shepherd mix sprinted just a few yards along the run at Murphy Park before coming to a stop to look back at where
Mary Heacock was standing. "If we'd had a cat flying down there, she'd probably be off," Heacock mused. Puzzle and her
human family were among the crowd assembled at the park Sunday morning, taking part in doggie-type activities set up as part of
the Dubuque Regional Humane Society's 12th annual Strut Your Mutt.
Oh, well a dog can't be first at everything all the time. (some might recall Puzzle's triumph last October, when her Donald Trump
ensemble won first prize at the annual Dog-O-Ween costume contest at Theisen's Home-Farm-Auto) But Sunday was more about socializing,
so Puzzle's outfit was limited to a colorful leash, accessorized by lots of tail-wagging.
Three-year-old Puzzle is a *pound puppy* adopted at the age of about 7 months from the Humane Society. Last year, the seven-county
Regional Humane Society took in nearly 3,600 stray and unwanted animals, according to Executive Director Jane McCall. About 96
percent of them were fortunate like Puzzle and got placed in homes.
The Heacocks also took lessons offered by the Humane Society so they could help Puzzle be more mannerly.
Mixed breeds and pure bred dogs walked with their humans along the Grandview Avenue route outside the park. In the park, there
was food and activity stations where participants had an opportunity to socialize, sniff and in some cases, show off.
Taking in the scene were professional trainers Robin MacFarlane, Renee Lamoureux and Brice Cavanaugh from Hazel Green, Wis. Accompanied
by their Belgian Malinois – Tommy, Lager and Jack – the three trainers were happy to demonstrate the results of their
techniques. The Belgian Malinois breed is one of high energy, not for the average family, Cavanaugh said, but is becoming recognized
as "the police dogs of the future". The three animals did not appear to be rowdy, lying on the grass as their owners
walked about and dozens of other dogs caroused nearby. But one word from MacFarlane and Tommy was up like a flash, ready for his
next command.
"It's just a matter of training" MacFarlane said. lamenting the state of some dogs conduct. "You look at
the *children* and you look at the home they come from and you know where the problem is." Dogs being the social animal they
are, events like Strutt Your Mutt are great opportunities for both animals and owner to be out and about, Lamoureux said.
A transplant from Washington, D.C. to southwestern Wisconsin, Lamoureux said she was surprised to find how user-unfriendly the
area is for dog owners. "No dogs allowed" is too often the message at parks and hotels, she said. But since Sunday was
all about "yes" dogs and owners made the most of it.
In the Radar Run, Cavanaugh's Jack came in first. Lily, owned by Martha Fuerste from River Lights Book Store, in Dubuque, and
Shadow owned by Pete Murphy from Dubuque Humane Society, Dubuque, tied for second.
Not to worry, Puzzle, There's always next year. |
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