Two Winners!

It's been a busy day. I've spent the day going over contest entries and have had a very difficult time making a decision - who will win the ASPCA gift pack in conjunction with their Adoption Event? The field was narrowed down to two entries but there can only be one winner.  Keep reading.  It will be announced at the end of this post. 

First we need to talk about this week's Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the annual event that dazzles dog lovers. Out of a field of seven really wonderful dogs, it was the Toy Group Winner, the little Affenpinscher, Banana Joe, who dazzled the judge. And so, Joe ends his career with the coveted Best in Show at Westminster and will go back to The Netherlands in happy retirement from the show ring.

For the very first time at Westminster, a Reserve Best In Show was chosen. The first dog to earn this honor is from the Herding Group, the Old English Sheepdog, Bugaboo's Picture Perfect.

Now, for the winner of the ASPCA's Meet Your Match gift pack.  It came down to a older Border Terrier who had been a Therapy Dog and a young Flatcoat Retriever whose owner wants to pay it forward if her dog wins by donating to the behavior fund at the American Kennel Club's Canine Health Foundation. Their sponsored research will benefit all dogs, mixed breed or purebred. It's thought that behavior issues are responsible for more dog deaths than any one disease. Why?  Because owners give up on their dogs and put them into shelters. Therapy Dog?  Behavior Research?  Equally important. Each dog their family's own personal Valentine so the families win no matter who gets the gift pack. What to do. What to do...  

Keeping dogs out of shelters, resolving behavior issues is very much in keeping with the Meet Your Match Shelter Adoption Theme of the contest even though neither dog was adopted. Therefore, the gift pack from the ASPCA goes to The Schejtman Family and their Flatcoat Retriever, Karma.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to the ASPCA for sponsoring this wonderful Valentine event to raise awareness about shelter adoptions and for their gift pack to our lucky winner!