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Chattanooga: Dogs strut their stuff for shelter

By: Elizabeth Ryan
(Contact)

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It was a matchmaking event of a different breed as 25 adoptable dogs from the Humane Educational Society shelter took to the “runway” at the eighth annual Paws in the Park fundraiser at the Baylor School on Sunday.

“There’s something about Mary,” Jeanine Cloyd, community outreach manager for the organization, announced during the parade of adoptable dogs. “It could be the gorgeous red hair or the adorable smile that makes her so irresistible. She’s not only beautiful but energetic and loving as well. Make her your young sweetheart today.”

About 150 dogs and their families participated in the 1.5 mile walk and day of dog-related events that raised about $60,000 for renovation of the Humane Society’s shelter on North Highland Park Avenue. The shelter’s nationally recognized design replaces chain-link fencing with glass block rooms to reduce the noise and stress of a traditional shelter environment. It also includes a new cat room and an educational center where area school children will learn about pet care and the importance of spaying and neutering.

According to the Humane Society, an unneutered dog, her mate and their offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in six years.

“Don’t spend hundreds of dollars through pet stores and breeders,” Ms. Cloyd said. “Come to the shelter. We have every kind of breed you can imagine, including pure-breds ... you can find your best friend in the entire world there.”

Fendall Fulton, of Brainerd, who walked her parents’ terrier mix named ZZ, said part of the fun of the day was observing how dogs interact in a big group.

“If our dogs see one other dog, they go crazy and they get all excited and bark and act up,” she said. “But when you put all these dogs in one place, everyone suddenly behaves.”

Midway through the walk, some big dogs plopped down in the middle of the woodsy path to pant, while the more portable pooches were scooped up by their owners.

“I think she’s tired,” said Amie Fugate, of Brainerd, who cradled her 3-year-old Schnauzer Tonks. “She takes 20 steps for each of ours.”

After the exercise was over, dogs and their owners relaxed in the shade, listening to the band “No big deal” perform, or gathered to watch the animals compete for “best dressed,” “fastest eater” and the crowd pleaser: “most passionate kisser.”

“He’s just very sloppy,” said Dan Hester, of Chattanooga, whose Staffordshire terrier mix Duke won the kissing contest for a second time. “He licks everything, everywhere.”

At only 6 inches tall and 7 inches long, Mirabelle, an Applehead Chihuahua was named as “smallest pooch” of the pack. With her pink toenails, pink dress and pearl necklace, she drew a lot of attention.

“She’s a well-rounded dog,” owner Debbie Downs said. “She goes to church, she goes to eat in restaurants, and she goes to theaters.”

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