There was a whole lotta tail waggin' goin on Saturday at Dogtoberfest.
The annual event is hosted by Palm Harbor's Suncoast Animal League and was held Nov. 10 at Dunedin's Highlander Park. An estimated 4,000 people and an unknown number of dogs attended the festivities, which featured a Super-Pet-Adopt-a-Thon, vendors and dog-themed contests including the Running of the Wieners, Doggie Project Runway, King & Queen of Dogtoberfest and My Pet's Got Talent.
The Super Pet Adopt-a-Thon was a huge success, according to Rick Chaboudy, executive director of the Suncoast Animal League. Chaboudy says 52 dogs and one cat were adopted. About 50 rescue groups brought adoptable pets.
"I have never been associated with an event where the vendors, participants and attendees had so many wonderful comments. That says a lot about the dedication and hard work our committee members and volunteers put in to the Dogtoberfest event.
Our sponsors were incredible and to adopt out 53 animals at this event makes our six months of planning very worthwhile. We look forward to the same kind of success at our February 16, 2013, Mutt March," said Chaboudy.
One of the highlights of Dogtoberfest was the popular Running of the Wieners races. Ninety-one wiener dogs of all sizes and ages competed in races in which their owners coaxed them over the finish line. The races were emceed by Ann Kelly of Magic 94.9 and Rick Chaboudy. The pair shared an arsenal of wiener dog jokes with the large crowd, who got as close as they could to the temporary fencing with the hope of getting a glimpse of the wiener-dog action.
Prince Lorenzo Borghese, who was featured on the hit show "The Bachelor" in 2006, helped Suncoast Animal League staffers hold the wiener dogs for the start of the race. Borghese is the founder and spokesperson of Royal Treatment Pet Products.
By the time all the races were over, a wiener dog named Frankenfurter had dethroned defending defending champ, Norman.
In other competitions, a spunky Yorkie named Buster charmed the audience and judges to take the top prize in My Pet's Got Talent. Buster suffers from a heart murmer and has had surgery for the ailment. However, which you would never know it by looking at him.
The King and Queen of Dogtoberfest fundraising competition raised $23,000 for the Suncoast Animal League.
The Suncoast Animal League is located at 1030 Pennyslvania Ave.; (727) 786-1330.
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