THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 6, 1995 TAG: 9502040019
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Maddry
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
HAS LIFE LEFT YOUR dog in the slow lane?
Is it depressed at having to fetch the same old bone day after day?
Or maybe just feeling low because it will never wag its tail in the spotlight . . never have its back scratched by Lady Luck. . . never, in short, enjoy the perks of dogs who lick the dish of stardom.
If so, we may have some really good news for your best friend. Yes, incredible as it seems, your dog could have what it takes to be the poster animal and star of Norfolk's 4th Occasional Downtown Doo Dah Parade!
Imagine it. Your mutt's face on thousands of Doo Dah posters. Think how proud you'll be as your pooch goes from nowhere into deep Doo Dah as the grand marshal of this year's parade!
Just close your eyes and think of parade day, March 21, at 12:30 p.m. Thousands lining the parade route and your very own dog strutting its stuff down Main Street, followed by the most freaked-out people in Hampton Roads!
Remember how people barfed last year when the diaper dandies drill team lost its safety pins? This year, as grand marshal, your dandy Doo-Dah Dog can barf back.
And there's more. The Doo Dah Dog will receive a fabulous canine fantasy package of gifts, including free grooming, dog food, milk bones, toys and other goodies.
Yes, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a local mutt. And here's all you have to do to enter our DOO-DAH DAWG OF DESTINY CONTEST. Just send a nonreturnable color photo of your mutt and tell us a little about him or her, some of the damn-fool things your dog does. We're not looking for Rex the Wonder Dog or Lassie here. We want a dog as whacky as the Doo-Dah parade.
And yes, you can dress your dog up for the photo (we're thinking hat and glasses but if your dog is into mesh hose and Fredericks of Hollywood lingerie, be our guest).
Naturally, we'll share some of the photos and zany stuff in the letters with column readers. But don't delay. The deadline for receipt of entries is Feb. 21. Just mail your entry to: Official Doo-Dah Dawg of Destiny Contest, c/o Larry Maddry, The Virginian Pilot/Ledger Star, 150 W. Brambleton Ave, Norfolk, Va. 23510.
Now, speaking of the parade, compliments are still coming in from last year's Doo-Dah. Here's one from Gloria Floss of the Butte Register. She writes: ``Of all the parades I've seen, this was certainly one of them.''
If you and yours would like to be a unit in the parade, there's an easy way to do it. For an application, call the folks at Festevents at 441-2345 or fax them at 441-5198.
Karen Scherberger, executive director of Festevents, says several foolish applications have already been received. So please, get yours in right away. And a word of caution. Parade marchers have been advised to wear clean underwear this year. ``That's in case they are run over by the Prancing Pigs (entry No. 63) and have to go to the hospital,'' Scherberger explained.
Those prancing porkers sound good, but Norfolk will be going to the dogs for certain on Doo-Dah Day. The Official Doo-Dah Dawg of Destiny will be guest of honor at the d'Art Center's ``d'Art Does Dogs'' party from 6 to 8 p.m. at 125 College Place. Center director Susan St. Bernard said artists will exhibit dog art for a juried show. And, there will be a dog show and a stupid-dog-trick competition, with prizes in each category.
So don't delay. Enter the Doo-Dah Dog of Destiny Contest today. by CNB