THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 25, 1995 TAG: 9502240056
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Maddry
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
DO WE HAVE some great dog photos here or what?
The Doo Dah Dawg of Destiny entries have overflowed the big wire basket and spilled onto my desk. Now that the contest is over, it will take the judges several days to go through all the mail and pick a winner.
We have photos here of dogs wearing tutus, dogs driving cars, dogs wearing pajamas, dogs in elf and Santa caps, rain slickers and overalls. And here's one that's dressed as a mermaid with long tresses and a fish torso.
Boy, I wouldn't want to be in the judges' shoes. Who would have guessed we had so many genuinely goofy - yeah, and lovable - dawgs in Hampton Roads. There isn't a bad dog in the lot, although several photos of dogs on their backs with legs in the air seem to be of questionable taste (particularly the one of a glassy-eyed black Labrador with an exhibitionist's grin and tongue flopping over the side of its mouth.)
The entries were mailed by proud pet owners who think their mutt should lead the Festevents-sponsored Downtown Doo Dah Parade in Norfolk on March 31.
As you probably know, the winner of the contest will be grand marshal of the event, leading Hampton Roads' most certified crazies in the South's only parade that turns back on itself and collapses.
But that's not all. The winning dog will also have its mug printed on all official Doo Dah posters. And receive a canine fantasy package of gifts.
Here's one of . . . awww. . . a cocker spaniel pup named Rikki whose owner Diana Blanchard of Spotswood Avenue in Norfolk writes: ``She enjoys licking people's hair and ears, and if you put lotion on your legs she will lick that off, too.''
Ernest Garcia of Norfolk has dropped by an entire album of photos of Gypsy, a veruh weird bulldog that is master of a thousand poses. Gypsy is stunning in her dominatrix getup of whips, studded leather belts, etc. She ventures into the more traditional while dressed as a recumbent mermaid and really turns it on with Coke-bottom glasses in which she resembles a bullfrog.
And here's a photo of Gladys Diffee's Rottweiler named Sasha. Sasha lives on Redgrove Court in Virginia Beach. According to her owner she can do a mean high five. ``I hold out my hands and she jumps up and slaps them with her paws,'' Gladys writes.
You may want to think twice before becoming a house guest of John Hope, who lives on Spratley Street in Portsmouth. He encloses a photo of his 225-pound mastiff named Tyler. Hope writes that Tyler enjoys climbing into the shower with guests, who begin screaming the moment he pulls the shower curtain back with his teeth.
Here's a nice letter from Charlotte Meeks, a youngster living on Windsor Lane in Virginia Beach who encloses a photo of herself with her Great Dane named Brandy. She says her family is moving to North Carolina soon and it is the last chance for Hampton Roads to honor her dog. She's confident Brandy is destined for bigger stuff. She predicts the dog will someday be grand marshal of the Benson, N.C., Mule Day Parade.
Really funny shot here of Cody, a retriever, wearing pajamas and sneakers. Owner Amy Perkins of 49th Street in Norfolk says Cody likes to play soccer with a tennis ball while holding a roll of toilet paper in his teeth. Way to go, Cody.
Linda Walker's dog Shakes is a mixed-breed dog that looks like the business end of a mop. He's shown sitting in a laundry basket at his home on Silina Drive in Virginia Beach. Shakes can catch a water balloon while boogie-boarding in her swimming pool, Walker reports.
Jean Fisher of Cape Henry Avenue, Norfolk, encloses a photo of her Staffordshire bull terrier, Chet. The dog is seated on the floor wearing a red bandana, a pink T-shirt, and Spandex shorts with a hole for the tail. Chet is panting heavily in the photograph. Jean says that's because it took 30 minutes of tugging and pulling to get Chet into the costume. Worth it, Jean. Chet looks re-yuhl nice.
Some great mutts out there. Many, many thanks to those of you who took the trouble to enter yours in our contest. I didn't see a single dog that couldn't blow the suds off any pooch in a beer commercial.
Choosing is gonna be tough. But we'll announce the winner next week. by CNB