THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 4, 1995 TAG: 9503040025
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Maddry
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
RAISED AS AN ORPHAN, barely escaping an early death when she swallowed an entire bottle of Ibuprofen, who would have guessed that Katie - a West Highland terrier from Portsmouth - would become famous?
But it's true. The 4-year-old dog, owned by Cary McRae of 131 Constitution Ave., is the Doo Dah Dawg of Destiny!
Katie was selected from nearly 200 entries in our DDD of D Contest and will be the grand marshal of the Downtown Doo Dah Parade in Norfolk on March 31.
``She's a born ham,'' Carey said as she brought Katie to the newspaper on Monday for an official parade poster photograph by famed dog portraitist Dick Dunston. .
Looking like a balled-up white bathroom mat with legs, Katie strutted into the newsroom with tail wagging, as though she owned the place. She sniffed at the pantlegs of several reporters before posing for her in-your-face photo while dressed as a hip disco pirate.
``Katie chews on anything,'' Carey said. ``She once ate a roll of masking tape. And I almost lost her when she ate the bottle of Ibuprofen. Had to have her stomach pumped. But she bounced right back.''
Cary said Katie is a dog of half a dozen personalities. ``But her Mae Westie act is probably her best,'' she said. ``Katie loves to roll and luxuriate across the bed on her back, spreading her platinum hair across pink, satin sheets.''
Our DD of D has several hobbies. One is tennis ball collecting. ``She has about 25 of them,'' her owner said. ``And she once sniffed out a can of tennis balls in my luggage that hadn't been opened.''
Katie also enjoys sailing on Carey's fiance's sailboat and digging for moles by the hour at Carey's parents' country place in Northumberland County. The dog's goal in life is to catch a squirrel, her owner says.
Although Katie is a dog of undeniable verve and elan, picking a contest winner was very difficult for the Festevents judges. Every photo was great. And the snapshots proved most of them have more personality than Robin Williams.
If you entered our contest, you have my sincere thanks. It must be very disappointing to have your best friend lose something. I want you to know that I voted for (your dog's name here) despite the poor judgment of the other judges.
Seriously, we enjoyed each letter and photo. If you entered your dog in our contest, please give him or her a pat for me.
And, speaking of the Doo Dah parade - is that a great segue or what? - did you know that you may have what it takes to be in the world's worst band?
Festevents is looking for people who own - or can borrow - musical instruments and are willing to honk, tweet, twang, bleep, bong, and toot on parade day. It's a rare opportunity for the hopelessly untalented to march shoulder-to-shoulder, sharing their musical mutilation with other idiots who don't know a high C from a high five.
If so, you may have what it takes. You could be a member of the world's worst band - the Please Don't Play It Again, Sam, Official Doo Dah Band.
The band will be directed by the Virginia Symphony's own JoAnn Falletta, who promises to sniff out any professional musicians and give them the hook.
If you'd like to have the honor of marching in the world's worst band, call Norfolk Festevents at 441-2345 or send a fax to 441-5198. Then meet in front of the World Trade Center at 11:45 a.m. on parade day for a rigorous 15-minute rehearsal. ILLUSTRATION: Illustration
Downtown Doo Dah Parade
by CNB