05 October 2008

Pet Extravaganza '08

My wife is on the board of the local SPCA and once a year they have an event where lots of people show up and brings their pets. It's a nice fund raiser for them and it's a good time for everyone involved. One of the main events is the doggy olympics where people complete (good-naturedly) with their dogs. The events are the tunnel race, the ramp run, and the carry-the-egg-on-the-spoon-while-heeling-your-dog race. The contestants all have a good time, but those dogs end up having all the fun. I've come up with a few ideas to make it better.

1. The Tunnel Race - This is where the owner has their dog run through a tunnel. Dogs, by nature, don't like tunnels and prefer to go around. I'm thinking we should have the owners do something they don't like at the end of the race. Perhaps a quick dental checkup at the finish line. Hey, I'm only thinking of people's health here.

2. The ramp run - This is another thing some dogs don't like. For Example:

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So I figure we should have the owners run along side...for motivational purposes. Except that's an awfully low ramp. We should grease it for a little challenge. We already have a dentist there if someone does a face plant.

3. The egg race - This one is easy enough. I noticed this year that very few people dropped their eggs though. That's the whole point, isn't it? Next year I'm bringing along a bag of squirrels to release mid-race. Anyone who comes back with a whole egg after that will deserve a ribbon.

The Boy helped out during events too. He's a future volunteer like his mom and dad. He helped set up the events for the dogs and also registered people. The only drawback there was that everyone he registered were hard to differentiate since they were all listed as, "YOU."

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Eventually The Wife and I will have to tussle over where he volunteers. He's definitely leaning towards the SPCA right now. Those damn cute puppies and kittens win every time. I need to get him to a relay-for-life event to see if I can pull him over to the ACS with me.

We wrapped up with our annual blessing of the pets by my priest. (On a related post, check here for a good laugh) It turned out to be a great day overall. The SPCA raised some money and it was a beautiful day.Despite some reluctance on the parts of some dogs, they had a good time too. I know; I saw them wag their tails.

No ramps, Boys, tunnels, or animals were hurt in the posting of this blog.

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17 comments:

Unknown said...

Love the ideas to 'improve' the doggy events.
A quick dental check up at the finish line. Just genius!

Ron said...

looks like it was fun. we always had dogs growing up in PA, but all they did was kill woodchucks (no one in TX knows what that is) and sleep... Hey, maybe a woodchuck chasing contest would work? Just a thought =-) The dentist is random.

Anonymous said...

What? No leaping through a ring of fire?? Pffftttt. Some Olympics.

HeatherPride said...

I love the random squirrel release! That'll keep 'em on their toes!!

Ann Harrison said...

This sounds like a great day.
And I think you should definitely add some squirrels to the Egg Race next year. Mix it up! Make that ribbon really mean somethin'! ;->

steenky bee said...

This looks like a blast! I think I'd like to compete. I love watching the field trials on ESPN. The ones where they run off the pier and jump into the water for distance? We have two labs and my husband has one of them whistle trained. The other one comes in the house and has "spa" days with me when my husband takes the other one hunting. It's bath and lounging time for us. Shhh. Don't tell. Husband doesn't know this. I spend hours getting rid of dog smell and hair.

David Ebright said...

KUDOs for getting involved with a worthwhile cause - another great example for your son & he probably had a blast. You guys are doin' a good thing up there. Hoping to get to PA (an hour or so south of you)soon to see my kids & grandkids real soon.

Unknown said...

Thanks all. I'll have to make sure to invite you all for the next one. Jaxpop, let me know when you're up. Maybe we can get together. I'll buy the first round.

Captain Dumbass said...

I like the additions. And that you're encouraging your son to volunteer. That's pretty cool. I don't know about where you are, but here they make kids do it in school which I'm not too sold on. I like the idea of them promoting it in school, but not when they attach grades to it.

Bee said...

My dog would have sat his butt down, rolled onto his back and peed on me. He has remarkable aim!

Unknown said...

cap'n: They do that here and at the university level as well. It's mostly useless. The kids get away with the least they can do and aren't really taught why to volunteer. It's just another performance for a grade. I'm with you all the way on that.

Bee: They have a trick portion too. You could have owned it with that trick.

Cynthia said...

Do they have a sleeping division? My dog would have ruled that one;)

Vodka Mom said...

We got both our (damn) loving dogs at the SPCA. Totally support.

great, great post.

Sue Wilkey said...

Those are some damn brilliant improvement ideas.

Why does that freakin' blessing of the pets always make me cry.

for a different kind of girl said...

No dogs in tutus or big bowties?! I think this needs brought up at the next ASPCA board meeting!

Marinka said...

That looks like so much fun! How did the toilet bowl drinking competition go?

Putz said...

i caught you on gucci's blog, stephanie del...and you sound witty...that is what i enjoy wit....that dog needs to lose some weight...i have four dags, one cat, and a yard full of birds..i buy chicken feed by the ton for my birds, yes they will eat it, especially in the winter montsh when i have 60 or 70 pounds of it out at one time