Issue date: 6/9/09 Section: ARTS & LIFE

Media Credit: Vanessa Reiss Becky Petrusky poses with her two Great Pyrenees, Sanger Boy and Sydnie Jolene, on Saturday during the Dog Days of Denton Celebration. Petrusky volunteers with Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue, which offered several dogs for adoption at the event.

Media Credit: Vanessa Reiss Dy Matthews and dog Akayla Ryann participate in the "Heinz 57" Dog Show on Saturday during the Dog Days of Denton Celebration in Quakertown Park. Matthews' dog won shortest legs and best dressed.

Media Credit: Vanessa Reiss Iko and Shrek wait to perform on stage for "Dancing with the Dogs" on Saturday during the Dog Days of Denton Celebration.

Reggie, a Saint Bernard, watched from under a tree as other dogs jumped into the kiddy pool, shopped around for the latest fashions and had their photo taken at the Glamfur photo booth from 5 to 8 p.m. at Yappy hour.

Yappy hour marked the beginning of the 16th annual Dog Days of Denton celebration which attracted canines and their owners from all over.

The festival, which took place May 29 and 30, brought an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 attendees to Quakertown Park, said Christine Gossett, the event coordinator.
"It's really become its own animal," Gossett said.

Dog Days of Denton began in 1994 when Julie Glover, economic development program administrator for the city of Denton, came up with the idea while she was working a booth at the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival.
"Everybody out there had their dogs with them and I thought we need to do an event just for dogs," Glover said. "It's one of those things that people are crazy about their pets and it has really taken off over the years. It's a fun thing to do with your dogs."

Canines had the opportunity to participate in the Heinz 57 contest that awarded prizes to dogs that best fit categories such as "longest tongue" and "shortest ears," a singing contest where they barked their best tune and the crowd favorite Spokesdog pageant.

Thirteen dogs participated in this year's Spokesdog pageant, which Julie Glover described as a "Miss America pageant with bad breath."

To enter the pageant, dog owners had to summit a photograph of their dog dressed up in a costume and write an essay in the dogs' own words explaining why he or she would be the best candidate for Spokesdog.
After all 13 dogs paraded the stage, the judges awarded Gracie, a 7-month-old Maltese, the Spokesdog title. Gracie will hold the title until next year's festival.

The festival also helped raise some funds for the Denton Animal Shelter Foundation. The organization sponsored an obedience course as a fundraiser where dogs could practice orders like "sit" and "speak." The foundation is raising funds in order to build a new animal shelter in Denton.
About 17 animal rescue organizations had booths at the festival to give information about dogs of all breeds and to find homes for some dogs.

Mike Laris, a volunteer with the Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue, said the organization has been participating in the Dog Days of Denton festival for several years.

Laris brought his Great Pyrenees, Sam the Ham, to the festival to show how good-natured the breed was and to provide more information on adoptions.

The Purina Pro Plan "Rally to Rescue" tour played a large part in spreading the word about rescue dogs. The tour provided information on dog breeds and trainer Melissa Heeter gave demonstrations on how to train a dog.

"Having Purina Pro Plan at the event really increased the awareness of rescue dogs and the need for homes for these dogs," Gossett said.

The festival continues to grow every year and is sure to provide a "doggone good time" for canines and their owners, Gossett said.

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