4850e9ac9eff04a5ef2c46e4efe8bad1.jpg

CRANBURY: Dog day of summer

L’Oreal dog festival draws thousands

By Nicole Cosentino, Special Writer
   CRANBURY — Aug. 18 was a wonderful day for man’s best friend at the L’Oreal office complex on Broadway Road as the facility hosted its 9th annual “Because Your Dog Is Worth It Too Day.”
   Several thousand dog owners from throughout the state brought their four-legged friends to the event, and many of them were eager to tell their dogs’ stories.
   ”We’ve got two kids, so she’s like a third,” Monroe resident Joseph Awad said of his six-month-old pit bull Roxy. “We rescued her.”
   Mr. Awad went on to say that his children sleep, play, and wrestle with Roxy. He also said that, after coming to the L’Oreal event for three years, he noticed a certain demographic of dog breed at this year’s event.
   ”It’s actually overpopulated now with (pit bulls), which I like,” Mr. Awad said. “People are actually realizing now that they’re not a bad breed. I’ve grown with (pit bulls), and it’s always one of my favorite breeds,” he said.
   Kelly German, a dog owner from Queenstown, brought her Belgian Malawa to let her try out the dog jumping competition. Ms. German said the breed is commonly used in the police force.
   ”I want to do search and rescue with her to try to help other people,” Ms. German said. “She detected a robbery from across the street, and a house fire. She also rescued my friend’s son when he fell in the lake.”
   According to the company, more than 5,000 people and their (dogs) come together to play games, swim, eat, and just enjoy each other’s company at the annual event and also attend to raise thousands of dollars for breast cancer research.
   Proceeds went to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, which is the global leader of the breast cancer movement and has invested more than $1.9 billion towards finding a cure for the disease. The sister of a breast cancer victim founded the organization in 1982, according to its official website.
   ”We encourage people to rescue animals, spay and neuter, and we raise money for homeless animals,” Karen Quigley of Sewell, the owner of the world’s ugliest dog, said.
   Elwood is a Chihuahua and Chinese Crested mix that was rescued by the ASPCA in February 2006, Ms. Quigley said. The dog is tiny and hairless except for a tuft of white fur on his head that bears an uncanny resemblance to a Mohawk. His most striking feature, however, is the tongue that eternally flops out of the side of his mouth because of missing teeth.
   Ms. Quigley wrote a children’s book called “Everybody Loves Elwood” about her dog after he won the World’s Ugliest Dog contest. The book is about Elwood going from a dog that nobody wanted to capturing the hearts of millions.
   ”I never thought I’d write a book,” Ms. Quigley said. “The (book’s) messages are very relevant for today. You have to love yourself and accept people the way they are. Children get that message through (the book).”
   There was another special guest with a heart-warming story in addition to Elwood, and he came in the form of a former bait dog named Oogey.
   ”Oogey was a bait dog found by police in a raid in Pennsylvania,” his owner Larry Levin said. “They took him to a local animal hospital and operated three and a half hours to save him.”
   The Dogo Argentino has had three separate operations on his head, Mr. Levin said. Oogey has a missing ear, severe eye problems, and is undersized for his breed because of poor conditions and diet, but none of that stopped the gentle giant from covering his owner in kisses. Much like Elwood, Oogey’s story inspired Mr. Levin to write a novel about his dog’s remarkable recovery.
   Other attractions at the event included a dog jumping competition, dog races by breed, and a hay maze for dogs.
   Ultimate Air Dogs, a group from Jacksonville, Fla., provided a large inflatable pool and ramp for the jumping competition. Milt Wilcox, the former pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, founded the organization with his wife Kathy.
   ”We go all over the country and put on these dog jumping competitions,” Ms. Wilcox said. “If you have a dog that has a good toy drive and likes to swim, it’s easy to train them (to do this.)”
   Dog owners coaxed their pets onto the ramp with a toy, and then tossed it into the pool. The dogs would then jump in after the toy and their distance was measured by marks on the side of the pool.
   According to Ms. Wilcox, the average jump distance is around 15 feet.
   However, the day was not all fun and games. Progress was made for numerous dog-related charities through both donations and advertising.
   Several charities set up tents at the event, including Friends of The Associated Humane Society from Tinton Falls in Monmouth County, an organization that walks, trains, and socializes adoptable animals as well as providing spaying and neutering services. Another organization at the event, Sammy’s Hope from North Brunswick, finds new homes for rescued dogs and cats.
   Michael and Joyce Dickerson, the founders of Pets With Disabilities, brought their paralyzed dog Annie to the event.
   ”Annie came to us by way of a good Samaritan who found us delivering puppies under a deck, already paralyzed,” Mr. Dickerson said. He motioned to the wheeled cart that was Annie was strapped into and explained that it helps Annie to “run and play” by supporting her limp back legs as she walks with her front legs.
   Other groups represented included; Pinups For Pitbulls from Collingswood, which not only puts out an annual calendar featuring female models and pit bulls but also fights to repeal legislature against that breed of dog, Greyhound Friends of New Jersey from Cherry Hill, an organization that rescues and rehabilitates former racing dogs, and Howling Woods Farm from Jackson, a reserve for wolf-dog hybrids.
   Anyone who wants to help animals through the charity organizations mentioned in this article can visit their individual websites at www.sammyshope.org, www.greyhoundfriendsofnj.org, www.pinupsforpitbulls.org, www.howlingwoods.org, www.petswithdisabilities.org, and www.ahscares.org.