So... Who has the BEST DOG in Rutherford County?

Oct 14, 2015 at 02:46 pm by bryan


Bragging rights are up for grabs for dog lovers throughout the area when La Vergne hosts its first ever "Bark in the Park" dog competition. The amateur competition is set for Saturday, November 7 at 1:00 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park.

"Many people see their dogs as their pride and joy," said Mayor Dennis Waldron. "The city wants to give people a chance to show off their favorite dogs and to help out a good cause. This should be a really good event for La Vergne, and I hope all dog lovers will be there."

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All proceeds from Bark in the Park will go toward the annual Christmas for Children and Seniors project that is sponsored by the Police Department, Fire Department, and Public Relations Department, as well as the FOP Percy-Priest Lodge 85. In 2014 the program provided toys and food for 65 needy families, including 161 children and 23 senior citizens.

During the dog show, awards will be given for first, second, and third place in the "Best of Show" category (the top dog). There will be 16 additional categories that include Most Talented, Best Christmas Costume, Best Groomed, Furriest, Looks Most Like Their Human, Future K9 Officer, Gorgeous Golden Oldie, and Best Vocal Performance, and more. For a $1 fee, people can vote for their favorite dog in the People's Choice category.

For a $1 fee, people may take photos of their pets with Santa Claus. However, the city warned, "If your dog bites Santa Claus, it probably will not win," said Kathy Tyson, public information officer. "We have seen other cities very successfully host dog parades and pet shows and we thought it would be a fun way to tie in people's love for their pets with helping out in the community."

While Mayor Waldron plans to attend, he won't enter his dogs in the contest. "I think the only category my eight dogs could win is 'Bad to the Bone Dog' because they are just too hyper. They definitely would not qualify for 'Best Behaved' so I'll have to leave them at home for this one," he said.

Some of the rules for "Bark in the Park" include proof of a current rabies vaccination, all dogs must be leashed, and no history of biting or easily nervous in crowds.

The early-bird entry fee for the amateur dog show is $10 and onsite registration is $15. People are encouraged to bring donations of unexpired dry foods and canned goods, as well as unwrapped toys.

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