Man's best friend
Everyone has fun at Crownpoint All-Mutt show

Juanita Bates gets a kiss from her dog Ozzie while show organizer Mary Vitt, left, and judge Matthew Holtsoi watch during the 7th Annual All-mutt Dog Show in Crownpoint, Saturday. The dogs were asked to perform any special tricks they could and also competed in categories like most and least obedient and best smile. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

CROWNPOINT — There were some party crashers at the seventh annual Crownpoint All-Mutt Dog Show on Saturday.

Although there were plenty of great mutts, a few purebred dogs sneaked in to enjoy the award ribbons, human attention, and all-around fun. And for a show that celebrates the intelligent, friendly, and lovable reservation mutt, there was a surprising number of little house pooches running around, particularly Chihuahuas and Dachshunds.

The All-Mutt Dog Show is the brainchild of Mary Vitt, an audiologist who has lived in Crownpoint for eight years. She got the idea, she explained, one day while watching television and seeing the “very fussy” dogs featured at an American Kennel Club dog show. “It would be better to have a real dog show with real dogs that are survivors,” Vitt recalled thinking.

As a result, Vitt and some co-workers sponsored Crownpoint’s first all-mutt dog show. They started it as a lark, she said, mostly to provide a fun activity for kids to share with their dogs and also as a way to promote responsible pet ownership. They soon discovered adult dog owners enjoyed the event as much as kids. And there are certainly lots of fun contests for kids, adults, and dogs to enjoy — from awards for most obedient and least obedient dogs to awards for talented canines that can do tricks.

The more serious side to the dog show — responsible pet ownership — has been a little harder to promote, Vitt said.

First the few years, she explained, she invited the vet tech program in Crownpoint to give educational presentations. But after receiving no response, Vitt said, she hasn’t pursued asking that program or any of the region’s humane societies to help. Vitt’s co-workers have continued to assist, she said, but this year they were short-handed and didn’t have anyone to staff the “Kidz Korner” educational activities.

Rondelle Morgan and Marilyn Holtsoi are two co-workers who brought their children with them to help. Morgan, the mother of three boys, said she is concerned about the problem of stray dogs on the Navajo Nation and bought her sons as a way to teach them about caring for animals.

“We try to come out every year, weather permitting,” said Holtsoi, who brought her son, daughter, and two of their four rescued dogs. While Matthew, 9, and Michaela, 6, were busying helping Vitt judge the contests and give out award ribbons, Holtsoi enjoyed Saturday’s sunshine with Kaycee and Chewy, her two black and white mixed-Pekingese puppies that her husband found abandoned on the side of the road.

Some of the children who brought their dogs to compete included Gabriel Armstrong, 8, who was showing off Tiny, a 5-year-old Chihuahua he shares with his grandmother, Kathy Arviso; Nikolas Martinez, 9, whose fluffy black poodle-mix, Honey, won second place for “Best Tail”; and sisters Fallon and Skylar Blackbull. Fallon, 9, was riding herd on Ruby, a 2-year-old mutt whose talent is climbing into her family’s truck by walking on wooden planks, and Skylar, 7, was hanging on to Joey, a lively 6-month-old

Chihuahua/Dachshund puppy who scampered away with his “Best of Show” medallion around his tiny neck.

But as Vitt has discovered, the All-Mutt Dog Show isn’t just for kids. Eric and Cassandra Duncan of Lake Valley brought their 9-month-old Boxer, Bruce, so he could mingle with other dogs. Lacey Smith of Pinedale brought Butch, a definite rez dog mutt, who took top honors in the “Best Smile” competition.

Smith, who also brought her mother and sister, said she read about the dog show in the Independent. “The ad said All-Mutt Show,” Smith said. “We thought he qualified.” In addition to his “Best Smile” award, 3-year-old Butch took second place in “Largest Dog,” third in “Best Trick” (shaking hands), and honorable mention for “Best Tail.”