WINNING ENTRY 2007:
Yuzzy Strikes Again!
BY SUZANNE MILLER
I’m almost five but I’m very mature for my age. The rumor is that I was bought off the back of the truck. But it’s not exactly true. My name is Yuzzy. Sounds like fuzzy. My older brother is Zorro. He’s black and white with a black mask like the famous Zorro, but he doesn’t wear one of those sill black hats. My pops always said he wished they had named Zorro, Yuzzy after Pops’ friend Yuzzy, a Lithuanian nickname for Joe.
So one day my mom saw an ad for a darling little Poodle/Maltese who was too active for their toddler. So, my mom met this lady who drove a truck. Mom and Zorro looked me over and took me home. Mom handed me to Pops and said, “Here’s your Yuzzy.”
JUST before my Pops died, he said to me, “Yuzzy, you’re the man now. You have to take care of Mom.”
My brother is older, but Pops chose me, and I take my responsibility very seriously. I bark when anyone, especially a man comes near her. Nobody’s messing with my mom.
And that’s why, when a man came to the door one day to do some work for us, I eyed him very suspiciously. Baseball cap. No team logo. Big, heavy, dark shoes. Not good. Clip board. Very fishy. Sunglasses. Those are the worst!!!!!! When a guy hides his eyes and his feet, he can be up to NO GOOD.
I just got a bad feeling. My mom tried to grab me and put me into the bathroom, but the man said no, no, he loves dogs. He has two dogs himself.
I smelled him. He smelled like a man on the make. He spelled like he might be nice and my mom might like him. NOT GOOD. So, as he walked in, I did the only thing I could do. I went right for the crotch and chomped down. He yelled. My mom shrieked.
All hell broke loose. I was spanked (for doing my sworn duty) and thrown into the dreaded bathroom.
I could hear them. My mom was tee-hee-hee and all friendly. He had this accent. You know how women go for a little accent. Oh, what to do? What to do? I paced as much as I could in a little bathroom and pouted and thought very hard. I talked to my brother Zorro who is no good at all in these human relation situations.
Well, as the man left and I could hear her apologizing all over the place for me. Huh! Just doing my duty. Don’t make excuses for me. Just watch out for men with accents.
I heard her tell my aunt that he had a very romantic accent and was very intelligent. He was from some place called Spain and was very cute. Blah blah blah.
The dreaded day finally came. He was going to take her to lunch. But first, he insisted on making friends with ME. Fat chance. He’s not moving in on us. He’s not taking Pops’ place. He can take his romantic accent and head for the hills. I can just see him and his two big dogs, who probably have “romantic” accents too, trying to take over our family and our mom.
So I went along with it. If he wanted to make friends with me, I’d play his little game. I sat on his lap. I kissed his ugly face. I wolfed down the treats he gave me and smiled. I licked his hand and pawed his arm so he’d pet me. I was SOOOO cute.
Then, he made his fatal mistake. He stood up and looked like he was going to take a step toward my mom. I did what I had to do. I STRUCK. Aimed right for the crotch and chomped down. Hard. And I held on. He yelped.......and ran........with me snarling at his heels. This romantic hero headed for the door, jumped in his van, squealed the tires, and burned rubber all the way down the street. He probably burned rubber all the way back to Spain.
I smiled up at heaven at Pops and stood tall and proud. I did what a man had to do to protect his mom’s honor. Went straight for the crotch. Yup. Straight for the crotch.
And that’s the last we ever heard of him. Aren’t I a GOOD boy????
Copyright © 2007.
WINNING ENTRY 2006:
Passionate Patches BY LAURA IBSEN
A Gilbert therapy dog, known as “Passionate Patches,” is the Grand Prize Winner in the “Dog Days of August” Contest. A three year-old Yorkshire Terrier, Patches wins a professional, custom-framed, oil portrait painting by acclaimed artist and “Master of Expression,” Linda Budge. The painting is valued at $1,950, and Patches’ owner, Laura Ibsen, also receives a packet of 50 greeting cards featuring Patches’ painted image.
The month-long event sponsored by Cave Creek-based Linda Budge Studio raised $1,755 for animal charities throughout Maricopa County. In its first year, the “Dog Days of August” contest generated 122 entries. Contestants needed to hand-deliver a color photograph of their dog along with a brief essay describing their dog’s personality and why their dog deserved a portrait. A $10 entry fee was made payable to the animal charity of each applicant’s choice. Cash entry fees are being donated to the Arizona Humane Society.
“I want to thank all of the contestants for taking the time to visit my gallery to share their stories,” Linda Budge said. “I am very pleased with the outcome – it more than exceeded my expectations. Each day brought a different story and I found myself laughing and crying with some wonderful dog owners whom I had just met!”
Budge said the stories submitted were all exceptional and making a decision was very difficult.
“Patches finally emerged as the winner,” she explained. “I’m looking forward to painting him!”
According to Patches’ owner, Laura Ibsen, Patches is “passionate about everything.”
“Patches was named after Patch Adams, the famous healing doctor,” Ibsen wrote. “I have two diseases that cause extreme health problems. Patches is a light and motivation for me to push on. He became a therapy dog so he could spread his healing and love to others. Together, we go to hospitals, and every time Patches enters a hospital room, the patients’ faces light up.”
Patches also loves to play a game he invented that Ibsen calls “bulldozing.
“He holds the end of a rubber bone and pushes his tennis ball anywhere he wants – even turning it and going in circles,” Ibsen wrote. “When you talk to Patches, he sits and listens to you, turning his head from side to side as if he understands every word you say. Patches is the most expressive dog you will ever meet.”
Ibsen chose to make her entry fee payable to Phoenix-based Animals Benefit Club, a non-profit organization where Patches received his therapy dog certification.
Budge reiterated how difficult the decision was. “They were all wonderful stories! This contest truly validated just how special dogs are,” she said.
Copyright © 2006.
Linda Budge Dog Days of August is a 501(c)(3) corporation.
Many thanks to our special TAIL WAGGIN' FRIENDS:
Boulder Falls Pet Resort, 623.580.500
Animal Health Services of Cave Creek, 480.422.1085
