(I've never posted content from my personal blog on Blogher (I don't think), but today I'm making an exception. I was inspired to post after watching the National Dog show yesterday, and thought that it might be interesting in the Pets category here as well.)

Vikki won best in show at the National Dog Show (by Purina, naturally) yesterday. I'm not a huge fan of dog shows. But at the same time, these guys probably eat better and have better luggage - and definitely a more expensive hairdresser - than I do, so it's really the high drama and elitist emphasis that skeeves me out more than anything (just like in the creepy netherworld of human beings parading around on stage in their bathing suits for "scholarships".) The show was on when I was at the gym, and I got sucked in, though, because unlike the scary girls with an excess of hairspray and random answers to questions about saving the world, the dogs essentially do what dogs do - they walk around and look cute. The people handling them are the ones who have to worry and run around beside them and pray the judge will like their teeth (the dogs' teeth, that is.) Weird. But enough from me...behold the most incredible Poodle hair ever.

[img_assist|fid=2350|thumb=1|alt=Vikki]

I got the photo here, and some more information about Miss "Champion Smash Win-a-Victory.

The sight of her makes me giggle, because she looks like a depressed 13 year old who just got an updo for Homecoming. Another highlight was watching a Pekingese waddle around the ring who looked like Sigmund the Sea Monster.

The people who bothered me the most were the announcers, just like those on any competition, who nattered on about their own personal feelings about who should win, and how conflicted they felt about choosing, and oh, by the way, "BUY YOUR DOGS FROM A BREEDER. A GREAT BREEDER. THEY DO THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON HOW TO HAVE THE HEALTHIEST, HAPPIEST DOG. THEY DO IT FOR THE LOVE OF THE ANIMALS. THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT AN AWARD-WINNING DOG CAN PULL IN. BUY FROM A BREEDER. DO YOU HEAR ME????"

Sorry for the caps (and the paraphrasing, a little...), but I was reading along with the closed-captioning since I was at the gym, and that's how I experienced it. I know there are some good and reputable breeders out there who care about animals, and for whom the breed they specialize in is their life's passion and work. I understand. And I know cool people and responsible people, and sometimes cool and responsible people, who have gotten their dogs from breeders, so as with most things, there are two sides that have their pros and cons. But dog rescue (for discarded purebreds also, and especially, given my experience with my Bostons) is something I feel really strongly about, so cuteness and light aside, I'm not as concerned with giving cosseted first chances to dogs who will likely get them anyway. I'm more concerned about the dog the idiot bought for his wife for Christmas (dumb) as a surprise (dumber) because it was a trendy breed with a French name (dumbest) and then it ended up in a shelter in February because it peed on her carpet. Most rescue groups are not the militant, cliched variety. Most give up their time and money to provide transportation, food, lodging, and often exorbitant medical bills to keep abandoned animals alive and to place them in a decent home. I really wish that Purina would give some of what has to be a crazy advertising budget for this show to rescue groups for the breeds that are highlighted.

That would be really swell of them.

Meanwhile, behold an animal who would be laughed out of the ring, as he got a sympathy diploma from puppy kindergarten. He gets a blue ribbon from me, regardless.

[img_assist|fid=2346|thumb=1|alt=Graduation]

Laurie White blogs at LaurieWrites, which would have a much more clever name if she'd been in her right mind at the time she chose it. Stop by and say hi!