Dashing Hounds: Dachshund festival, races fill Belpre park with laughter, barks
Dachshund festival fills Belpre park with laughter, barks
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BELPRE - Remy eventually got out to an early lead in one of the dachshund races Saturday at Howes Grove Park - but when the crowd started to cheer, he turned around and headed back to owner Nick Stevens.
Remy finally did cross the finish line, unlike his opponent Phoebe.
"She didn't move from the start line," laughed owner Kaitlin Harvey of Vienna. "I don't think she's ever been around so many people."
But competition was only one aspect of the second Long Doggy Fest, which brought together dachshund owners, dog lovers in general and spectators from the community along with vendors and nonprofits, many of whom catered to and offered products for canines.
The event was organized by Bobbi McDonald, owner of Long Doggy Den, a business that rescues, breeds and raises dachshunds.
"I love their stubborn behavior," she said of her affinity for the breed. "I call them stage 10 clingers. … So loyal and loving to their people, but at the same time, you get that little bit of sass."
Other activities included a dachshund pageant and a red carpet for the pets to strut their stuff and show off their personality. Some weren't thrilled about dressing up in costume, but others enjoyed it.
Marietta resident Caroline Lang said her Charlie fell into the latter group, wearing a tutu and bows on the red carpet.
"Miss Charlie loves a good outfit and loves a fresh salad," she said.
And despite being a few days shy of her first birthday, Lang said, Charlie is also the leader of a pack at home that includes a 115-pound Doberman and a 7-year-old rescue.
McDonald has organized dachshund races at other local events but put on the Long Doggy Fest at last year's Belpre Homecoming. It became its own event at the park this year, and she said she was pleased with the turnout.
Among the vendors setting up were three 10-year-old entrepreneurs - who McDonald did not charge a fee - and Dollars for Doxies, a nonprofit organization out of Florida that helps raise awareness about the breed and money for owners that can't afford their veterinary bills.
"We do events all over," Dollars for Doxies President Christine Fontaine said.
They weren't the only folks coming from outside the immediate area.
Wileyville, W.Va., resident Terri Dickman brought her dachshunds Grace and Cece to the event, which she attended last year as well.
"I love it," she said. "(Dachshunds) are a unique breed. They're fiercely loyal and terribly stubborn."
Also returning for the second year were Belpre residents Kerry and Dana Gates with their dachshund, Crew. Crew, who is missing a front paw, was able to compete in a race this year since a special needs category was added. He seemed more interested in licking and smelling the people and dogs gathered along the track though.
The winner of that race was Maytag, whose activity has to be limited because of his heart murmur. But owner Kacey Kilkenny of Athens was confident he would do well running to her at the finish line.
"He really loves his mom, so as long as he saw me, I figured he'd do pretty good," she said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.