by Noella Noelophile®
(Graphic courtesy of Justin Rudd, @justinrudd.com.)
What is the nature of love?
As Valentine’s Day approaches, that seems a valid question to consider.
Bulldog Beauty Contest, 2018.
Well…love can be dressed up and fancy.
(Royalty-free image by jenfaz from Pixabay.)
But–it doesn’t have to be.
(Royalty-free image by Annie from Pixabay.)
Love isn’t necessarily restricted to the young.
It can show up unexpectedly.
(Royalty-free image by Mylene from Pixabay.)
Love is a universal language.
(Royalty-free image by JackieLouDL from Pixabay.)
It shows up in different shapes and sizes.
It can be playful.
And the beauty of it? We all define love differently.
Want to fall in love with some super cute canines? Or, have one at home with whom you’re already head-over-paws?
If you’re in the Long Beach area, Justin Rudd and Haute Dogs invite you to the 21st annual National Bulldog Beauty Contest, Sunday, February 15th at the Granada Boat Launch, next to Rosie’s Dog Beach.
There will be a total of 12 contests, starting off at 9:00 that Sunday morning with my personal favorite: the “Bulldog Beauty Contest”.
(Royalty-free image by Jody Parks from Pixabay.)
But, if the canine you love doesn’t happen to be a bulldog, take heart.
As you saw from the above graphic, contests continue throughout the morning. There are eleven different categories, including “Best Senior Dog”; “Best Adopted/Rescued Dog”; and “National Mutt Show”.
These ought to cover any pet that ever gave a “woof!”
You can register your pup(s?) at this link, at $10 per entry before next Friday–or $20 onsite (cash, please). If you show up onsite and need to register your dog, plan to be there at least five minutes before the start of the contest for which you’re entering them.
The contests
(Photo courtesy of Justin Rudd, and used with permission.)
Now, how will this work?
Justin’s website explains that when the judges evaluate the dogs, they’re taking into account: personality, charm, face, figure, and first impression. Gender is no limitation, says the post, and good looks are no advantage.
Dogs will parade down the “red carpet”: a 60-foot carpet on a concrete runway. Winners are announced after each contest, and dogs may enter multiple contests at no additional charge.
Oh, and costumes or clothes for contestants aren’t encouraged. The organizers say, and I agree, that dogs are so cute anyway, that they need no enhancement.
(Royalty-free image by JackieLouDL from Pixabay.)
Don’t have a dog but you’d like to spectate? Admission is free to the 21st annual Bulldog Beauty Contest. However, if you’d like to rent a front-row seat on the runway, the day of the event, those are available for $5 cash.
And while the Bulldog Beauty Contest and accompanying dog contests are a lot of fun, they’re also fundraising for a great cause.
Proceeds support Justin Rudd’s nonprofit 501c3 Community Action Tea, which promotes social well-being in the community by producing high-quality events, year-round. These include Operation Easter Basket, 30-minute Monthly Beach Cleanups, the Belmont Shore Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest, the 5K/10K Long Beach Turkey Trot, and a host of others, which you’ll see listed at this link.
Now, that’s something to bark about.