Thanks so much for getting the vote out on Dogster’s second Wagalicious Photo Contest! We received almost 3,000 entries, and loved each and every one of them. Dogster readers picked the winners from finalists in the categories of Dirty Dog, Get Your Tongue Out and Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.
Here are, in no particular order, the winners, who have won prizes from our three sponsors: Dexas MudBuster, Chews Happiness and Marley’s Pet Planet.
Dirty D0g Winners: Chris Stacks & Skylar
Chris Stacks of Kansas City, Missouri, took his winning photo of Skylar at the local dog park toward the end of a rainy day. “That is always a favorite time to go since Skylar loves to find every mud puddle possible,” Chris says. “She is still a bit shy, and usually it’s not as crowded after a good rain so she can explore, dig around and just have fun.”
Skylar is a 3-year-old Border Collie who has been part of the Stacks family for over a year now.
“Originally, we were her foster family for a few months,” Chris explains. “Once we were offered the chance to keep her, we did not hesitate!”
Unfortunately, Skylar had a hard life before finding her way to her forever home. Chris says she is still learning to trust people but has made huge improvements over the last few months.
“We have had wonderful trainers help us guide her to come out of her shell,” says Chris, “and she is even trying different dog sports. She recently tried lure-coursing and loved it.”
And what is Skylar’s favorite treat? The ever-popular cheese stick.
Let Sleeping D0gs Lie Winners: Julie Shuler & Daisy
Ever since Julie Shuler, an accountant in Aurora, Colorado, got Daisy as a puppy, she has taken loads of photos of her as she gets bigger. “They grow up so fast!” she says. “This particular photo was taken one lazy Sunday morning when Daisy was not quite ready to get out of bed. With that precious face, how could I not take a picture?”
Daisy is a 9-month-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi but was only 3 months old at the time of the photo. Her favorite treats are Greenies, and she loves anyone who will pet her, throw her toys or give her treats. “Daisy loves toys,” says Julie, “especially squeakers — her favorite is a pink bunny. She is always ready to go for a walk around the neighborhood.”
Daisy has one sister, Sophie, who Julie calls a sassy 6-year-old black Chihuahua. “They could chase each other around the yard all day long,” she says.
Julie is a huge animal lover — dogs have always been a part of her family. While in college at Colorado State University, she volunteered at Animal House Rescue in Fort Collins, Colorado.
“This is an awesome local no-kill shelter that has rescued almost 8,000 dogs since 2007 and placed them into loving forever homes.”
Get Y0ur T0ngue Out Winners: Ranee Baker & Rocket
“Rocket and I were at our local park,” Ranee Baker tells us, describing how she got the winning shot. “I had given him a treat, and he was so animated with his tongue that I wanted to try to capture it on film.”
Rocket is a 7-year-old purebred Whippet who lives with Ranee, a registered veterinary technician at the local humane society in Hagerstown, Maryland, and his mother, 10-year-old Blossom. Both dogs are rescues. Rocket was rescued when he was dumped at Ranee’s college.
Rocket’s favorite treats are ice cream and cheese. He loves riding in the car, walking on the beach in Outer Banks, North Carolina, and patrolling his yard for squirrels.
“If there are any animal-related events in my area, you will see my dogs and I there,” says Ranee, who loves to give back to animal charities.
“My dogs and I participate in animal-related fundraising events, especially those with costume contests.”
Blossom recently won the best-dressed contest at the Super Pet Expo in Chantilly, Virginia, dressed as Marilyn Monroe. Some of Ranee’s favorite rescues are the Humane Society of Washington County, WRAP — Whippet Rescue and Placement and BRAT — Basenji Rescue and Transport.