by Dot Cannon
(Photo courtesy of Justin Rudd, and used with permission.)
Judges, judges in the stands. Who’s the most beautiful bulldog in the land?
That’s a matter to be decided, this weekend in Long Beach.
(Photo courtesy of Justin Rudd, and used with permission.)
The Eleventh Annual “National Bulldog Beauty Contest“, one of more than sixty annual events co-ordinated by Long Beach community activist Justin Rudd, happens this Saturday morning, February 7th, at Long Beach’s Marine Stadium.
(Photo courtesy of Justin Rudd, and used with permission.)
After moving to Long Beach in the mid-1990’s, Justin began coordinating all kinds of imaginative events, with the themes of drawing the community together, giving back and having fun. His nonprofit Community Action Team (C.A.T.) hosts the “Red High Heels Walk” for heart health, the Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade and Operation Easter Basket–and a lot more.
(Photo courtesy of Justin Rudd, and used with permission.)
Saturday’s “Bulldog Beauty Contest”, which is a fundraiser for C.A.T., will feature nineteen different dog competitions, including “Best Smile”, “Best Legs” and “Best Costume”.
(Photo courtesy of Justin Rudd, and used with permission.)
Some of these competitions aren’t limited to bulldogs, either. Those nineteen dog contests include a Pug Pageant, a Chihuahua Beauty Contest, and a National Mutt Show, for any mixed breed. Dogs can bring their humans and enter until just before the start of the festivities, which begin at 9:40 on Saturday morning, with a “Best Talent/Trick” contest.
Pet adoptions will be a part of the event, and according to C.A.T.’s webpage, funds raised go to benefit animal welfare causes.
(Photo courtesy of Justin Rudd, and used with permission.)
And once the final ribbon’s been awarded (and, in all probability, rewarded with a wagging tail!), Justin and his Community Action Team are on to the next community event.
On Sunday, February 8th, they’ll host a “Valentine Card Contest and Yappy Hour” to benefit shelter animals. That evening, C.A.T hosts the “Long Beach Father/Daughter Dance”. Within just the next month, they’ll be co-ordinating the monthly “30-Minute Beach Cleanup”(in its 189th consecutive month), the “Red High Heels Walk”, and two spelling bees: one for kids and one for “big kids”.
(Photo courtesy of Justin Rudd, and used with permission.)
Anyone else might be dog-tired, but for Justin Rudd, his Community Action Team and the city of Long Beach, these special events are really something to smile about!