Sunday, February 19, 2012

BEST IN SHOW WINNERS!

Hey! Lots going on in this post besides just winners and it is the last post for MM 2012, so sit back and enjoy.


All winners in all categories - please give momma a week or so to coordinate prizes and winner's certificates. Patience...

Before we start, here are some final words from our Guardian of Ethics, Miss Abby.




To: Mango the Relentlessly Huge, Founder of Mango Minster
From: Abby, L.B.E., Official Guardian of Ethics
Re: Final Ethics Report and Report on the Curse of Mango Minster

Abby is pleased to report that the ethical standards of Mango Minster remain high, especially among the judges. The judges were, without exception, exemplars of the highest standards of ethical conduct. Each judge not only comported him or herself with absolute probity before the judging, but each judge applied her or himself diligently and equitably, without fear or favor, to the excruciatingly difficult decisions each had to make. Abby is most grateful that Judge Loki, with his usual Chandleresque combination of ethics and humor, refrained from announcing exactly what would have been required to successfully bribe him until after the judging was actually over.

Apart from a few offers of inappropriate gifts from certain contestants, which were, of course, quite properly reported by the judges to the Mango, there was a satisfactory decline in outright bribery in this year's Mango Minster, due in no small part to the outstanding assistance Abby received from Morgan, Kuster and Cousin Pretty Girl in guarding against overtly unethical behavior. The judging of the Too Darn Cute category being over and hearing no objection, Abby has released the snow machines from impound and had them shipped, at Frankie Furter's expense, to Judge Fiona.

There were, however, some most serious ethical breaches in the Bad Sports category involving Contestants Tank and Allred and, Abby is chagrined to admit, her brother Jed. When Abby was asked by the Mango to investigate alleged curses involving Mango Minster, Abby did not imagine she would be investigating ACTUAL MAGICAL CURSES. Allred cursed Tank, turning him into a squirrel. Tank retaliated by boiling Allred in a cauldron. Unfortunately for Tank, Allred still had eight lives left.

Curses were zinging around Blogville until Valentine's Day, when Allred was down to three lives and some doggies and kittehs called for a group hug to reform Allred. Allred, his evil heart softened by the lovely Nellie, lifted his curse from Tank.

As of the date of this report, the truce holds.

Respectfully submitted.

Abby, Guardian of Ethics, Mango Minster 2012






Best in Show is Sponsored by

Winner
Custom Portrait from Cabana
Goodie Bag from the Water Dogs

First Runner Up
Hand made necklace from Holly
Custom Quilt-let from Tucker

Second Runner Up
$25 Amazon Gift Certificate from Sasha

Reader's Choice
$25 Amazon Gift Certificate from Bart and Ruby
$50 Gift Certificate to PAWS Painters from Jack and Moo



THIS IS IT!
87 hopeful contestants entered the ring just six short days ago and now we are down to the final decision. Who will be Mango Minster 2012 Best in Show?


Reader's choice is usually a very tight race, but this year, one contestant soared ahead of the pack, garnering just over 30% of the votes!





And the Readers Choose...





















Judge Bert is entering the ring to give us his final decision.







Whew, being the judge for Best In Show has been very taxing on me and My Vickie. I mean, yes, we got to take a very cool trip to a little cabin in the Flathead Lake region of Montana.

And yes, while we were there, we went swimming in ice cold waters, (well I did) hiking among ghost trees and snowmobiling across the mountain tops. In the evenings we started a fire in the fireplace, ate cheese, beans and popcorn, watched the cable tv, and kept up on what was happening on Mango Minster on our old laptop.

But tonight it came down to having to pick out one entry to be Best in Show.

Think about it. All the wonderful, incredible, fun, interesting, exciting, and loveable entry's and I had to pick ONE.

It is truly almost impossible. Thank goodness the other judges did most of the work for me. In the end, I only had to decide between 6 contestants.

So without any further prattling on by me..... here is the list of Best in Show contenders.









Representing Too Darn Cute

Representing Adventure Animals

Representing the Bad Sports

Representing the Working Stiffs

Representing the Cracker Critters

And ALSO Representing the Cracker Critters

Much as been said about all six of these contestants over the past few weeks. Each represented their category with such finesse that they were crowned with the winner's title.

And now I will be placing the coveted badge of Best in Show on one. (No Pressure Here) with first and second runner up honors as well. Don't forget, in the event that our Best in Show winner is unable to carry out his or her duties, said duties will fall upon the 1st runner up (and carrying around that crown can be tiring).

So lets get down to business:









2nd Runner Up - CHROME


2nd runner up goes to Chrome the surcingle, party hat wearing, clicker trained Friesian/Arabian Horse.

I had to say surcingle wearing, cause it was a new word for me and I had to look it up in the dictionary.

Now My Vickie and I have always been fans of horses so we were excited to see that Chrome had entered the Mango Minster competition in the first place.

But you get third place because you did such an excellent job on your entry. The video of what you have learned over the last year and all the pictures on your entry were educational and entertaining.

My Vickie also enjoyed your human talking in the background exclaiming her delight with every new accomplishment you made.

And might we just add here that you are a very very handsome boy.













1st Runner Up - TAFFY



1st runner up goes to the One and Only Taffy. Your entry was full of exciting pictures and clever comments that had Me and My Vickie laughing till we cried. Then of course we had to learn more about you so we started reading your past posts.

To our delight, your entry was just the beginning of the fun. We must have stayed up all night reading about you and your antics.

Our favorite post was Forever Young from 2009










And the Winner, your Best in Show for Mango Minster 2012...




Presenting...










Best In Show goes to the Beautiful, Charming Heartwarming Mollie Jo.

There are really no words necessary to describe how much you have stolen the hearts of so many of us. As The lovely Fiona said "you are painfully cute"

As co-anchor on the local news, model extraordinaire, hostess to the homeless and to the clever mollie-isms, you are the most well rounded and socially captivating little poodle I have ever met.

Congratulations to all Best in Show contestants!

Respectfully submitted,

Judge Bert

P.S. CAN I GO HOME NOW?






Well friends, that's a wrap. Thanks to all sponsors, judges, contestants, voters, and readers for making Mango Minster 2012 the best Mango Minster ever.

This blog will be shutting down until next year (by which time momma will hopefully have forgotten how mental fits MM makes her and be ready to do it all again).

Don't forget to follow all of my Relentlessly Huge Adventures on my regular blog here.



Mango Man! Oh yeah!


P.S. Here is a recap of all categories and all winners and judges. Stop by and congratulate them on a job well done.


BEST IN SHOW
Judge Bert
Winner - Mollie Jo
1st runner up - Taffy
2nd runner up - Chrome
Reader's Choice - Taffy

Bad Sports
Winner - Allred
2nd place - Leroy
3rd place - Ushi
Reader's Choice - Allred


Adventure Animals
Winner - Chrome
2nd place - Tucker
3rd place - Honey and Garth
Reader's Choice - Honey


Cracker Critters
Judge Loki
Winners Taffy and Corbin
2nd place - Syke
3rd place - R
Reader's Choice - Corbin


Too Darn Cute
Judge Fiona
Winner - Mollie Jo
2nd place - Milka
3rd place - Moo
Reader's Choice - Angel Maggie


Working Stiffs
Judge Bunny
Winner - Glacier
2nd place - K
3rd place - Abby
Reader's Choice - K

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Best in Show - POLLS CLOSED



If you get a chance, please visit MY blog which has been taken over by my idiot brother. Momma assures me that he is behaving and honoring the Mango with his words, but I fear that he might be up to no good and disrespecting the Mango. Seriously? As if!
Check it out here.



Can you stand it?
This is it! Mango Minster 2012 Best in Show!
You have until 5PM EST on Sunday, February 19th to get your votes in.


And now, I give you the top five, er, SIX contenders with their own words.




Representing Too Darn Cute




I would first like to give a big bark and high paw to Mango and his momma fur hosting this most fun event in all of blogville! I would also like to thank the judges for all their hard work in making the selections and to all doggies, kitties, and critters who votes. I am honored to have been crowned Too Darn Cute!

It takes lots of practice and a lot of shopping to achieve this level of cute and I will continue to bring my fans cute pictures throughout the year. Mango Minster 2012 has been a wild and pawsome ride.

As for Best in Show, I say vote with your heart and may the best pooch or kitteh or horse win!




Representing Adventure Animals




Hey everyone, Chrome here. I've done a lot of brave things in my life, starting at a young age. At five months old I left my (horsie) mom for the very first time, loaded into a small, dark box on wheels without hesitation and bravely traveled to my new home.

I have never regretted that decision because living here has been full of adventures to satisfy my craving for the new and exciting. I will never quite my adventuring ways, so it's a good thing my new (two legged) mom is as brave as I am! For those reasons I believe I am a good choice for Best in Show.

I also want to thank Mango and Mango Momma for hosting another wonderful Mango Minster. I want to thank all of the judges, sponsors (you guys are awesome), competitors and the long suffering human pawrents that put up with our antics. Thanks guys and gals!


Representing the Bad Sports




Well of course this is no surprise to me. As I know, I am HOT.... I just was impressed to see that all the rest of you know it as well. I certainly hope that the fact that I could have put a curse on all of you and made you vote for me, or that I could have turned you all into toads or squirrels didn't prejudice your votes (not).

I regret NOTHING and stand by all my wicked badness.... I live the life of EVIL... I kill little mice and drag their bodies into the house nightly to remind that stupid Bert of what I could do to him.

Just because you have admitted I am BAD, don't think it will put anyone (TANK) into a safety zone.

Thank you so much for your generous support for making me Bad Sport of Mango Minster 2012. I could never have done this without the support of the beautiful Nellie, the Cat from Hell. She stood tirelessly by my side through the whole grueling process and looked good doing it.

And to all the judges and even Guardians of Ethics, Abby and Jed. Sorry about the whole sick thing, Abby, nothing personal...

I realize that insipid little road rash, bert, will be coming home soon and he and "his" Vickie will take the computer back over, thus I will have less face time with you.

However, if you see a red glow in the night (and for you Canadians and Alaskans, I'm not talking Northern Lights) and it appears to be coming your way.... RUN FOR COVER!

I graciously accept this honor. MMMMMMEEEEEEOOOOOWWWWW!


Representing the Working Stiffs






Hello honourable judges, rockin' readers and fantabulous fellow competitors. This is Glacier here and I would like to thank everyone who has made this mostest fun event pawssible! As the winner of the Working Stiffs category, I feel that I would make an excellent representative for Mango Minster 2012 as I am acutely awares of my duties and job and would takes this most honourable position very seriously.

As you can sees from my photo, I am a very hard worker, keeping my girl safe wherever she chooses to go. Just today, I guided her safely to the gym-see hers gym pants in the photo?-and had to makes sure I was focused on my job and not the ducks, other dogs or people out walking in the beautiful sunshine.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to walk down a cycling path beside a river and not drag my girl off into the waters for a swim? I'm a Labrador! I was meant to chase ducks and swims in rivers, but I must make sures my girl doesn't get run over by bikes, cars and other pedestrians. My girl doesn't know how to sit still and this means that I never sit still. I means, just six months ago hers decided to up and move to another country, start training for a triathlon AND volunteer with a Labrador rescue.

Does you knows what this means fur me? I am one busy, busy, busy and happy guy! I loves my job and I would loves to represent Mango Minster 2012! I promise to work hard! Not to mentions, I am a pretty handsome fellow; that's gotta count fur something, right?

Thank you,
A very excited, grateful and busy

Glacier




Representing the Cracker Critters





Crazy Cracker Corbin here!

I'm so very excited and crazy crackerish to be crowned Co-Cracker dog! Many thanks the great Loki for seeing deep within my crackerness, and all the other judges for their wonderful work! And to the Mango, MangoMomma and Labradork for having such a great contest and super fun pre-MM festivities and allowing cracker dogs to join in!

This is my first year entering, so it's quite an honor! I'd also like to shout out to the other entries -sure was tough competition! Anyway, not going to ramble on and on, I'm on a triple zoomie work out to make up for lost time.

But, I will say. I have it all... I've got some super good looks, manners when need (and a CGC title!), but most importantly, I'm a goofy, crazy, ball catching, wack job who you can always count on for a good laugh! I'm the total package and clearly the best choice to represent the Mango Minister BEST IN SHOW!

Power to the CORBIN!




And ALSO Representing the Cracker Critters




I am absolutely delighted and honored to be chosen by Judge Loki in this most prestigious event.

For the past eleven years, I have worked hard at perfecting the art of being totally crackers. My goal in life is to become even MORE of a Cracker Dog.

I must thank my Mum for capturing my cracker moments on camera; enabling me to share with you just a few of the thousands I have in my portfolio.

My teeth are so very special. My motto is "If you've got them, flaunt them!"

JAWS (Taffy)




Comment moderation has been enabled to keep votes private, but don't worry, I'm watching and counting for sure!

Slight Delay of Games


The Mango is so sad to learn that OC, former Mango Minster judge, has made her final journey over the Rainbow Bridge. As I write this, there has not been a posting on her blog, but visit her family here to leave your sympathies.







My friends, we are experiencing a slight delay of games and your patience is much appreciated.

There were some issues with blogger last night, forcing judge Bert to consult an actual hard copy of the best in show contestant entries.

Hey Bert! Maybe glasses over your eyes would help, just a thought.





That's better...

Even still, not much to see without the magic of the internets, is there?

Hang in there, buddy.








Meanwhile, it seems that The Beast, infuriated by her lack of placement in Cracker Critters set about creating some Mango Minster mayhem of her own.

Oh dear!










Photo by Scruffy


You can read more of her horrifying antics here.

Sit tight. Best in Show polls are coming soon, you have my word.

Mango Man! Oh yeah!

Friday, February 17, 2012

Cracker Critters - WINNERS!




Cracker Critter sponsors are;

1st place - Swiss goodie basket from Judge Loki
2nd place - custom holiday ornament from Garth
3rd place - Novia Scotia gift basket from Guinness, Magi, and Groucho
Reader's choice - mini sculpture of you from Ludo

Boy, I sure will be glad when those nutty critters go home. INSANITY RULES in this group.

And now, the moment of truth...






READER'S CHOICE








Judge Loki! For real? Does your mom know you dress like that?



This year, the crackers were straight off the cob and A-1 in ethics. Aside from Lacie’s musings, there was nadda in the bribes department.


Zero. Zilch. Zippo.


Surprising for a group of crackers. I mean of all the dogs in all the world, cracker dogs could really put the bite on someone. All any of one of them had to suggest was a huge round of zoomies followed by some big bitey action with me, and first place would have been his or hers for the taking. Instead the entire competition went down cornball style.


It’s a good thing too, because I really dig the happenings of crackers around the world. I even got to learn a thing or two.


Now for those folks out there who are not familiar with what a real cracker dog is, lemme break it down for you: Cracker dogs are not just a little silly with a few goofy bounces or illogical anxieties. They are deep-down, certifiably crazy to the core, non-stop, 24-7. Cracker dogs are every headshrinker’s goldmine with more than just a few screws loose in their wigs. They have absurd neurosis and ridiculous obsessions that constantly result in non-stop, whacky activities. At the heart of every cracker dog’s coping mechanisms are zoomies and bouncing. If a cracker can’t bounce or zoomie he or she may just spontaneously combust.


And while the stuff that cracker dogs do is whole lot of fun for me to watch it, was the whacked-out mentals behind all that zooming and bouncing that I looked for in every entry. In other words, I wasn’t looking for the amount of bounce or the number of zoomies, I was looking for the absurd reasons (or lack thereof), and the “devil made me do it” behind all those cracked-out performances.


Still, this year, some crackers added a few new moves to the zooming, bouncing and general mayhem, normally found under whack activities of cracker dogs. Read on hipsters.


Baby Rocket, “Jumpy! Jumpy!” I can’t get those words out of my head Baby. Your bum is surely loaded with cracker juice. Nice job playing tug with the mom’s panties. Crackers don’t discriminate when it comes to things they can bitey.


Cessna, Sweetheart, I have to admit, I was a little perplexed about how a working dog could be cracker, but you seemed to be able to multi-task your two talents quite well. Now a lot of doggies get a little excited around other non-doggie animals, but the killer deer? You definitely have at least one screw loose, doll.


Corbin, you seem to have a bit of bite to your bounce which resulted in the occasional cut lip, blurry vision and bruises on some peeps. There are so many screws loose in your head I don’t have the bolts to cover them all. But I have just one thing I have to say to you: stuffies can’t bite your face. Now see if you can carry on with your zooming.


Delta, I was diggin’ on your googly eyes and gorgeous gams, but a zommie concussion? Sweet cheeks, you just raised the bar on cracker dog zoomies around the world. But I’m torn. I don’t know if I should congratulate you or scold you. I’ll go with congratulate. Because I know you didn’t mean any harm and I have to admit, I keep giggling every time I think about that knock-out zoomie, Delta Ali. But you know what they say: it’s all fun and zoomies until someone gets a concussion. So do try to be careful with your loved ones.


Jake, you seem to have mastered the upside down bitey action, a key skill in every cracker dog. But your sleeping yoga poses are what turned my crank. I keep revisiting your photos and shaking my head. They make absolutely no sense at all. There’s not a hint of logic behind them. Does yoga and crackery work together? I think so. And that’s what makes you cracker. Maybe you should patent and trademark those moves: “The Cracker Jake” poses. Nameste, Guru Cracker Jake.


Lacie Beast, Sweetheart, you look like you’re more fun than a hot transfusion. Between your mental fits over appliances like the dryer, snow blower or even oven doors to your unstoppable protests over your sibling’s baths, there’s never a dull moment in your house. I see medication in the future. Not for you. For your poor mom. As if there’s a medicine strong enough to keep lid on your crack-a-tude.


Otis, my hipster pal, you may not be bouncing around like a lot of other crackers, but I can feel the crackery in your brains firing on all cylinders, all the way from Switzerland. The insane focus on those flowers—Must. Eat. Flowers. It’s evident there is something just a bit off in your mentals. And Bro, your toofers are top-of-the-heap.


R, dude, demented snow sprints and grass wriggling after miles of running are definite signs that crack-a-tude runs deep in your veins. You clearly demonstrate how cracker dogs have no stop or pause button. Maybe you should take up yoga to balance all that cracker yang.


Skye, your “normal” day is not normal baby cakes. I’m just sayin. Followed by a noon snooze with dreams so nutty that they knock you off your keister. Dreamin’ in cracker form makes you a 24/7 loon.


Stella, meditating cracker is most definitely a new cracker move to me. It just melted me, Sugar Plum. You are in fine cracker form with flopping ears, bossiness and egging out the cracker in others. But it’s the cracking yourself up that stoked me. I mean if you can’t crack yourself up, what’s the point?


Taffy, do you ever shut your jaws? It’s as if you’re all toof and just a little bit of floof. Who puts their head inside their sibling’s mouth? A certifiable nutjob. That’s who.


Winston, Amie and Bella, you know what I dig about your entry? Nobody would suspect the crackery running fierce in three of you. At first I thought you belonged in the cute category. Those ears just slay me. But seriously, how much crackery can a few sweet bassets dig up? Well, the zoomie photos speak for themselves. Only cracker dogs can zoomie after 87 hours of exercise. You are one big nut job. Times three.


The competition was fierce this year. While all the entries had elements of crackerdom, only a few dogs could be classified as insane mental fits cracker. And let’s be grateful to that. The world can only hold so many whack-a-doodles.


When the old lady reviewed my final decisions, she made a face at my decision for the tie for first place. “Loki,” she said, “we’re not made of money. Since we’re giving out the first place prize, you have to choose one winner, not two.” I cracked my best toofer smile at her demand:





Needless to say, she saw the light and muttered something about teaching an extra yoga class to raise the funds. So if anyone is about to blow a fuse because of the tie for first place, and would like to Monday morning quarterback this competition, lemme lay it on you: It ain’t easy being around this much cracker. Reading those cracker posts put me into my own state of crackerdom. So just sit back and dig the happenings, hipsters.





Third Place: R

R, you’re a dog after my own cracker heart. Not only do I get your mentals , but I dig them. I take one look at you and I read you 5 by 5 my hep brother. The pushiness with your mom and your sister are one thing that makes you cracker to the bone. But it was the demented photo with the purple eyes that put you in the winner’s circle. You look like you’re gonna come apart like a two-bit suitcase. I know exactly what was going on in your head. “Purple flowers are going to make me bust out of my skin!” Hey, it ain’t no sin to take off your skin and dance around in your bones. You catch my drift? Congratulations on 3rd place!







Second Place: Skye

Skye, it fries my wig that you only make contact with the ground 4.6 % of the time. And how you spend your day bouncing around and flopping your ears, full of joie de vivre pretty much describes the average cracker. But you had me at “open mouth.” I mean, what other way is there to approach any new situation? I’m going to give it to you straight, with no chaser: an open mouth policy is the cornerstone of every cracker. Use it proudly, my friend. Congratulations on 2nd place.








First Place Tie: Corbin

Corbin you are one long gone daddy with a list of crackery a mile long. And your entry turned my crank. You’re a naturally buzzin-cuzzin who takes his crackery on the road, in the lake, in the car and even in your sleep. Spring loaded legs and your obsession with kissing make you a total cracked-out mess. And while shredding is a natural normal doggie behavior, you take it to a new level, beyond stuffies, to tables, money and couches? Not submitting a destroyed couch photo almost cost you. But dude, all you really needed to do was submit this photo:






It trumped every other cracked out trait you had. You are a triple scream and one big yell. And that’s why you are a winner my friend. Congratulations on your first place victory.



First Place Tie: Taffy

Taffy, I could have been a low down chump given that you bested my cracker act at Mango Minster 2010. But I have to give you the straight dope: you know how to hit the crackery high and hard. Sure, it gives me a large charge to see a cracker butt bouncing around like a loose electron and head first into 2-inches of water no-doubt. And sure, your display of pearly whites every chance you get certainly earns you a cracker title. But who likes having their teeth cleaned every week? Not a single normal-minded dog would enjoy that. You don’t have just one screw loose. You have a whole can of loose screws in that cracked out brain. Congratulations, again, on first place, you whack-a-doodle.








WOW! There you have it my friends!
A big tie for first place and we are on to BEST IN SHOW!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Working Stiffs - WINNERS!


All winners, please remember that prizes will be sorted out AFTER the show.



Working Stiff sponsors are;

1st place - $25 gift certificate from Pet Expectations
2nd place - nommy Sammie Snacks from Sissy and Gretchen
3rd place - official Pittie Rescue t-shirt from Pink Daisy
Reader's Choice - goodie bag from our own Guardian of Ethics, Miss Abby

Your votes have been counted and there sure were a lot of them and another extremely close competition, but we have a winner!

For Working Stiffs Reader's Choice...













Congratulations, K, you are an inspiration to the Mango to just keep on truckin' no matter what.









Oh the beautiful and always elegant Miss Bunny read to deliver her decision.






Judge Bunny here revealing the winners of the Working Stiffs category. Before I reveal the winners, I'd like to say that I was extremely impressed by each and every entry. You all worked really hard to make my job a tough one, and you all deserve to win.

What I do know is that you're all winners in the eyes of someone very special, regardless of how you do in this competition. I'd also like to thank Mango for giving me the opportunity to judge this year. It has been an honor and privilege, and I've met a few new bloggers that I didn't know before.

This has been a wonderful experience, except for having to decide who should win.






Receiving Honorable Mention is Lucy Donkey.



Not only does she take the initiative to walk the horses at the barn, she also does tax returns on the side. If you haven't seen her kissing booth, well, you've missed out on...something! Lucy also has true entrepreneurial spirit and has been keeping the animals of Blogville looking good with her Avon products for a year or so now. She also is starting a new DJ service. I hope she's got a lot of U2 albums to keep Puddles' mom happy.







Also receiving Honorable Mention is Puddles, and not because she offered to send me something sparkly and pink in the mail.




For anyone worried about it, nothing sparkly or pink has graced my mailbox since Christmas. Puddles has a tough job as a mighty huntress there at her house. She keeps all sorts of vermin at bay (and probably makes them into a tasty Redneck stew afterwards) and keeps her family safe. She even has the scars scratches to prove it.








In Third Place is Abby.





Whew! I had to take a nap after reading all the work she has to do. Not only does she have the never ending job of trying to train her mom, she has all sorts of work to do on her estate, with added nursing duties when they're required. I'm awfully interested in how she crate-trained her humans. She also has taken on the role of "bad dog" simply so her sister can shine. What a girl she is!








In Second Place is K.




Miss K is a very versatile girl of all trades. K works hard as a model, (and I know how tough that job can be) and is even willing to share a kiss with her little brother for the sake of her mom's art. She's also learned to do a lot of things for her human to make life easier. Her human has some spine problems and K picks things up for her that she can't reach. She also goes along with her human every morning, ostensibly to be a photo model, but really to keep an eye on her human and make sure she's safe from the wildlife they live with. K is probably the best-photographed dog in the blogosphere!














That brings us to our Working Stiffs winner, Glacier.



Glacier has a very serious job as a seeing eye dog. He takes his girl to all sorts of exciting places and they're training for a triathlon. He even helped his girl carry the Olympic torch! This guy has a job that he trained very hard for and works long hours at. He has to be alert all the time when they're out and be able to resist all temptations, even stray french fries. As a therapy dog I have to ignore things when my human gives me the "leave it" command, but to have to do it all the time without somebody even telling you to takes a special kind of self control! I can't begin to say how much I admire Glacier's work ethic.


Congratulations to the winners, and also to all the entrants. Choosing amongst all of you was a really tough choice because you all work so hard. I salute each and every one of you!