The catwalk has gone to the dogs.
Dogs of all breeds and sizes appeared fetching in their canine finery Saturday morning when they took over the catwalk to thunderous rounds of applause.
The fashion show was a component of the Friends of Animal Rescue benefit at South Padre Island. The benefit, dubbed “Dog Gone Wedding,” was the theme of Saturday’s benefit at Louie’s Backyard. Judging categories consisted of smallest dog, largest dog, best trick, best dressed guest, best dressed bride and best dressed groom. The celebration also encompassed a bona fide wedding complete with dog digestive-friendly cake in the shape of a bone.
On hand for the parade of pooches was Princess Misha. She is a cocker spaniel and terrier mix who has participated in the benefit before. Dolled up in a pink seersucker dress before changing into her tiara and leopard-print dress for her competition, she was adorable as she pranced and twirled for her caregivers.
Her parents, LaVon and Harold Langston of Topeka, Kan., deem her as one of their children.
“She rules our home as Princess,” LaVon said. “She’s become like a ‘derson’ (dog meets person) to us.”
Misha is not only a natural beauty, but LaVon and Harold ensure she is impeccably groomed, right down to her red nail polish. She is fitted with her own sunglasses and visor and has a personalized traveling case.
The Langstons bought her at a flea market in Brownsville a few years ago. Harold could be overheard lovingly singing to her.
“She’s going to the chapel, but she’s not going to get married …”
A handsome, heart-warming pair that were tying the knot Saturday were CoCo, a Maltese breed that was rescued, and her diminutive tan-hued groom, Blackee. His alter ego emerged as he was knighted as “The Duke of Thunderbird” for his special day, said his Mom, Anne Newman of Albuquerque, N.M.
Anne and her lifelong friend, CK Carver of Corpus Christi, were there to root on their furry friends. Before exchanging their bow-wow vows and changing into their wedding attire, CoCo and “The Duke” delighted the large crowd in their pink and blue Thunderbird-inspired regalia.
A variety of dogs, including the black-and-white behemoth Joker, an affable Great Dane weighing in at, no joke, more than 200 pounds, could be observed mingling with other dogs much smaller than him. Joker was soaking up the affection thrown his way, and he was also among the dogs getting hitched Saturday.
The dogs rubbed noses and sniffed each other as their humans swapped stories and shared laughs. It was undeniable that Joker, who belongs to Nellie King of Maine, was a formidable contender for the large dog contest until his friendly competitor, Maximums, a fluffy Romanian shepherd, arrived.
“He’s only 7 months old,” said his parents, James and Billie Reese, who hail from Maryland.
Luckily for both families, the dogs earned trophies in the category.
With the array of unique colorful characters strolling around the premises, it must have been difficult to judge the competition. According to Lora McCarthy, she was looking at dog’s individual style and taste.
“Who they’re wearing, what designer coming up to the Oscars,” she said when asked about what traits she was seeking in winners. Lora, and her husband, Leonard, are faithful supporters of Friends of Animal Rescue, they say, so they were overjoyed to serve as judges.
The dogs were critiqued as they strutted across the stage, stopping momentarily to perhaps scratch. Some dogs were bashful, while others, such as Susan Soule’s pup, Mercedes, a Maltese-Yorkie mix, were right at home on the stage.
Catherine Carter, president of Friends of Animal Rescue, and Sherry Pindard, outreach coordinator of Friends of Animal Rescue, said they are fiercely proud to serve as “a voice for the animals.” If a pet is lost, they swiftly distribute photos of the pet to area outlets using fax machines. They also have a website,is designed to reconnect people with their lost pets. They also ensure that animals receive proper care until they can be adopted. Both women add that they have a high success rate in reuniting families with their pets.
Carter said it is a collaborative effort among the city, its residents and the organization.
“We all work very well together to make this happen,” Carter said. “It helps people get their babies back.”
According to Pindard, in the last three years, Friends of Animal Rescue has helped more than 600 animals either be adopted or reunited with their families. One such dog that was adopted Saturday is Benji. He now has a new forever mom in Ruth Evans.
To adopt a dog, there is a process, Carter said. You fill out an application, have your references checked and pay an $80 adoption fee, which covers the cost of shots, spaying or neutering.