Midtown Mutt-Minster Dog Show

Before the competitions begin, obstacle courses are open to the public. A dog and it's owner are escorted through the course with an APA! volunteer, receiving tips on training and guiding the dog.

The melodies of harmonious, and somewhat chaotic, woofs creep into the auditory range as approaching Brush Square Park in downtown Austin. Slowly, the scene of a canine crowd and fellow human comes into the personal viewfinder. Pooches are donned in their Sunday-best collars, bandanas, costumes and, of course, colorful fur dye.

Reigning Mighty Mutt champ, Skip, is held by his owner after walking for the category "My Dog Most Resembles..." This year, Skip's owner says he most resembles "Puff the Magic Dragon" (explaining his choice of fur color). Skip was Mighty Mutt 2011 when he most resembled a zebra.

 The gathering is simultaneously fascinating and amusingly entertaining.  A passerby may assume the assembly of dog, human and all around animal-enthusiast is a pre-Halloween pet festival. However, that assumption would not be quite correct. Stop for a minute or two, and it’s apparent that the occasion is the Midtown Mutt-Minster Dog Show.

The show consists of fun and goofy categories and appropriate participants to go along with such contest categories. The show includes the categories of: Most Unidentifiable Breed, My Dog Most Resembles, Too Cute for Words, Funkiest Features, Best Champ, I’m Too Sexy for my Collar, Most Heart Warming Rescue Story, and the overall Mighty Mutt category.

Guthrie, first place in the "My Dog Most Resembles..." category, presents himself as a lion while walking for the show's judges. A shih tzu/yorkie mutt, Guthrie became a big hit throughout the day among the crowd. 

Although the show is an overall silly and fun event, there are a few aspects that have a deeper meaning. For Ellan Warren, a connection with the show’s deeper meaning is evident. The Mutt-Minster Dog Show benefits the non-profit organization, Austin Pets Alive! (APA!), which is an organization Warren has volunteered with in the past.

“I’ve fostered dogs a couple of times. I had to let go of some pit-bull foster puppies early because they got ringworm…” says Warren, “it was sad because I love dogs and helping them and people.”

Warren smiles with her dog, Heath, after Heath walks for the judges. 

Warren’s dog, Heath, participated in the “My Dog Most Resembles…” category. Of course, Heath most resembles a Heath chocolate bar. Warren explained that Heath is a big part of her life. She expressed interest in possibly fostering more dogs, but reassured that Heath keeps her plenty busy.

Heath does a final round of walking for the judges, along with the other contestants, for the "My Dog Most Resembles..." category. 

Along with benefitting a good cause, some participants manage to tug at the crowd’s heart. The day’s strongest example of this, and a crowd favorite, comes from Lucy. Lucy, a deaf and blind dog, participated in the “Most Heart Warming Rescue Story” category. Lucy was found with her deaf and blind brother, Charlie, near a railroad track barely alive. After being found, it was discovered that Lucy’s jaw was broken, which lead to it being wired shut for recovery.  

Deaf and blind, Lucy awaits a nudge or touch by her owner so that she knows when to walk forward for her showing in the "Most Heart Warming Rescue Story" category. 

Despite these hardships and although a little timid, Lucy carries herself as happily as the other dogs at the event. Keeping close to her owner’s side and waiting for a touch to the nose to signal the next command (Lucy is trained by touch), Lucy presents herself as a sweet, loving and appreciative pup. As the judges deliberate over the category’s winner, the crowd chants Lucy’s name and she is pronounced winner of the  “Most Heart Warming Rescue Story” category.

Guthrie looks on as Lucy sits alongside her owner during the "Mighty Mutt" category of the show. 

Lucy has an amazing story as well as a great personality to go along with that story, but she is not the only dog with a remarkable background. Sully, dubbed as the “tripawd” dog, took the title for the “Best Champ” category. Sully acquired his “tripawd” status in a devastating way. Sully was shot in his front right leg and left to die. Although he could not keep his leg, his owner helped keep and save his life.

Tripawd dog, Sully, watches as other contestants walk in the contest for the "Best Champ" category.

Like most “tripawd” dogs, Sully is now fully accustomed to walking and standing with only three legs. His missing leg has not stopped him from being a fun-loving, outgoing dog.

Following Sully’s and Lucy’s categories, along with the others, is a final showdown for the best of the best mutts, the winners of each category compete for the title of “Mighty Mutt.” Two names are continuously shouted from the crowd as the judges attempt to pick the winner. Sully’s name can be heard through the crowd, but Lucy’s name overpowers all others. From the sound of the crowd, the odds are in Lucy’s favor. However, as the judges finalize their decision and the MC begins to introduce the Mighty Mutt, it becomes more obvious that the winner is “tripawd” dog, Sully.

Despite a surprise from the crowd, it still roars with approval for the newly crowned Sully as Mighty Mutt of the Midtown-Mutt Minster Dog Show. As his owner smiles with excitement, Sully jumps up to embrace her and accepts his crown and trophy.

The crowd cheers as Sully jumps up to lick his owner's face from the excitement of winning Mighty Mutt 2012.

After Sully’s win and as the dog show comes to a close, the judges shed some light on the event and the benefits it provides. All three judges work and volunteer with APA! and expressed the extremely difficult decision of choosing a winner.

“When it came down to it, we had to go with the tripawd dog,” remarks one judge.

“We all obviously love dogs and helping those who have had a tough time,” another judge says, “it’s all about rescuing dogs and the good that comes out of it.”

As the event winds down, dogs and their owners begin to leave, still happy even without a winning title.

At the end of the day, the dog show was a success with a large turn out of people and canines. Laughs, cheers and countless “aw’s” filled the atmosphere of the Midtown Mutt-Minster Dog Show down in Brush Square Park. A number of remarkable and deserving dogs competed in the day’s events, but more importantly, extraordinary stories of rescue and pure devotion stuck with dog owners and onlookers alike.