Dogs and their owners packed America the Beautiful Park Saturday morning, eager for a tail-wagging good time. Pocket-sized Pomeranians and standard poodles joined dogs of all breeds to trot alongside their owners at the Ruff Life Freedom five kilometer run and walk, a fundraiser for National Mill Dog Rescue. After the hard work was done, confident participants stuck around to try their hand, or paw, in competitions. ?We do end up looking like our animals after a while,? an announcer said, summoning owners and their dogs to compete in a look alike competition. Nine-year-old Alexis Jacques and her rat terrier and poodle mix sported matching pink tutus and went home with the grand prize of a $25 gift card. ?It feels great,? Jacques said, beaming as she restrained her dog Zoey from scurrying across the field. Beside the fact that her pooch likes to eat everything in sight, Jacques said their personalities are similar, too: They?re energetic and spunky. Runner-up Kerri Howard and her Chihuahua Charlie Brown showcased their resemblance with matching baseball caps. ?We always wear hats because he gets sunburns, and they can get skin cancer,? Howard said, pointing to her dog?s black, miniature baseball cap. She had her hands full with the leashes of three other dogs, two of which were foster dogs and from the National Mill Dog Rescue. A trio stole the judge?s praise for the best trick contest. Dawn Sommers? Australian shepherd weaved in and out of her legs as she walked across the grass, her Chihuahua then darting between the shepherd?s legs. Sommers and her companions, both rescue dogs, are self-taught in their tricks. ?I love dog training,? she said. Her Chihuahua is a therapy dog and also competes in agility competitions. New to Colorado Springs, Sommers found out about the run and walk while in search of causes to get involved with. ?It?s amazing what rescue dogs can do,? she said.... Click here to continue to the story
