Winners
Best of Show: Clyde, owner Tammy McGill
Cutest small dog: Sammy, Owner Carol Grogan
Cutest medium dog: Slugger, Owner Rhonda Jarman
Cutest large dog: Duke, Owner Karmen Pharris
Best costume: Bear, Owner Clara Balwin
Ugliest: Buffy, Owner Eva Hawkins
Best trick: Shep, Owner McKenna Copeland
Best junior: McKenna Copeland with dog Shep
Best non-sporting: Clyde, Owner Tammy McGill
Best herding: Scout
Best terrier: Taki
He has a blog and his own Facebook page, and now French bulldog Clyde has a blue "Best of Show" ribbon from the Dawson County Humane Society's Pups in the Park Dog Show at Rock Creek Park.
Clyde also took the top prize Saturday for the best non-sporting dog to his home in Sugar Hill.
"Not too bad for a 4-month-old," his handler Tammy McGill said, as she cuddled her baby in her arms.
It was also a proud day for South Forsyth High School student McKenna Copeland, who in only her second showing won best junior handler.
Her pooch Shep, a purebred border collie she got for her birthday from a Dawsonville breeder, won for the best trick.
"I'm pretty proud of him," she said. "He dock dives. He got invited to Purina Farms next month, and I've only had him a year. We're trying to get him to agility training."
A collaborative effort of several local organizations, proceeds from the dog show will benefit the local shelter.
"Oh my gosh, our volunteers are just incredible," said Carolyn Bowen, humane society president. "We had people from 4H. We had the Interact Club, the Juniorettes, and we had so many volunteers coming out and helping.
"It's just wonderful to see the community come together to support the animals like they did today."
With a mission to give shelter to homeless dogs and cats of Dawson County, the humane society is funded through grants, donations, fundraisers and proceeds from a re-sale shop, along with monetary support from Dawson through an animal control contract.
"We struggle, and the funds will go to take care of the animals. It's to go for their feeding and medication and all the stuff you have to do to take care of an animal," Bowen said.
In addition to a dog contest to celebrate the cutest, ugliest and best costume, there were also demonstrations from dogs trained for search and rescue missions and a cow bingo.
"It was so much fun," Bowen said. "When the contest began, there were lots of dogs and people here. I was actually really pleased about the turnout, especially with the weather being like it is.
"We had vendors calling first thing this morning asking if we were going to call it off, but we didn't and we've had a great day."