The 2nd annual “Strut Your Mutt” charity walk at the Villages Polo Fields Saturday morning brought out more than 350 dogs. A brisk morning became a less chilly, more bright and sunny as the dogs and their owners strutted their stuff, competed for prizes, and shared their love of all breeds with their friends and neighbors.
It all happened while raising money for Sumter County Humane Society, who was on-hand with dogs they have currently available for adoption. Representatives from Buffalo Ridge Animal Hospital, whose office also showcases dogs available for adoption from Sumter County, said that while no dogs were able to be taken home on the day of the Strut, dozens of applications were taken and will move forward to send these animals to loving forever-homes. And 100 percent of funds raised by Saturday’s Strut will go to help area animals in need.
English Bulldog Brutus Maximus, who comes from a line of champions, is a hard-working therapy dog as a member of the Dynamic Dog Therapy Team. Today was for fun, though, and he took the day off, enjoying the morning with his owner Stuart Feinberg of the Village of Pennecamp.
Facebook-famous Yorkipoo “Little Charley in The Villages” not only strutted, but tooled around the event in his own red convertible. The lucky dog also took home a gift basket prize from event sponsor Paws for A Moment after winning the talent competition with his well-honed skill of barking well at the sound of a doorbell.
Scooter the DJ kept the morning moving with a little help from his clown friends from Clown Avenue 179, Peeches and Teddy Bear (also known as Donna Price from Amelia and Joan Picarelli from the village of Duval.)
As the event closed, “Strut Your Mutt” organizer Debbie Smith seemed happy with how the morning went. When asked for her title, she said simply, “Just a Villager who wants to help out the Humane Society.” She described this year’s Strut as, “Awesome, even bigger than last year. But not as big is it’s going to be next year.” She said last night before falling asleep, she mulled over the possibility of a “Jail & Bail” for 2017.
