Pierce goes 'Nuts for Mutts'

The eighth Annual Nuts for Mutts Dog Show & Pet Fair took place once again at Pierce College’s Shepard Stadium Sunday to promote local and nationwide dog adoptions and rescues.

The event benefitted the nonprofit animal rescue organization New Leash on Life.
The show offered fun family competitions like Best Kisser, Most Ball Crazy, and Best Mix—Small and Large Breed for “mutts only” in front of a panel of celebrity judges including Mark Thompson (“Mark & Brian,” the morning talk show on 95.5 KLOS), Kimberly Caldwell (Season 2 American Idol contestant and “Idol Wrap” TV Guide Host), and Shirley Jones (“The Partridge Family”).

Vendors sold pet clothing and toys, and an on-site pet photographer was available with a professional portable studio provided by Paw Prints Portraiture.

“Doggie pools” were placed throughout the stadium to provide a chance for dogs to cool off in the 94-degree weather. Organizations including the Animal Advocates Alliance, New Leash on Life and the Dawg Squad were brought plenty of dogs ready to be adopted and rescued, and took in plenty of visitors who were looking to adopt.

Dimitry Spektor, a vet-tech major at Pierce, attended the event with the Dawg Squad and Lansky, a pit-bull mix, to find the dog a home. Lansky was rescued from a shelter in Ohio where harsher kill laws are enforced.

Anyone who would like to adopt a dog, or put one up for adoption, can visit www.NewLeash.org (New Leash on Life), www.AnimalAdvocatesAlliance.org (AAA), or visit Lansky at www.dawgsquad.org.