The 20th Dog Days Dog Show held Saturday in the Keach Parking Lot in downtown Seymour featured dogs that stand out in many different ways.
Some had long tails or long ears, while others had a nice smile or were dressed the best. Others could do the best trick or they best resembled their owner.
But the dog that often shines the most is the one that has the most interesting rescue story, and that was no different this year.
Gabby, adopted about a year and a half ago by Beth Butler of Seymour, was the winner in that category.
The French bulldog spent the first five years or her life in a puppy mill in northern Ohio.
“I don’t know how many litters she had,” Butler said. “I assume a lot.”
When she picked up Gabby from a breeder, she was retired and did not have a name.
“She was only known by her chip number,” Butler said. “We brought her home and gave her the name Gabby, and she learned that within a week. She’s just living her best life now. No more puppies.”
Butler said she had participated in the Dog Days Dog Show several years ago but not recently. She just decided to bring Gabby, which also participated in the best smile category, to the show.
Butler said she has two more rescue dogs, both Shiz Tsus, at home, Bella and Toby, but decided not to bring them.
Other categories in the show were longest tail, longest ears, most hair, oldest, best dressed, most unique, dog most resembling owner, precious puppy and best trick. A hot dog hunt also was open to all contestants.
Doug Montgomery, who lives across the street from the Keach Parking Lot at Fourth and Walnut streets, said Cody, his 8-year-old Samoyed-husky mix, wouldn’t let him leave him behind in the backyard at home with all of the dogs and activity at the show.
“He has been here before,” Montgomery said. “My kids liked to bring him and brought his predecessor.”
Cody spent much of the time waiting for the show to begin barking at the other dogs and people, but he calmed down just before it was showtime. Cody wound up winning the most hair category.
P.J. Weir brought out her four Goldendoodles, Ava, Benji, Clifford and Dwight, to the show.
“I used to breed them but don’t anymore,” Weir said.
Like Cody, the four were a handful before and during the show.
“They think everyone is their friends,” she said.
All four won their categories: Ava won for longest ears, Dwight won most unique, Clifford won for longest tail and Benji took home the prize for best trick.
Tammy Bode’s 2-year-old miniature dachshund, Anastasia, walked away with the best dressed award.
“She is a princess. We like to dress her up,” the Seymour woman said. “We have a scrapbook for her, so it will be another thing to put in her scrapbook.”
The Humane Society of Jackson County has been sponsoring the show for about 10 years after taking it over from Seymour Main Street, which started it two decades ago, organizer Ellen Mirer of Seymour said. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society.
“It’s just something for the people of Seymour to get to do with their dogs,” she said. “There’s not that many places people can take their dogs to. It’s just for people to be able to go out and have fun with their dogs.”
Zach Spicer, a reporter with The Tribune, handled the emcee job this year, and members of Girl Scout troops 1236 and 1239 helped with the show. The judges were Dr. Paul Rennekamp with St. Francis Pet Hospital and Kim Louden and Heather Carter, both with Seymour Animal Hospital.