Big Bear Lake, Ca May 22, 2011 12:00 pm – The first ever Strut Your Mutt event in Big Bear brought close to 50 dogs and their owners to Swim Beach Saturday. The silly-style dog show featured 10 contests including owner and pet look-a-likes, costumes, dog and owner howling, cutest and ugliest dogs, puppy love kisses, and the newspaper fetch sponsored by the Big Bear Grizzly. The event was capped by the Best in Show contest determined by the two judges with audience participation. The Strut Your Mutt event is the creation of Big Bear Valley Recreation & Park District Superintendent Glenn Jacklin. He visited and participated as a judge in a similar event in Las Vegas and thought the silly contest format would be a good idea for Big Bear. Jacklin recruited Natural Balance Pet Food to provide prizes, as well as local sponsors DIY Hardware, the Fish Locker, Greg’s Automotive, Linda’s Critter Sitting, VCA Lakeside Animal Hospital, and dog trainer MB Bradshaw. Sponsors offered pet care information and give-aways, while Jacklin and Lorie Judd, Assistant Regional Director with the Recreation & Park District judged the contests in the show ring. When asked if the event would be held again, Jacklin replied, “Definitely. Strut Your Mutt will be back next year the weekend before Memorial Day.”
