By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS – Frisbees were flying and well trained dogs were running and leaping in the air to catch them.
"America's Best Frisbee Dogs," raised by Bill Camp in Cassopolis, put on two performances Saturday at the Cass County Council on Aging (COA).
His amazing dogs have been seen on television and during halftime of professional sport teams.
The event was the annual Strut Your Mutt fundraiser to help the Cass County Animal Shelter.
Many vendors were set up along the COA's walking track offering pet products and services. Bergman Veterinary Clinic was represented along with organizations which use dogs to aid the handicapped.
The canine competition saw many entries and a difficult decision for the judges. The contests included most beautiful, best dressed and most talented dogs.
Winners of the best dressed included the top dog, Sailor, a pug dressed as a turkey. Sailor, owned by Charlene Angell of Dowagiac, doesn't have the use of his back legs.
First runner up were the team of Dora and Copper, both dogs were dressed as sheep. Dora, a five-year-old Jack Russell is owned by Jamie Suseland, 9 of Vandalia and Copper is owned by Sara Bussey of Jones.
The second runner up was Melvin, another pug, looking dapper in his hat and coat, owned by Darlene McIntyre of Cassopolis.
Most beautiful was extremely difficult to judge with 31 entries. The top dog was Miah, a cocker spaniel owned by Cassopolis Village President Clare Mallo.
First runner up was Briskso, a boxer owned by Ramiro Pompey of Cassopolis and second runner-up was Smokey, a rather large 10-month old Golden Doodle, already 70 pounds owned by Scarlet Bachman of Niles.
Tricks were on display also with a sheltie named Laddie, owned by Karly Simpson of Niles, the best show off.
Caesar, a shepherd owned by Candy Swathwood of South Bend, Ind. was first runner-up and Major, a mix adopted from the Cass County Animal Shelter, owned by Martin Bussey of Jones was second runner-up.