Carson City's own Budd the golden retriever, featured in so many local parades behind the wheel of his owner's 1926 Model T Ford, is well on his way to fame and fortune.
A fixture on the local parade circuit, Budd won the first-ever "People and their Animals Competition" Saturday at S&W Feeds on Curry Street. Budd is known for his driving abilities, but he really "put on the dog" for this competition, expressing his disdain for politicians on command, by lifting his leg on a bale of hay.
"This is the third dog I've trained to drive," said owner Bill Williamson. "I've been working with him since he was six months old. He learns pretty fast, but I could train almost any dog to do the same thing."
The title earns Budd a special package of doggie products and a shot at the national competition. Stan Kolbus, owner of S&W Feed, said similar competitions are scheduled in Las Vegas and Northern and Southern California. A tape of the winner in each region will be submitted for the national title, the first prize $10,000. The second-prize winner will earn $5,000 and the third, $3,000.
"Purina is very excited about this competition and they're promoting hard," Kolbus said.
Second place went to the mother-daughter team of Nel and Pogo, two biscuit-flipping yellow Laboradors owned by Minden residents Leslie and Brianne Burnside. Melley the appaloosa took the third slot, charming the audience when she nodded for a treat. Melley was shown by San Diego resident Jonathan Droessler.
The competition got a late start, but no one seemed to mind. The drinks were ice cold and company was good. About 50 people sat on hay bales behind S&W Feed and Joe Cuoti of Gustine, Calif., barbecued up a batch of his special marinated turkey, the main course for the free lunch.
The store was buzzing and Douglas County Sheriff's Mounted Posse, Carson City Animal Services and Carson Valley Future Farmers of America joined a number of local vendors for the event.