392 paws for a cause: Bark in the Park celebrates 20 years

Published 12:03 am Sunday, September 16, 2012

LAUREN WOOD | THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — Sara Hill gives her dog Diamond a kiss for a treat as they compete for the best trick category Saturday afternoon. Diamond has won the category two years in a row.

NATCHEZ — The Natchez-Adams County Humane Society celebrated the 20th anniversary of Bark in the Park Saturday with 215 supporters and 98 four-legged friends attending the canine celebrations.

Trophies were awarded to the winners in the following categories:

Cutest puppy

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– First place: Ace, owners Lauren and Jason Jackson

– Second place: Beaux, owner Nicholas Carroll

– Third place: Ford, owner Becca Caldwell

Best Dressed

– First place: Bandit, owners Sarah and Brandon Gousset

– Second place: Mollie, owner Nora Newman

– Third place: Quin, owners Bailey and Gillian Thompson

Most Beautiful

– First place: Porsha, owner Chris Grott

– Second place: Lucy, owners Jim and Charlotte Franklin

– Third place: Echo, owners Bill and Nancy Tennison

Most Handsome

– First place: Arnold, owner Danny Parson

– Second place: Beau, owners Charlotte and Jim Franklin

– Third place: Luther Dale, owner Debbie Tomaine

Best Owner/Dog Look-alike

– First place: Quin, owner Gillian Thompson

– Second place: Beaux, owner Nicholas Carroll

– Third place: Ford, owner Becca Caldwell

Best Trick

– First place: Diamond, owner Sarah Hill

– Second place: Molly Ray, owner Mary Ann Ray

– Third place: Dixie, owner Mark Caldwell

Best Smile: Mia, owner Ashley Bennett

Best Tail Wag: Echo, owners Bill and Nancy Tennison

Best Singer: Gigi, owner Joanna

Miss NACHS: Pink, owner Ruby Mooney

Mr. NACHS: Oscar, owners Craig and Suzy Barrows

Funds raised from the annual event fund the operations of the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.

LAUREN WOOD | THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — Duke jumps up on his owner Justin Smith’s shoulders to give him a kiss as Jayden Gardner, 6, pets Duke Saturday afternoon at the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society’s 20th annual Bark in the Park at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians.

LAUREN WOOD | THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — Echo, Bill and Nancy Tennison’s dog, waits in line with her fairy wings on to compete in the best dressed category Saturday afternoon at the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society’s 20th annual Bark in the Park at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians.

LAUREN WOOD | THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — Gillian Thompson gives her dog Quin a kiss while waiting in line for the best smile category Saturday afternoon at the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society’s 20th annual Bark in the Park at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians. Thompson and Quin also placed first in the look-alike category with matching Cathedral School uniforms.

LAUREN WOOD | THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — Natalie surveys Bark in the Park from underneath the picnic table where her owner Sydney Buckner sits during Saturday’s fundraiser event hosted by the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society. “I think she’s a little shell shocked,” said Buckner of Natalie’s first time attending the event.