 | | | Artist Winston Smith and the three Dogs. Photo Central Services | | | | | | Mature residents will recognize the beloved smiling icons of the now defunct hot dog chain that will be visiting Lafayette's Dogtown Downtown this Saturday, April 11. Although the last of the Bay Area restaurants closed in 1986, the 10-foot-tall grinning dachshunds wearing bow ties and chef's hats are still with us. Age and California's sunshine have been a little hard on the pooches, so current owner of three dog heads, John Law, initiated a Kickstarter campaign that garnered over $51,000 from 818 backers to pay for extensive refurbishment, complete with customized interior structural supports to replace the rusted out framing and professional paint and fiberglass work from top notch auto painters.
When talking about tracking down the dog head owner, organizer extraordinaire of the Dogtown Downtown event and executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, Jay Lifson, joked: "I stalked him online." He had heard about them and wanted to see if they could make an appearance. Turns out, Law is happy to share the pups - Manny, Moe and Jack, also known as the "Holy Dogminican Order" - at public events, gratis. The head float will be available for photos, but some may have their facelifts only partially complete. It's no small feat to bring back the luxurious shine to their coats and spruce up their attire.
Saturday's Dogtown event starts at 10 a.m. with a dog parade strolling from Plaza Park to the Library. This second annual celebration of all things dog will include working dogs and canine agility demonstrations, dog competitions, creative crafts and more. Proud pooch owners who bear a resemblance to their furry friends are invited to compete in the "Looks Most Like Owner" event. Dog lovers are invited to partake in the best costume, best of show and best dog-owner team trick - kind of like the Westminster Kennel Club showdown, but way more casual and fun. There will also be veterinary specialists offering advice inside the Library; well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Thinking about adoption? Both the Animal Rescue Foundation and Contra Costa Animal Services will be offering pet adoptions. There will also be a special reading by author Dorothy Hinshaw Patent of her heartwarming book, "Saving Audi: A pit bull puppy gets a second chance." The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is sponsored by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, the Lafayette Library and Learning Center and the City of Lafayette.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA