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125 Celebrating
years
Volume 126, No. 29
Monday, September 26, 2016
1891
2016
NEWS
Presidential debate preview PAGE 4
SPORTS
Cross country
Rams have impressive outing in Roy Griak Invitational
PAGE 8
Claudia and her dog, Enzo, compete in the Junior Handler Division’s trick competition. PHOTO BY ASHLEY POTTS COLLEGIAN
The cute and the competitive gather at City Park for the annual Doggie Olympics By Ashley Potts @CSUCollegian
The normally peaceful City Park was filled with barks, claps and cheers Sunday as the Larimer Animal-People Partnership hosted the 21st annual Doggie Olympics. The Doggie Olympics consisted of competition on four levels in multiple events. Dogs could compete in the Competitive Group, Junior Group, Handler Group, Kids Group, Senior Dog Group, which was for dogs over ten, or the Recreational Group, which was for any non-competitive family dog. All dogs were welcome to
compete in the events regardless of their skill level. The categories included catching games, obstacle games, retrieving games, running games, obedience games and a few fun trick games. The catch games were judged by distance and number of paws on the ground. The obstacle, running, retrieving and obedience games were timed. The dogs were judged on their agility and obedience in the activities, and the top three dogs in each division were awarded medals and treats. LAPP President Mary Fristoe was there to help organize the event and to compete with her two dogs.
Fristoe said the purpose of the Doggie Olympics is to “build the bond with their animals and help them get out and do fun things.” It also serves as LAPP’s annual fundraiser, according to Fristoe. The event was sponsored by a number of pet-friendly companies. Booths were set up for animal shelters, Colorado State University’s Pets Forever club, dog photographers, veterinary clinics, pet stores and everything in between. The vendors handed out information and treats. Some booths were sponsors for the event, while others made donations to the LAPP in order to be featured.
The LAPP is an organization that brings therapy dogs to places in the community where they are most needed. “Service animals help people with disabilities, whereas therapy dogs help with emotional problems,” Fristoe said. Volunteers take dogs to places like nursing homes, special education classes and elementary schools, according to Fristoe. “It’s interesting to see how (a person’s) whole personality changes when they see the dogs,” LAPP member Mary Hanson said. Dogs of all sizes and ages competed in the Doggie Olympics, and a wide variety of breeds
were represented including Great Danes, Australian Shepherds, German Shorthaired Pointers, Springer Spaniels, Chihuahuas and many others. Favorite events included the Frisbee Catch, the Classic Obstacle Course and the Monday Morning Obstacle Course where dogs had to get out of a bed, take a bath in a kiddie pool, get dressed by their owner and run out the gate as fast as they could so that they didn’t “miss the bus.” There were a lot of different things for the dogs to jump onto and over, multiple toys to retrieve from water and land, and many, many distractions the see DOGGIE on page 3 >>