Meet the winners of Chesapeake Family’s Pet Cover Contest

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Chesapeake Family’s Pet Contest winners

	Winner Meet Jewel whose name was inspired by the country singer, Jewel. As it turns out the name Jewel fits the pup perfectly because she is such a sweet dog, explains her mom, Dale Hall. Jewel lives on Kent Island in the land of duck hunting but she just wags her tail when she sees ducks or anything else that moves, including bugs. “When she was very young we would put her in a pen outside our window where she ended up lying on a lounge chair, looking like a princess,” Dale said. “One day I glanced out and saw that she was wagging her tail very enthusiastically so I wondered who was there. I went out to get a closer look … only to find bumblebees flying by her pen. She continues to wag her tail at bugs, squirrels, cats, dogs that snarl at her, and even reflections. She just loves every living thing!” At 60 pounds and a year old, Jewel still likes to climb up on her family’s laps and go to sleep while they are watching TV. As cover winner, Jewel will receive $100 gift certifi cate to Dirty Paws Dog Spa.
Family Favorite (most votes) Nala took our website by storm racking up the most votes in this year’s contest. The Sanders family of Pasadena rescued Nala, a German shepherd mix, when she was just 7 weeks old. Neighbors had been evicted and left the little puppy without heat, food or water. “They basically left her to die,” Jessica Sanders wrote. “My husband brought her home wrapped in his hoodie with the notion that we would be able to find her a ‘furever’ home.” Sanders had never had a dog, never wanted a dog and had no intention of keeping her, she said. “But after just a few short hours, I found myself at PetSmart buying ‘dog’ things. Since then she has become a true member of our family and my best friend.”
	Honorable mention Hurley belongs to Katie Bates and her fiancé, Andy Hall who split their time between Annapolis and Baltimore. Hurley is a 6-year-old, 16 pound, Yorkshire terrier. He thinks he is a big dog and he certainly acts like one, Bates explained. He’s quiet, except when he snores, and he loves to play. He can jump up in the air and catch toys with his front paws and loves tug-of-war. He is well dressed and has a large closet with everything from an argyle sweater to a yellow rain jacket.  He takes good care of his mom and dad and is a great study buddy, helping get his mom through undergraduate and now law school. Hurley “taught us about responsibility, helped us learn how to work together and showed us the meaning of unconditional love,” Bates said.
Best Story This is Kelso. He is about 4 years old and most likely a mix of cocker spaniel, golden retriever and Gordon setter. Kelso had been abused and put in a kill shelter in Georgia and was rescued by an animal rescue group in Virginia. When Diana Lukat of North Beach read his story online, she knew her family had to adopt him. When the family went to meet Kelso, they told their 6-year-old daughter, Lucie, that they were just visiting the doggy. They didn’t want to disappoint her if the adoption didn’t work out, Lukat said. “When we arrived at the pet adoption event, we walked around admiring all of the sweet dogs and then we finally saw Kelso,” she said. “He was standing on the sidewalk on a leash. Lucie walked up to Kelso and knelt down. Kelso walked right up to her and lay in her lap. At that moment, we knew Kelso was ours.”
	Kid’s best friend This is Prince Willie of Buckingham who is 2 years old and his buddy, Andrew Goss, who is 9. Prince Willie (named after Prince William who was married the summer he was born) is a puggle, part beagle and part pug, and he is a tad spoiled, explains mom Sharon Goss of Stevensville. He cuddles behind his family members when they are sleeping and gives multiple kisses. He has a very sweet personality and loves to be held like a baby. His buddy Andrew is a miracle because his mom was 43 when he was born. “We were trying to adopt and then wow, I got pregnant,” she said. Andrew loves his Prince Willie very much.
Best entry not a dog This is Bella and her very first pet rabbit. “We where visiting her grandpa in Illinois, who had rabbits on his farm,” explains mom Debby Paul if Pasadena. “She picked her because she was the softest one. She named her Baby White!”
	Best Catitutde Meet Snoopy. Noopers is her nickname because she is always snooping in places such as closets, explains owner Heather Norfolk of Salisbury. This was the first time Noopers got all dressed up and she didn’t mind it one bit, Norfolk explains. “She is our Angel Baby because she is so sweet and loves attention,” she said.
Best dressed This photo came from Madison Mia Lucente-Newman, 8, of Londontowne, with the following note: “Hi, my name is Madison. This is a picture of my dog Shuger. Shuger is 2 years old and is a girl. I love her because she loves to give kisses, she warms me up when I get cold, cheers me up when I get sad, is energetic when we come home and play, is tiny, listens good, eats my underwear and socks, is really funny, but the best part about Shuger is that she is the very best friend I COULD EVER WISH FOR!!!!!!” Madison’s mom Carla said that Madison often dresses Shugar up. Most recently, the she was wearing a diaper.
	Best photography This photo of Lazlo, Rozsa and their human sister, Emma Lane was taken by Megan Evans Photogrphy. Rozsa is 5 and Lazlo is 9 years old. They are vizslas, Hungarian bird dogs that need lots of exercise. “Our vet says a vizsla is ‘a lab times two,'” explains Diana Merkel Lane, of Odenton. The photo was taken as part of Emma’s senior picture session. They dogs are clearly part of the family.