These pups are pawsitively perfect!
Dozens of pooches dragged their owners to the newly renovated run in Greenpoint’s McGolrick Park on Saturday for a puppy party where the canines competed to be crowned top dog in a bevy of categories based on size, physical ability, and appearance, and the mom of one victorious furball said he can’t get enough of his prize.
“He was very excited and can not wait to finish the bag of treats he won,” said Monika Lagocki, whose beagle Pepper Jack won the best trick category — a questionable triumph considering the mutt’s stunt was skinning a tennis ball, according to his human.
Officials from Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund — a program that uses the money Exxon honchos forked over after the company’s neighborhood oil spill to fund earth-friendly initiatives — hosted the day to show off the group’s green projects, including the dog run. The canine-recreation area underwent a $526,000 upgrade with cash from the fund, which included adding more gravel and wood chips in addition to redesigning its drainage system, according to rep Mike Smith, a spokesman for the money managers.
And new benches arrived in the pup pen this month, putting the finishing touches on the facility, which officially reopened in September.
The four-legged competitors faced off in 14 other yearbook-superlative-like categories in addition to best trick, including fastest fetch, highest jump, prettiest eyes, and biggest dog — an honor that didn’t require a lick of effort from the Bernese mountain dog that clinched it, according to Smith.
“It was pretty easy, he didn’t have to do much except show up,” he said.
But the smallest dog contest drew stiff competition in the form of two tiny Chihuahuas, and the judge, who runs a Facebook page that advertises pooch play-dates in the park, ultimately bestowed the prize on both miniscule mutts.
Roughly 60 dogs pawed their way to the park for the event, and even those who didn’t win a prize took home milk bones and treats, making all of them champs, according to Smith.
“It was a great time, everyone was a winner,” he said.
