My Backyard

By Dawn P. Goff

Petsmart in North Attleboro celebrated a Birthday on April 21 and invited all the area dogs to the party. 

When we arrived each dog was given a party bag full with food, treats, a puzzle, and coupons for items from the cosponsor of the event Purina.  Then there were digital pictures to be taken of every party attendant as a keepsake of the party.

Of course no party is complete without party games and the Petsmart trainers Ally and Tara had one designed just for dogs, “musical sit”.  The dogs were divided into three groups, small, medium and large.  Since Tinker Bell was a newly graduate of Puppy Class and was now enrolled in the Petsmart Intermediate class I figured we had a good chance of doing well.  The rules were simple 1) you walked around in a circle to the music, 2) when the music stopped the dogs had to sit 3) the last sitter was out.

Before it began we practiced our sits, Tinker Bell was ready.  As we entered the ring with the 8 other little dogs Tinker Bell checked out the competition.  She was unfazed as we walked in a circle.  The music stopped and Tinker Bell sat on command, we were safe for the next round.  Again it stopped and again she sat and then it happened the music stopped and Tinker Bell stood there she had enough with the sitting and we were out of the running.  In the end it would be Lily the little Yorkie from Seekonk who would win the small dog group.  Lily never took her eyes off her owner Megan Kerrins and sat the minute the music stopped, she knew what she was doing.  Grandma Beth Kerrins watch proudly from the side.  

Next were the medium dogs.  Beth’s dog Daisy the Basset Hound was in this group along with a wide variety of dogs all eager to show their sitting abilities.  All eyes were on Toby, the English Springer Spaniel from Pawtucket, and his dad Ed Cunningham he seemed to be the one to beat.  Patsy Cunningham watched from the side she knew Toby could do it and she was not disappointed, Toby won the Medium dog competition.

The last group was the large dogs.  This was the smallest group but it was still a very competitive group.  The winner King a German Shepard from No Attleboro stood out as soon as he walked in with parent Moe Robitaille.

Finally, the sit off between all three winners began.  Lily was dwarfed by King and Tody but it didn’t bother her a bit.  She held her head high as she entered the ring.  Unfortunately King and Tody were just to fast for her she couldn’t get into her sit as fast as they could and she was eliminated.  King and Tody were an equally match and it took three rounds before Tody hesitated just a bit and King sat first.  Tara and Ally declared King the winner. 

Each group winner and the final winner received prizes from Petsmart. Win or Loose everyone had fun.