By Chris Mac Kenzie
For The Alpine Sun
     ALPINE — Be careful about venturing out on Saturday, June 4 because Alpine will be overrun by lions and dogs! That's the date of the First Annual Novelty Fun Dog Show, to be held at the Tom C. Dyke Park, 1000 Tavern Rd.
     The lions are the members of the Alpine Lions Club, sponsors of the show. The dog are pooches that just want to be winners for their owners who just want to have fun.
     And it should be lots of fun. For instance, does your dog look a lot like you? Do you like to dress up your pup? One owner has already promised to show a dog in a tutu.
     Do you have good legs and so does the dog? There's a class for the best six legs strutting the ring. The last class is listed as the “Dog Who Ate New York” (and looks it too). That one should bring out a bunch of chubby overweight dogs.
     Winners of all 20 classes will then compete for the title of “Top Novelty Fun Dog.” There'll be prizes and ribbons for the winners and vendors selling all kinds of “doggie stuff.” During the 30 minute lunch break, food sold by the Santee Lions Club will be available.
     Entry fees are $5 per class or $15 for four classes. For the Top Dog Class, the fee is $20.
     All show proceeds will go towards the purchase of a guide dog for an East County sight impaired person. The club's goal is $25,000 as training a guide a dog takes a year or more and is very expensive.
Becky Kirkwood, heading the show committee, commented that the Lions are grateful to their many sponsors who are helping to defray the expenses of staging the show, especially Viejas Casino and Turf Club which is loaning tents, all kinds of equipment, and personnel support. Tom Dyke, who has offered the use of his property, has also promised to get it ready with mowing and leveling. 
     “We are especially pleased to announce that Skip and Marilyn Harned will judge the fun dog show,” said Kirkwood. “They are a most appropriate choice since they have been raising and breeding Anatolian dogs for many years.”
     Serving with Kirkwood are John Hood, Jo Villa, Moura Everhart, Irene Griffin and Lauri Hallihan.

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