By David Rogers. January 29, 2012. BLOWING ROCK -- Westminster Kennel Club's 136th annual dog show is not slated for another two weeks at New York City's Madison Square Garden, but Blowing Rock got a head start on all the action on Sunday, with its 4th annual "Winter Paws" convention of canine cuties.

Dismissing the "hotsy-totsy" showmanship and best of breed categories of Westminster, the 2012 edition of Winter Paws featured more down-to-earth, anybody-can-win categories, including: "Smallest Dog", "Best Tail Wagger", "Best Handshake", "Most Ear-Resistible", "Best Dog/Owner Lookalike", and "Most Mysterious Heritage", among others.

There was a category for just about everyone to enter, and many dogs entered multiple categories. Blowing Rock News was unable to confirm the offical number of entries, but believes it was between 30 and 40 animals.

Event chair for the 2012 event was Cathy Heninger.  She told Blowing Rock News in a pre-show interview, "This is a really enjoyable fundraiser for Watauga Humane Society, but it is also an opportunity for them to showcase the health and well-being of the animals that they have available for adoption."

At the start of the approximately two-hour event, the Humane Society paraded eight lovable dogs around the ring, all frisky and happy -- and hoping for adoption.

Heninger wanted to give a special thank-you to Humane Society board members Ellen Jo Kraemer and JoAnne Nelson for their organizational help, as well as sponsors Pet Place (Madlyn Cerley, who has been a sponsor from the beginning of the event), Village Inns of Blowing Rock, Wolf Pak Pet Services, and The Barkery of Banner Elk.

Bryan Dirk and Dr. Maggie Federhart served as judges for all categories.  Dirk is the new Director of Tennis for Yohnahlossee Resort, while Dr. Federhart is a veterinarian at Whispering Waters Animal Clinic in Boone.

The category winners included:

• Smallest Dog -- "Queeny", owned by Lori Dugger of Mountain City, TN
• Best Tail Wagger -- "Sam", owned by Michelle McKee of Boone, NC
• Best Handshake -- "Hoss", owned by Carol Smith of Gastonia, NC
• Best Smile -- "Penny", owned by Autumn Solis of Boone, NC
• Most Mysterious Heritage -- "Ollie", owned by Hayley Drobinski of Lenoir, NC
• Largest Dog -- "Sundance Kid", owned by Linda Liddle of Boone, NC
• Most Ear-Resistible Ears -- "Madelynne", owned by John Gaither of Blowing Rock, NC
• Most Adorable -- "Nugget", owned by Emma and Abby Nedeubrock of Boone, NC
• Most Glamorous -- "Abigail", owned by Brynn Jackson, West Jefferson, NC
• Best Dog/Owner Lookalike -- "Jackson", owned by Richard Benton, Wilkesboro, NC

The "People's Choice" grand prize winner chosen by applause from all of the category winners was "Sundance Kid."  Runner-up was "Madelynne".

Heninger told Blowing Rock News afterwards, "This was fun, and by all reports, this was among the smoothest in execution. We are thankful, of course, to the dog owners, the Humane Society, the judges and the sponsors, but we are especially grateful for the contributions of the many volunteers who helped us, as well as all of the people who simply came to enjoy the afternoon with us!"

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