By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The breezy day may have reminded all the dogs at Highway 51 Park in LaPlace of sticking their heads out the car window because pets and owners all seemed to be having a great time at the third annual Pups in the Park.

“I think it was our best yet,” said Bill Ironside, who organized the event on behalf of the Rotary Club of LaPlace. “It was a huge success.”

This year’s event seemed to eclipse the previous year’s in almost every way. Registered canines, who received a commemorative bandana, increased by 50 percent this year compared to 2010.

“We probably had three or four hundred people out there,” said Ironside.

Additionally, the event raised more than $7,000, an increase of 31 percent over last year. The funds will be donated to the St. John Animal Shelter for parvo vaccinations. Ironside said the money should be able to supply the vaccine for about two years.

Last year, the money was donated to a number of charities advocating animals, but Ironside said he was happy to return to giving to the St. John Animal Shelter this year.

“Most of them were outside the parish, and we wanted to focus on St. John,” he said.

One of the main attractions of the event was the contests, which were handled by Amy Perret and the St. John 4-H Club this year. With contests ranging from cutest dog to best dressed to dog/owner look-a-like, there was something for just about every dog.

The winners of this year’s contests were:

• Cutest: Daisy, owner Amber Labat

• Ugliest: Max, owner Lorraine McIntyre

• Biggest ears: Amber, owner Kathy Melton

• Longest tail: Austin, owner Bobby Boudreaux

• Look-a-like: GiGi, owner Leslie Foret

• Best trick: Pudgie, owner Joshua Brady

• Best dressed: Anabelle, owner Keith Bourgeois

There was at least one other lucky dog there that day. Lillie Smith saw a puppy out at the park that she decided to give a permanent home.

“He’s just so cute,” said Smith, clutching her new best friend.

Bobby and Joann Boudreaux, who own Great Danes Austin and Sam, have been attending the event since 2009.

“I think it’s nice. I really do,” said Joann. “The contests are awesome, and a lot of people came out.”

A date of March 24, 2012, has already been set for next year’s Pups in the Park event.