This fall has certainly gone to the dogs! Remember when that expression meant things weren't going well? Nowadays, dogs have it better than some of us or maybe we are better because of some of them. There's the truth of it. Much has happened in the first two weeks including my semi-annual sojourn to Hilton Head Island and near impossible return to work after days lolling in a beach chair. Thus I missed most of this fall fun.

Starting with September 27th, Butler University hosted its annual Butler Bulldog Beauty Contest as part of its homecoming celebrations. As always this is a riotous event because there are between 80 to 100 bulldogs attired in every imaginable creation under the sun to try to outdo the others. I always report on it, so by now faithful readers are well aware of this raucous good time. It's free and so fun to attend. Every kid in our community should experience it at least once. I know you are always looking for things to do with the kids.

The feast of St. Francis of Assisi was October 4th and churches all around us commemorated the patron saint of animals by blessing pets which was especially good for rescued and shelter pets. Speaking of which, as I write this, the Mega Adoption event is being held at the State Fairgrounds. This is their second such event, the first was last summer where over 1,000 pets were adopted in the first day causing them to run out. They had to bring in more to cover the advertised second day. This is to flush out the animal care and control shelter which is a kill shelter. Kudos to all those volunteers!

October 8th the Warfleigh neighborhood of Broad Ripple had their first community dog walk. The goal of the dog walk program was to get neighbors knowing neighbors and to encourage them to use dog walks, organized or otherwise, as an opportunity to observe and report suspicious activity to police. They anticipated 40 dogs with neighbors to stroll this inaugural event. It was a beautiful evening.

October 11th the annual GermanFest was held at the historic Athenaeum downtown on Michigan Street where the highlight is the wiener dog races. They had 45 dachshunds registered and expected possibly 60. That is always a good time with beer and a 5K walk, games and prizes. Someday I have to skip work to see those wiener dogs.

Now back to that beach chair at Hilton Head Island. After Labor Day dogs can go to the beach unleashed. While we were sitting there a large poodle named Smedley approached us. I told the man walking him that the dog knew dog people when he saw them, that we owned two pet supply stores. His comment was "When are you bringing one here? I am a professional dog walker and people here have nowhere to buy better foods and they want them." The man makes $60,000 a year walking dogs and pet sitting. One of his clients is Henry Kissinger's secretary who is, of course, retired. He told us he would help manage it and gave us his card after more conversation. They walked away and we sat there and imagined a new store called "Island Dogs" with a reworked logo-our red dog with sunglasses and a large crab pinching his nose. The demographics and the seasonality of it aren't good but it's a dream. His card is on my kitchen counter. It has a palm tree on it. Life is good!

The picture above is of our pal Trip (Butler Blue III) as he stopped by our store to pick up all the wonderful prizes that were given at his beauty contest. Doesn't he look glamorous? Pets make you smile! Enjoy this fall beauty.