“Yesterday I was a dog. Today I’m a dog. Tomorrow I’ll probably still be a dog. Sigh! There’s so little hope for advancement.”

– Snoopy, Charles M. Schulz

There is such great joy found in each and every pet we reside with. Our pets are not judgmental, opinionated or biased. They know no evil, just simply love. You provide food and shelter and they become your best friend for the time they spend on earth. Such a loving and fulfilling experience, an experience my family has enjoyed over the past decades. To sit on a cold winter night with my fireplace in sight I will always find my little friend relaxing nearby.

Our ancestors have accumulated too many stories to share in my column, but I can assure you that each and every story I have heard about the love of a dog is heartfelt, honest and so deeply sincere.

I have shared stories about stray dogs wandering into both the New Hampshire State Prison and the New Hampshire State Hospital over a century ago and the results of this presence has been so positive. In both instances, the stray dogs became a part of the everyday lives lived and benefited many patients and inmates. Over time the dogs did stay and were simply referred to as therapy dogs, allowing both dogs at both locations to live loving lives of leisure in return for the comfort they provided to all.

With our love of dogs, we find a very long history of contests that involve every imaginable subject.

For as long as there have been dogs there have been unique ways to recognize and remember them. Such was the case over in Northwood about 70 years ago.

It was back in September of 1956 when the people living in Northwood decided to implement a contest focused on their best friends. The contest was advertised as the “Ugliest, Dirtiest Dogs Will Win at Northwood.” It was lighthearted and good natured, nothing fancy but certainly with kind thoughts for every dog living in town. You didn’t have to be a show dog, a fancy breed, a big dog or a small dog. You didn’t need to know fancy tricks and you really didn’t need to obey commands. You just had to show up to qualify for the winner’s circle and you would be handsomely rewarded by the Northwood panel of judges.

The contest was advertised and billboards were placed around town. The event would be held on Sept. 8 at 2:30 p.m. during the Northwood Fair. It provided an opportunity to win some wonderful prizes and have some wonderful enjoyment too. Though they did not require a pedigree, they did require 25 cents to enter your dog in the contest. The event started with a parade featuring all of the dogs that were to be entered in the contest. Your contestant dog had to be leashed with the registration card included.

The Best Dog in Show was to be awarded a $5 prize, Second Best Dog in Show would earn $3 and the Third Best Dog in Show would win $2. There was also a series of Blue and Red Ribbons to be awarded for best-looking dog, ugliest-looking dog, dog with the longest tail, dog with the shortest tail, dog with the longest coat, dirtiest dog, biggest dog, smallest dog, funniest dog, dog with the longest legs, dog with the shortest legs, the chubbiest dog, the thinnest dog, dog with the longest ears and dog with the shortest ears.

It would seem that every dog in town would be a winner with this criteria. Welches Market and Kasco Dog Food Company provided all winners with a five-pound bag of Kasco dog food.

With my love of dogs, I would certainly have been making each and every dog a winner. I do hope our ancestors enjoyed this loving event. There are times in life when a simple objective brings many people together for the common good. People working for the love of their dogs, short, tall, long tails, short tails, small dogs, big dogs and funny dogs too.