May 13, 2006 – Saturday was dogs' night out as 28 of St. John's finest pooches turned out for the annual Wagapalooza held at Winston Wells Ball Field in Cruz Bay.
Several hundred people were on hand to mix and mingle, listen to the Love City Pan Dragons, enjoy hot dogs and burgers, and, of course, watch the dog show.
St. John resident Marcia Griswald's Miss Maggie May came dressed as a fish with Griswald carrying a fishing pole. After Miss Maggie May took her turn in the rink, she was reluctant to leave.
"There's one that got away," master of ceremonies Paul Devine quipped.
St. John resident Nancy Nemeth had the same problem. With a mop on her head, Nemeth was dressed to look like her shaggy dog, Bundas. Unfortunately for Nemeth, Bundas stopped dead and wouldn't move. Finally, after lots of coaxing, the dog left the ring.
Patty Mahoney of St. John may have had one of the best behaved dogs. Molly sat and stood right on cue, shook her hand, and when Mahoney spit treats out of her mouth, Molly caught them in her mouth.
While the dogs were the main event, a cageful of cute kittens got lots of attention.
"All I want to do is pet one," St. John resident Ja'le Stephens, 7, said.
Byron Pascal, a Houston resident with a house on St. John, said if he could, he'd take one kitten back to Texas with him. "She's so sweet," he said, pointing to a gray one.
Early in the evening, shelter manager Connie Joseph said that so far no one at signed up to adopt one.
However, St. John resident Sharon Ehle said she expected to bring her new dog home from the Animal Care Center of St. John shelter Tuesday. "I bought a bed for my new baby," she said, displaying a box with a doggie bed.
Wagapalooza's main purpose is to raise money for the Animal Care Center of St. John. The organization uses the money raised to fund its numerous programs, including spaying and neutering animals that find their way to the shelter.
Carole DeSenne and Lonnie Willis of the St. John Community Foundation manned the sno-cone and popcorn booth. DeSenne explained that the organization has the machines and the expertise to run them, so they donate their efforts at various fundraising events.
"It's our contribution to the Animal Care Center," DeSenne said.
St. John resident Bonny Corbeil was on hand with her "Be Kind to Animals" message. "If you're kind to animals you become a better person," she said.
Corbeil had certificates on hand for children to pledge that they'd be kind to animals.
Wagapalooza Results
Best in show – Frisbee, owned by Lee Hoffmeister
Best trick
1. Frisbee, owned by Lee Hoffmeister
2. Molly, owned by Patty Mahoney
3. Magnolia, owned by Diana Ripley
Best island dog
1. (tie) Feliz, owned by Marie Whalen; and Scout, owned by Pace Donnelly and Dae Dickerell
2. Bundas, owned by Nancy Nemeth
3. Mr. Bud, owned by Patty Mahoney
Best costume
1. Wiley and Ellie, owned by Jane Keyser and Vicky Becker
2. Miss Maggie Mae, owned by Marcia Griswold
3. Logan, owned by Nadia Sharif
Best Look-a-like
1. Foxy the Pomeranian, owned by Emese Nemeth
2. Bundas, owned by Nancy Nemeth
3. Willis, owned by Stacey Cohen
The Babe Award — Mr. Bud, owned by Patty Mahoney
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