I finally got to enter a competition with a cat. Well, okay so I didn't really get to compete, in the true sense of the word. But, thanks to the kindness of Ann Stafford of the Atlanta Pet Fair, I was given the opportunity to "participate" in the APF's first ever Creative Runway Competition.
Monica, my red tabby and white Persian was a natural on the Runway! Before this past weekend, she had never been on the other end of a leash before in her life and had certainly never been around 18 large breed dogs, big enough to eat her as a snack in one swift bite.
No matter, for Miss Monica. She was born to be a star, I think. She sat back stage with all the dogs, waiting her turn to walk down the runway amidst lights, loud music, and audience cheering. We had fun doing an Army theme - her in camo and me in an Army green dress that I made just for the occasion. Both of us wore our dog tag jewelry although Monica told me beforehand that she preferred to think of it not as 'dog' tag jewelry but rather 'cat' tag jewelry.
Even though we weren't eligible for winning, we were scored along with the other contestants and won FIRST PLACE!! Yahoo! Angela Kumpe ought to thank her lucky stars we weren't able to actually win. hehe.
When Monica and I did not walk for the People's Choice award, the crowd went nuts and started chanting "ARMY CAT, ARMY CAT!" Ann Stafford had to call us up to explain why we couldn't win (which, by the way, had nothing to do with the fact that Monica was a cat - it had everything to do with a rule that prohibits speakers from competing). So would we have snagged the People's Choice award, too? Hmmmm.....who knows, but it is fun to think so!
We look forward to future Runways. What a blast!
