Close Competition In Cutest Dog Contest

CONNECTICUT — A late-night plea on my personal Facebook page for anyone to send me a photo of their dog to use with a story about canine licensing turned into an impromptu cutest canine competition for 40 dogs submitted by friends. After four days of intense voting, nearly 100 ballots were cast, and a close battle wound up with a winner being decided by just a few votes.

The pooch earning the title of champion of the inaugural "Tim's Friends' Cutest Dog Competition" is Abbey, a 17-month-old mixed breed: half Maltese, half Shih Tzu. Since no names or owners were listed in the competition, she was No. 37.

Abbey and her owner, Patty Hapcook of Somers, will receive a glamorous Patch prize package consisting of several items she is sure to chew to shreds: canvas tote bag, water bottle, T-shirt, sunglasses...

For the record, dog No. 22 was second, while No. 19 ran a close third. Every single entry was a winner in my book.

Thanks to everyone who bailed me out Thursday night by sending photos of their precious pooches (honest, I only needed one!), and thank you to everyone who participated in the balloting. Here is one final look at all the contestants.

Oh, for those of you wondering about the photo atop this article, here's the story on that dog. That is a statue in a small park in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, which was prominently featured in the great 1977 Paul Newman hockey movie, "Slap Shot." If I'd posted the winner's picture up front, you likely wouldn't have read the story. I'm not as dumb as I look!

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