Rosie's Dog Beach in Long Beach is open daily, 6 a.m to 8 p.m. Dogs must stay leashed outside the orange-coned boundary. Details & Map

$500 Haute Dogs Poetry Contest is May 19

$500 up for grabs - tha'ts up to five $100 winners! This is the 5th year for the contest that will take place at Rosie's Dog Beach on Sat., May 19 at 10:45 a.m. Hosted by Justin Rudd's Haute Dogs and 30-Minute Beach Cleanup.

RULES & GUIDELINES:
- every entrant will receive food/water dishes donated by ORE Originals; top-five will receive cash (details below)
- poetry does not have to be memorized
- poems must be two minutes or less
- no props; dogs welcome
- all ages welcome to enter, entry is free
- poetry must be original and dog-themed
- microphone provided
- bring a printed copy of your poem
- max. two poems per entrant
- sign-up at the event

The contest is held after the 30-Minute Beach Cleanup and SoCal Mustache Championship (see www.BeachCleanup.org) ends on Sat., May 19. The cleanup is from 10-10:30 a.m. Contest starts about 10:50 a.m. at the orange cones of Rosie's Dog Beach, closest to the Granada Boat Launch Ramp. Dogs are welcome at the monthly beach cleanups within the orange-coned area.

PRIZE MONEY
Five winners will get $50 cash, but prize money doubles for each poet signed-in by 10 a.m., sharp, on the concrete boat launch ramp at 1 Granada Ave. and who helps clean the beach for 30 minutes. There will be five $50 prizes, and if winners are signed-in and help with the cleanup as outlined, they will get $100 each. Beachfront parking at 1 Granada Ave. is free (starting at 9:35 a.m.) for beach cleanup volunteers (and refreshments and door prizes are provided for them).

Rosie's Dog Beach in Long Beach is VERY Popular Year-Round


ROSIE'S DOG BEACH in Long Beach permits off-leash beach access for dogs and their owners in a 3-acre area, daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The area, named after Justin Rudd's English Bulldog "Rosie" that inspired the beach's creation, is at 4800 E. Ocean Blvd., basically between Roycroft and Argonne avenues at the water in Belmont Shore, 90803. THE LAW: ONE DOG PER ADULT. Dogs must remain on-leash unless within the orange-coned area at the water. CLICK HERE for a Rosie's Dog Beach map, driving directions, rules, photos and more details.

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LONG BEACH | 11TH ANNUAL
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Interfaith Blessing of the Animals
More than 300 animals will get blessed

WE'LL BLESS THE PETS, Sat., Oct. 6, 2012, at sunset at 1 Granada Ave., Bemont Shore in Long Beach, 90803, next to Rosie's Dog Beach, on the concrete boat launch ramp overlooking the Pacific. The Interfaith Blessing of the Animals was presented by Haute Dogs and Justin Rudd was free to the public and their pets.

Seniors, families, singles, and children, were encouraged to bring their dogs, cats, birds, lizards, rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, fish, tortoises and turtles and other well-behaved pets. We also hosted some farm animals at this event, including horses, an alpaca, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens. DETAILS

Long Beach Named a Top Dog-Friendly City in U.S. Dog Fancy writes, "Long Beach makes our list of the best cities for dogs. And while this city of just under 500,000 people boasts a dog-friendly beach and tony Second Street, a shopping area that’s truly dog-friendly, it’s Long Beach’s innovative events for dogs and dog lovers that set this town apart. At the Haute Dog Parade, 400 or so costumed dogs march down the city’s streets, some in flower-bedecked wagons and carts (think pooch-sized Rose Parade). Other attention-grabbing events include the Bulldog Beauty Contest, which attracts several hundred English and French Bulldogs on Valentine’s Day weekend and crowns the “Bull of the Ball.” But Long Beach isn’t all fun and games: Serious-minded programs include Operation Santa Paws, where residents collect toys and treats for shelter dogs at Christmas. The man behind all these events is Justin Rudd, a longtime community activist and founder of Haute Dogs, a nonprofit organization that raises money and attention for homeless pets. So what inspired the Alabama-born Rudd to help transform Long Beach into a dog lover’s urban Disneyland? 'My Bulldog, Rosie (SHOWN). I wanted to start a movement … that allows dogs to be a very special and deliberate part of our day-to-day life,' he says. 'I like to celebrate the connections we have with our dogs.'”

CHOOSE A NEW BEST FRIEND
Haute Dog Adoptions & Rescue Groups

ADOPTION IS a great option! CLICK HERE for a huge listing of shelters, rescues, and agencies Los Angeles, Orange County, Long Beach and all of Southern California where you can find beautiful, adoptable dogs of all breeds and mixes. MORE

2012 Haute Dogs Pageants & Bulldog Beauty Contest Winners

NEW photo galleries
- The Bulldog Beauty Contest
- The other 11 Haute Dogs Pageants

English Bulldog Beauty Contest
1st: Mack, 3, English Bulldog; Kimberly Madrid, Chatsworth
2nd: Maggie Mae, 16 months, English Bulldog, Rebecca Lerner, Huntington Beach
3rd: Penelope, 3 months, English Bulldog; Mario Quintana, Moreno Valley
Best Smile: Mabel, 2 ½, English Bulldog; Tim & Monique Trezise, Long Beach
Best Legs: Maximus, 15 months, English Bulldog; John Kolter, Torrance
Best Booty: Diesel, 3, English Bulldog; Jeremy Hagen, Banning

Senior Dog Pageant (all breeds/mixes, ages 10+)
1st: Diesel,12, Chihuahua, Bob Yacenda, Fountain Valley
2nd: Bailey, 15, Cairn Terrier; Dara Samson, Long Beach
3rd: Bear Bear, 13, Chow; Blayne Alexander, Long Beach

Cute Dog Contest
1st: Lily, Cocker Spaniel/Shih Tzu mix, 4.5 months; Pamela Sears, Long Beach
2nd: Mazie, Chow/Chihuahua/Bassett Hound mix; 1 ½, Glenn Stewart, Playa del Rey
3rd: Brownie, 4, Beagle/French Bulldog mix; Kristina Elbracht, Inglewood

Ugly Dog Contest
1st: Gnatalie Bluegonia, Chihuahua, 12; Hedy Herold, Long Beach
2nd: Lily, Chihuahua/Terrier Mix, 2; Dawn Weller, Long Beach
3rd: Milton, Australian Shepherd, 1, Brad Chinen, Seal Beach

French Bulldog Pageant
1st: Leonidas, 9 months, French Bulldog; Corina Izurieta, Playa del Rey
2nd: Zoey, 8 months, French Bulldog; Michele Hurd, Palmdale
3rd: Sweagol, 2, French Bulldog; Daniel Siskin, Long Beach

Pug Pageant
1st: Bella, 2, Pug; Rachel Lefler, Cypress
2nd: Bentley, age??, Pug; Jeannette Gonzalez, Carson
3rd: Tofu, 1, Pug, Beau Balek, Long Beach

National Mutt Show
1st: Tanner, 1 ½, Neapolitan Mastiff/Bull Mastiff/Cane Corso mix; Madison McNaughton, Huntington Beach
2nd: Guinness, 7 ½, Bearded Collie/Terrier/Water Dog mix; Alexis Swenson, Long Beach
3rd: Lucy, 1, Spaniel mix; Taylor Ruhl, Long Beach

Best in Show (all breeds and mixes welcome)
1st: Lilly Lee, 15 weeks, English Bulldog; Debbie Lee, Palm Springs
2nd: Ming, 8, Shar-Pei mix; Anne-Marie Kreus, Long Beach
3rd: Mikey, 4 ½, Cocker Spaniel; Behn Razmara, Los Angeles

Chihuahua Beauty Contest
1st: Count Dracula, 3, Chihuahua; Erin O’Brien, Lakewood
2nd: Cheeto, 2, Chihuahua; Tina Guillen, Orange
3rd: Peanut, 3, Chihuahua; Kelly Stovall, Long Beach

Small Dog Contest (generally 20 lbs. or less and/or shorter than 16 inches; not puppies)
1st: Rains, 2 ½, Teacup Yorkshire Terrier; Randy Hill, Altadena
2nd: Fiona, 6 months, Shih Tzu/Yorkshire Terrier mix; Irene Rodriquez, Long Beach
3rd: Schatzie, 10, Norfolk Terrier; Sherrie Sonora, Long Beach

Large Dog Contest (generally 60+ lbs.)
1st: Whitney, 2, Newfoundland; Carolyn Hynes, Long Beach
2nd: Mollie Twinkletoes, 6 ½, Mastiff/Staffordshire Terrier mix; Andrew Scammon, Long Beach
3rd: Sadie, 3 ½, Great Dane, Jason Scandling, Long Beach

Pit Bull Pageant
1st: Walle, 3, American Staffordshire Terrier; Michelle Humphrey, Long Beach
2nd: Delaney, 5, American Staffordshire Terrier; Kym Cloughesy, Long Beach
3rd: Kosmonaut Rocket Dog, 2 ½, American Staffordshire Terrier; Deb Ferguson, Menifee

The Bulldog Beauty Contest and Haute Dog Pageants are Valentine's weekend, under the shade trees at the 1932 Olympic rowing site -- Marine Stadium, 5225 E. Paoli Way, Long Beach, 90803. MAP | event details




SCHEDULE - free to spectate/$5 chair
- English Bulldog Beauty Contest, 10 a.m.
- Senior Dog Pageant, 11:30 a.m. (all breeds/mixes, ages 10+)
- added Cutest Dog Contest, 11:45 a.m.
- added Ugly Dog Contest, 11:50 p.m.
- French Bulldog Pageant, noon
- Pug Pageant, 12:30 a.m.
- National Mutt Show, 1 p.m. (no pure breeds)
- NEW BEST IN SHOW, 1:30 p.m. (all dogs, breeds, mixes, sizes welcome)
- Chihuahua Beauty Contest, 2 p.m.
- added Small Dog Pageant, 2:10 p.m. (generally 20 lbs. or less and/or shorter than 16 inches; not puppies)
- NEW Large Dog Beauty Contest, 2:20 p.m. (generally 60+ lbs.)
- NEW Pit Bull Pageant, 2:30 p.m.


A FACE EVERYONE LOVES!
More than 500 Hairy-Legged Beauties Expected

8th Annual Bulldog Beauty Contest & Haute Dog Pageants Sat., Feb. 11, 2012 Marine Stadium, Long Beach MAP | event details Front-row seats, $5

THE BULLDOG BEAUTY CONTEST will again be the main event at this year's Haute Dog Pageants produced by beauty pageant and bulldog enthusiast Justin Rudd.  In addition to the Bulldog and French Bulldog contests, Rudd will include pageants for Pugs, Chihuahuas, Pit Bulls, Cute Dogs, Ugly Dogs, Senior Dogs (all breeds/mixes, ages 10 & older), Mutts, Small Dogs, and Large Dogs.  And, all dogs are welcome in the Best in Show contest. Contestants ranging in age from four months to 17 years are expected to again travel to Long Beach, from as far as northern California, Las Vegas, Utah, Montana, Oklahoma and Arizona, to compete for the coveted 2012 titles.

The quadrupeds will parade down a grassy runway that includes a 100-ft. red carpet runway, flanked by hundreds of gawkers and a panel of real-life beauty queen judges.  Judging is based on charm, first impression, face, figure and personality.

The Haute Dog Pageants are a fundraiser for Rudd's nonprofit 501c3 Community Action Team (C.A.T.) of which "Haute Dogs" and "Operation Santa Paws" are a part. Each dog in the contest donates a fee and several thousand dollars was raised from entry fees, $5 front-row seating rentals along the runway and vendors space rentals.  Leave plenty of time for parking - more than 1,000 spectators are expected again this year. details

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