Date: Fri 16-Jul-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Shade-Clark-top-dog-Simon

Full Text:

Newtown's Top Dog For '99

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Newtown's #1 dog for 1999 arrived at Edmond Town Hall Tuesday morning excited

to collect her crown. Shade, a good natured Doberman Pinscher, proudly jumped

up on the town clerk's counter as if to say, "I'm here!"

Shade's name was randomly chosen in a drawing of more than 1,100 local dogs.

Those are hardly Powerball odds, but the prize carries with it the

unparalleled glory of being Newtown's top dog for an entire year.

The annual contest, sponsored by the town clerk's office, is an incentive for

residents to comply with state regulations and license their dogs by June 30.

Shade takes home a 50-pound bag of dog food, some biscuits and a free rabies

vaccination next year. She also gets bragging rights over the six other dogs

who reside at the home of Henry and Patty Clark of Point O' Rocks Road.

"We didn't tell them Shade was number one yet. They're all number one in our

home," Mrs Clark joked.

Shade takes over the throne previously held by last year's winner, Maxwell

Plouffe, a four-year-old springer spaniel from Poverty Hollow Road. Rounding

out the list of past winners are Nugget Nagy in 1997, Digger Wismar in '96 and

Katie Duquette in '95.

Dogs are a big part of the Clark family, which used to own Canine Country

Kennell on Hattertown Road. These days, Mrs Clark trains, breeds and handles a

variety of show dogs in her spare time. Six-year-old Shade happens to be a

retired show dog and has her "Canine Good Citizenship" certificate for acting

appropriately at all times.

Shade is no ordinary dog. She even has a registered name -- "Hamrya Rosey

Tomorrow." These special names are given to all purebred AKC pooches.

When not training dogs, Mrs Clark is a clinical microbiologist, serving as

laboratory manager at Bridgeport Hospital. Mr Clark is a superintendent in the

carpentry business.

Town Clerk Cindy Simon said there are many Newtown dogs that still need to be

licensed. She urges all dog owners to drop by town hall for a new license.