As previously mentioned in my first blog, I love happy, easy-going people. This is why so far here at WPXI-TV I’ve most enjoyed covering Animal Friends’ Mutt Strut in South Park Fairgrounds. Besides the sunny, perfect summer weather, the participants and their dogs were great sports; no one minded being photographed or sharing stories about their beloved canine friends.

Chatting with various people about different stories and experiences is one of my favorite things to do; I love finding out information, being personal and making connections with people during a social event or work activity. I loved approaching the participants at the Mutt Strut because I felt I had one thing in common with everyone there: the love of dogs!

I’ve had my fair share of canine friends at home in Baltimore, from crazy-looking mutts to pure-bred. One of my favorite dogs, Bowser, was a mix (we thought) between a Bassett-hound and Black Lab. He was one of my favorites not only because of his companionship but also because of his carelessness; we could dress him up and take him anywhere. He also loved Halloween and was very physically unique. Imagine the body of a Bassett and the face and muscular build of a Lab, all wrapped into one webbed-toed bundle of joy. The attached photo is of the two dogs I’m living with this summer, Hines and Benny. Hines has an under-bite and a snaggle tooth but he’s one of the cutest dogs I’ve ever grown close to. Seriously. “So ugly he’s cute,” according to my cousin Chelsea, is the only explanation.

After taking pictures, I found myself chatting away with the owners of multiple pups about funny behavioral tendencies and physical characteristics. One of the dogs there, a rescue named Chopper, only had three legs, but walked as if he could win the Boston Marathon. It was quite impressive. Everyone seemed like they had some sort of story to go behind their dog’s life, which Hannah and I loved listening to. The exchange of stories helped establish and bond between everyone which made the event so much fun to cover.