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Community Corner

Winning Wieners Scurry to Nationals

Once again, the Temecula Valley Dachshund Club has placed first in a parade and is sending one of it's own to the Wiener Nationals this weekend.

More than 22 dachshunds marched down Old Town Front Street as part of the 19th Star Spangled 4th of July Parade.

They were, of course, accompanied by their humans.

Judges awarded them first place on Monday in the animal category, which is not a first for the Temecula Valley Dachshund Club, mostly due to the creativity of their humans and the fact that they’re just so darn cute.

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Possibly more fame and fortune will come to the group as one of their own will compete in the 16th Annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals at Los Alamitos Race Track on July 9.

Fritz, a blue-eyed long-haired doxie owned by Pam Carson of Temecula, will represent Temecula in the competition.

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In addition to his unique appearance, Fritz is one fast furball, according to Carson. Once he gets out of the gate, there’s no stopping him.

Getting out of the gate was a challenge at this first race, however. He had just completed his obedience training, and as soon as the gate opened, he showed off his best “sit and stay," Carson said.

Fritz was once disqualified for unnecessary roughness when he chased an opponent that happened to be a mini-Isabella dachshund which Fritz though resembled a rabbit. Carson’s hoping Fritz will stay focused this time.

Qualifications for the race are not based on a dog’s ability but on the creativity of its owner in writing a letter of interest in the race.

Carson’s letter explained how Fritz was named for a character in the TV show “The Closer,” touted his “humanitarian” efforts to help other dogs and his position as “dog about town” in Temecula. Perhaps Carson’s mention that both she and Fritz love Wienerschnitzel corn dogs might have helped a bit as well.

The Wiener Nationals is a benefit for the Seal Beach Animal Care Center, a non-profit group dedicated to finding homes for stray animals in the Orange County area.

Since 1996, the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals helped raise $200,000 for the care center. Last year's event raised $17,000 through the sale of tickets and t-shirts.

Fritz and his fellow wiener dogs are no strangers to raising funds for animals in need. The Temecula Valley Dachshund Club has held its annual Wienerfest in Temecula’s Wine Country for the last two years raising money for Almost Home Dachshund Rescue Society. The group also helps rescues dachshunds in need and finding homes for them. 

The club also sponsors monthly events for dachshunds and their owners that include get-togethers at the Temecula Dog Park, pool parties and its upcoming wiener races at the Lake Elsinore Storm’s Dog Days set for July 31.

For more information on the Temecula Valley Dachshund Club, visit the group's website by clicking here. 

If you’re interested in attending, the first Wienerschnitzel Wiener National race is set for 6:15 p.m. with the live horse-racing program set to begin at 7:00 p.m. The Wiener Nationals Championship race will be held at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Admission is $3 for adults; children 17 and younger are free. General parking is free. Los Alamitos Race Course is located at 4961 Katella Avenue in Los Alamitos. For more information, call 714-820-2690.

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