The Humane Society of North Texas had its first Extreme Mutt Makeover in 2009. This year, fifteen dogs will be selected from North Texas shelters to participate in the training and obedience competition. Each dog is chosen based on health, temperament, and general adoptability and assigned to a trainer who has less than two months to take the pooch from orphan status to obedient, lovable pet.
Patti Colbert is the founder of Extreme Mutt Makeover. In addition to the 15 contestants last year, more than 60 other dogs were adopted. Many of these would have faced euthanasia if not for Patti's vision. The competition this year will be held in September. Trainers with winning dogs receive a small monetary award, but Karen Deeds who won with her black lab Tess in 2009, said, "Winning was wonderful, but it was not about us. It was about those dogs and the people whose lives they changed afterwards."
A big Essie May salute to Patti, Karen, and all the other participants in Extreme Mutt Makeover!
"Trainers jump at chance to give at-risk dogs a fresh start." The Dallas Morning News; May 1, 2011; p. 7B.
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