American Revolution Rears a Cute New Head

(PRLEAP.COM) Natick, MA, October 4, 2009 — History buffs take note. The American Revolution has a new face-that of a sweet rescue dog from South Carolina now at home in Massachusetts. And he is fighting a new battle.

"Weedon," a Labrador retriever/hound mix named after General George Weedon-a Virginian who fought in the Revolutionary War-is attempting to claim the title of Cutest Dog in an online contest sponsored by All American Pet Brands. In week eight, he ranked 23 out of the top 30 dogs. There are over 50,000 animals entered in the competition.

Weedon’s owner, Kathryn Doran of Natick, Mass., found him on Petfinder last April and brought him north to join her other Lab/hound mix. He had been pulled from a shelter by the Upstate Animal Rescue Foundation of South Carolina (UARFSC).

The original Weedon has an illustrious past, having served in the French and Indian War as a lieutenant under General George Washington. He later led a brigade of Virginia’s militia at the request of Governor Thomas Jefferson.

Doran is now partnering with UARFSC to launch a Boston-area branch of that organization. The goal is to find more adoptive homes in New England, more quickly, for the highly adoptable animals in Anderson Country, thus sparing them from euthanasia. (Coincidentally, the city of Anderson, SC, was named for another Revolutionary War hero, Robert Anderson.)

The statistics for Anderson County are dismal. In 2008, county shelters took in nearly 13,000 unwanted and stray animals. Of those, 10,300 were euthanized and only 2700 found homes, an adoption rate of just under 21%. Kelley Blair, UARFSC’s coordinator, notes that there are many South Carolina counties with no volunteers to rescue animals, photograph them, or manage a Petfinder site. Their kill rate can approach 100%.

In order to move into the semi-final round of the competition, Weedon must get the most votes in one of the three remaining weeks. Each weekly winner receives $500, which Doran would put toward start-up costs. She admits she is getting a little nervous now that the race is coming down to the wire.

"Yes, it’s a long shot," Doran says, adding that it would be quite fitting-and a bit ironic—for a dog named after an American general to capture All American Pet Brand’s royal canine crown. "But I’m still hopeful."

Historians and dog lovers who wish to support Weedon in this battle may vote for him daily at www.voteforweedon.com. Week ten runs from Sunday, October 4, through Saturday, October 10. Recent weekly winners have accrued nearly 5,000 votes.

Doran is tremendously proud of her own southern heritage; in her living room hangs an original service star flag with four blue stars. They represent her grandfather and three great uncles from Fredericksburg, Virginia, who served in World War I. The family homestead there served as a hospital during the Civil War and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Despite his military connection, canine Weedon is a pacifist with not an ounce of aggression in his body, claims Doran, who right now is hoping for a little luck of the Irish-from her father’s side. He was a Marine.

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