A local three-legged pup from St. Andrews is in the running for a magazine cover that comes with a noteworthy title.
Chance, a five-year-old Blue Heeler from the local area, is pulling ahead in America’s Favorite Pet, an annual competition for a feature on the cover of Modern Cat or Modern Dog and $10,000. The competition has partnered with PAWS, a non-profit organization for animal welfare, to benefit from funds raised throughout the competition.
Chance is Debbie Hart’s dog. She got him from the Winnipeg Humane Society at just five months old in October 2019. He had been hit by a car and his original owners couldn’t afford the surgery to repair his leg. Hart’s friend, who worked at the Humane Society at the time, sent her a photo of Chance, who knew how much Hart loved heelers, and she fell in love with his face.
“The attraction for both of us was instant,” she said. “We were meant to be together.”
The almost six-year-old Heeler competes regularly in disc and dock diving, both of which Hart said he loves to do.
“He tries so hard at these sports, he gives his all and I love him very much for it,” she said. “Three legs don’t slow him down at all.”
She and Chance also do agility for fun, but three-legged dogs aren’t allowed to compete in the sport — not that Hart and Chance mind. She trained him for flyball to prove it could be done.
Knowing how incredible and impressive her pup is, Hart wanted the world to know too. That’s why she entered him in America’s Favorite Pet.
“I wanted everyone out there who don’t know him to see what a great dog he really is and that having only three legs doesn’t mean he can’t do stuff,” said Hart. “Chance is one of the most loving dogs I have ever had. He loves everyone and he just can’t get enough love back. He tries his hardest to do anything I ask him to do… he has a huge heart.”
Right now, the online competition is in the first round of voting, which ends today. The first cut will narrow each group down to the Top 20 competitors. Starting today is round two, which will keep voting open until Jan. 23, when the Top 15 competitors will move on. After that, the groups will go down to the Top 10 competitors on Jan. 30, then the Top 5 on Feb. 6, before group finals begin that same day.
As of earlier this week, Chance was sitting at the third most popular pet in his group. Pets gain rankings as they get more votes. People can vote for their favourite pet once for free and as many times as they want above that for $1 a vote. Each of those dollars raised go towards PAWS.
America’s Favorite Pet will go until March 13, when the finals end. The winning cat and dog will have passed group finals, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final round leading up to their titles.
“I want the world to see what a special dog [Chance] is,” said Hart. “The exposure of being on the cover would, I hope, inspire others to give a three-legged dog a chance at a good life, proving that being different is not a bad thing.”
If he wins, Hart said they’ll also donate half of the $10,000 prize to local animal rescues.
People can vote for Chance in America’s Favorite Pet at americasfavpet.com.
