The dogs also inspired some spin-off events and fundraising efforts. There was the quirky and fun First Annual Walking the dog Dog Walk to benefit Walking the dog Theater. More than 200 dogs and their humans paraded down Warren Street on a hot Saturday morning, ending up at Basilica Industria for the Bestminster Dog Show, where children acting as the judges gave every dog its own special award. (My dog was named “Most Handsome Wolf.”)

Then there was Bow Wow, published by the Arts Council—a very appealing little book, created by Patrick Harbron and Sue Chiafullo, made up of photographs of the “Best in Show” dogs, each posed in a cleverly appropriate setting. There was also Hang Dog, CCCA’s exhibition for ArtsWalk made up of dog-themed art. The exhibition was curated by Ken Polinskie, who had created the very popular “Walking Myself” poster for the Walking the dog Dog Walk back in July.  

But a CCCA event on Saturday night suggested that it may be possible to push dogs too far. The event was called “Bow Wow Bauhaus,” and for $50 people could enjoy cocktails and very good hors d’oeuvres and take part in a live auction of six artful and imaginative doghouses created by local architects and craftsmen. The turnout for the event was disappointing, and so was the response to the auction. David Anderson, Executive Artistic Director for Walking the dog Theater, served as the auctioneer, introducing himself as a sales rep for “Walking the dog Realty.” Despite clever banter from Anderson and appeals to the audience’s generosity from members of the CCCA board, an auction never really happened, and most of the doghouses sold for their opening bid—which was around $300. After a week of gloomy economic news, it looked like the bottom had dropped out of the dog housing market, and some in attendance worried about the outcome of the auction scheduled for the next day, when the “Best in Show” dogs would go on the block.

On a bright and glorious Sunday, however, the misgivings of the night before were totally dispelled. Helsinki on the Hudson, Marc Schafler’s new and still-being-worked-on entertainment complex in Hudson, was teeming with people. The buffet brunch was bountiful and delicious—certainly no dog’s breakfast—but it was merely the prelude to the real event: Dog Gone! Gala Benefit Dog Auction.

The auction was scheduled to begin at 1, but even before then people started making their way up to the second-floor auditorium to claim a seat and take a look at the dogs, together again for the last time. Since being de-installed, most of the dogs had spent time back with their creators, so all the abuses they had suffered on the street had been put right. Seadog Hank, who’d lost his ruff, his goatee, half his mustache, and one of his eyebrows, had been restored to his original state. Golden Boy, whose towel had been stripped off his neck, had it back and was ready to enter the ring. Pat Bark, Retriever of the Mail, who spent most of the summer with only the stub of a letter in his mouth, had a whole letter to deliver once again, and Prairie Dog had a new cowboy hat. Most surprising, however, was the reappearance of Dada Doggy. He’d been stolen by someone who had sawed him off his platform, leaving his four paws still attached. Dada Doggy had been recovered by the police, his paws reattached, and he was restored and ready for a new home. It was doggone good to see him again.

The bidders held their dog paddles at the ready—a pawprint on one side, a number on the other—and the auction began. Seth Fallon of Copake Country Auction served as the auctioneer for the afternoon, expertly coaxing the prices up and up. The tenth dog to be auctioned broke the thousand dollar mark. Settler, created by Karen Bennett and sponsored by the Hudson Development Corporation, sold for $1,050. Six dogs later, Tut Mutt, created by Arlene Boehm and sponsored by Rhinebeck Architecture and Planning, sold for $1,200. Ten more dogs sold for $1,000 or more with the big moneymakers being Dutch Delft Dog, created by Regina Wenzek and sponsored by Rapport, Meyers, Whitbeck, Shaw & Rodenhausen, which sold for $2,300, and Doggerel, created by Fern Apfel and Andy Pelletieri and sponsored by the Brennan Family, which topped the charts at $2,500. The other four-figure dogs were:

• Green Meadows—created by Gretchen Kelly and sponsored by Kipps Mobile Home Park—$1,200
• Go! Van Gogh—created by Cynthia Mulvaney and sponsored by Columbia Café Company—$1,000
• Seeing Eye Dog—created by Elaine Wilson and sponsored by Family Eyecare Center—$1,200
• Flourish Fido—created by Gretchen Kelly and sponsored by Allan L. Nahman, DDS—$1,000
• Pat Bark, Retriever of the Mail—created by Cynthia Mulvaney and sponsored by the U.S. Post Office in Hudson—$1,050
• Woofgang Amadoggus Mozart—created by Darcie Cristello and sponsored by ProPrinters—$1,050
• Buttons—created by Katie Presano and sponsored by Mid-Hudson Media—$1,000
• Handyman’s Best Friend—created by Svetlana Baldwin and sponsored by Animal Den—$1,850

The proceeds from the auction totaled $45,675. The artists receive a quarter of the sale price of their dogs, and the rest will be divided among seven not-for-profit organizations that provide care for animals or activities for children: Animalkind; Help Orphan Puppies, Inc.; the Hudson Area Association Library; the Hudson Opera House; Operate Unite; the Salvation Army; and the City of Hudson Quadricentennial Committee.

Now that all the dogs have found good homes, the question in the minds of many is: Will Hudson be putting on the dog again next summer? Or will Hudson's maritime history be celebrated with whales?  

To see all the dogs from “Best in Show,” click here.