Short in the tooth
Evan Marmol
Once a month Old World Restaurant in Huntington Beach is overrun by
dachshunds and their owners, who are equal in their exuberance for
the Wiener Nationals.
Amid a harmony of yipping, owners prepped their wriggling pooches
to scamper across the short race track with hopes of victory. At the
finish line, a team member held a hot dog, plush doll or any number
of items to lure the excited dogs.
These spry dogs had gaits ranging from an all-out dash to a waddle
-- some even had a strut, as if in a fashion show. Sunday’s race drew
30 wiener dogs -- some seasoned racers, others rookies. The
short-legged wonders also varied in size from tiny five-pound
“Tweenie Wienies” to colossal 25-pound standards.
Overexcited dachshunds raced heat after heat in the stifling sun,
all intent on pleasing their owners. Spectators, who packed the
benches, showed signs of fatigue far before the wieners.
The now-monthly event started purely by coincidence nine years ago
when race organizer Inge Mckellop invited a dachshund club to Old
World Village to exhibit the dachshund because of the dog’s German
heritage. As part of the presentation they raced the dogs. Since
then, the novelty has grown and Mckellop has converted her
25-year-old business, the Coffee Mill, to cater to humans and
Dachshunds alike.She converted half of the coffee shop into a
dachshund outpost offering shirts, collars, cookie cutters and other
items.
“Some of the dogs have appeared on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jay
Leno,” Mckellop said. “These owners are intense on racing they really
care about their dogs.”
After hours of races Sunday Baby Love was crowned victor, followed
closely by Noodles owned by Kimberly and Nick Garnier of Huntington
Beach.
Noodles is no stranger to the winner’s circle. And his people give
him full credit for his winning ways.
“I mean he’s just a spaz,” Kimberly Garnier said “We do play with
him and throw him a ball, but he wins because he is so spastic.”
Mckellop made sure that everyone left a winner. First through
third place received a plaque and everyone else received a ribbon to
recognize their participation in the event.
For further information, please contact Inge Mckellop at
(714)898-5111. Old World Restaurant is at 7561 Center Ave. No. 49. On
the web at www.oldworld.ws.
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