Bacon dances like Brian Boitano. The 1-year-old Cairn terrier — think Toto from “The Wizard of Oz” — and the Olympic gold medalist figure skater have the dancing-on-two-legs-in-circles style in common, said Bacon’s owner, Mike Boland, of Onalaska.
“He’s a very modern dancer,” Boland said.
Bacon’s moves earned him the title of best dancer Saturday during the seventh annual Bark in the Park, held for this first time this year at Copeland Park. The day of canine contests and games is a fundraiser to support the Coulee Region Humane Society.
The event is anchored by the Big Bark, a combined bark that set the Guinness World Record in 2003 for the loudest bark at 110 decibels.
A pack of more than 130 canines shattered the record Saturday at 114.6 decibels, with a mix of long baritone and sharp short barks kicked off by the sound of a doorbell. The decibel reading and photos from the event will be submitted to Guinness to make the record official, said Humane Society Executive Director Heather Schmid.
“He did a little (howl),” said Heather Knox of La Crosse, of the contribution from her beagle — named Beagle.
“Sconsin,” an 8-year-old yellow Labrador retriever from Stoddard, Wis., earned first place for the most unique name. Owner Bill Huiss said he wanted an unusual name for his hunting dog.
“There’s not another ‘Sconsin’ in the duck marsh,” Huiss said.
Humane Society executive assistant and good sport Marcia Christman volunteered to judge the best kissing contest and be smothered with wet slimy tongues.
“I’m not sure this was in my job description,” she said.
Some licked her mouth and nose in one swoop. Others started behind the ear and worked forward.
Some typically big kissers shied away at the thought of kissing a woman they just met.
It was a fluffy and panting 9-year-old Siberian husky that was named best kisser.
“They all had nice kisses, but his were the most sincere,” Christman said. “For a big dog, he was gentle.”
Therine Sprunger, 24, of La Crosse, said she brings Stella, a 5-year-old black Labrador retriever, and Soyer, a 2-year-old pug-Jack Russell mix to the event every year.
“It’s fun for the dogs to get out, play, see other dogs and participate in the events,” she said.


