July 15, 2012 
Holy tail waggers, Batman! Picking the top five was tough! Really tough! (Seriously really tough.)
Many thanks to each and every one of you that sent me a picture of a pup you love. I never thought I would receive over 20 entries. I was amazed with the response. After my amazement, I was cranky, because I had to narrow it down to five. (Who had that bright idea, huh?)
As I noted when I introduced this contest, the winner will receive a gift certificate for a free pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. In addition to the ice cream, I will make a donation to the winner’s animal charity of choice.
What I did not mention was my intention to make a donation for each and every entry. When I started this contest, I planned on donating $10 to Noah’s Ark for every entry I received. I did not expect to receive 26 entries. 26! Rather than go back on my initial plan, I will simply set up a payment plan and keep my word.
So on behalf of Noah’s Ark, I thank you for taking the time to send me your puppy picture. Even if your entry did not make the top five, your entry is making a difference in the lives of animals and children. I am certain the good folks at Noah’s Ark will make good use of the $260 donation I am making in honor of all of the participants.
Sha’woo. I’m nervous. Okay – deep breath.
Here are the top five Top Dog finalists. (Click on one picture, which will lead you to the slide show.) Please vote for your favorite now through Saturday July 21st at Midnight (ET). I will announce the winner on Sunday July 22nd. Once you’ve voted, please watch the movie I made, which includes shots of all the pups that entered.
Thanks again to all the pups that entered! I hope you enjoy the movie.
.:.
Easy Peasy. Knew it when I saw it the first time!
Did you watch the video? I love the video. So many great dogs – Luke and Allie included!!
I voted for Bosco! They all pretty awesome though
Thanks for voting, Kayleigh! The competition is fierce!
They are all such adorable doggies. It was tough, but I cast my vote!
Amy, I had a dilly of a time narrowing it down to five. Really, really hard time.
Thank you for casting your vote!
I don’t know if I can vote – I hate to NOT vote for any of them…
I know!! And you didn’t have to narrow 26 to just 5! The task was not easy, Byronic.
This was really hard to pick just one! But I fell in love with one particular dog so that’s who got my vote…
Thank you, Darla! Thanks for playing, too. I heart Fanny!
Thanks! But her name is Franny not Fanny. hahaha! But I am sure you heart Fanny, too!
Ding dangity!!! I published the wrong name for Franny!! Oh Darla! I am so sorry. I blame Speaker7 and her Fifty Shades of Fanny.
No worries! teehee…I don’t mind at all, she’s not my dog and my brother won’t ever know you thought he’d name his dog Fanny.
haha!!!
Great movie Lenore. I am glad that, my entry is making a difference in the lives of animals and children. Thanks a lot for giving us the chance to be part of such a wonderful cause.
Arindam, I am so glad you submitted Tommy. He looks like such a sweet boy. Thanks for coming back and voting.
Yay! Reggie is honored to be included in the top 5!
BTW – After watching your movie, I have no idea how you narrowed it down to just 5. You must have gone through several pints of ice cream!
You have no idea, Jackie. You have no idea. *burp*
Reggie had me at hello
and I loved the movie … MJ
Oh MJ… Frankie almost made it to the top 5. I swear I had a dream about him the night before this post published. It was so, so, so very close. Thank you for watching the movie. (Reggie is too cute, eh?)
they are all adorable! I loved the movie and couldn’t resist any of their sweet faces
MJ
Sunny was very happy to learn of her fame this morning.
Thanks for the great contest idea and there are so many good shots of gorgeous dogs .. we’re all winners for having a wonderful four-legged friend to capture in the first place!
Thank you for sharing Sunny with us, Katy!
So many good ones in there!
I know!!
Great contest! I have to admit that I was a little bit disappointed that Chicklet didn’t make the final cut, but every single photo you received was fabulous. What a tough job narrowing them down. And thank you so very much for making the donation to Noah!! At the end of our summer vacation, we are going to adopt a guinea pig, and we’re getting it from a shelter (that I hope will still have one available).
Chicklet is adorable, Sue! Absolutely adorable! I hated not bringing those sad eyes into the top five. The decision was not an easy one, I assure you. Thanks for looking to adoption with regards to getting a new pet. May you enjoy your newest family member when you get him/her. Thanks again for entering, Sue!
Such lovely, lovely dogs…that must have been torture trying to narrow them down. Not a bad picture amongst them all.
It was torture, K8. Shelby and I had a long talk. She’s very diplomatic, you know. Thank you for participating!
Shelby wants to donate her $10 allowance this week to your cause. Please send her mom your address…seriously.
Oh Shelby! You are an awesome puppy!! I will send your Mom our address, but you could keep the $10 and put it towards another charity if you’d like. I’m sending you a big ol’ hug, and tons of scratching and rubbing ’round the ears.
Bosco got my vote so cute all the dogs so cute love them all tho Bosco looks like a hippi dog from the 70s hehehe
Thank you for voting, BrownEyes!
This must have been so hard. There were so many woderful pictures. I even had a hard time voting for one out of five. But I did.
Thank you for voting, Caroline. Narrowing down to just five was very, very tough. Part of the reason I included the movie was to show how many winners entered. Frankly, 26 winning dogs entered! (smile)
This is sooooo awesome! I somehow narrowed it down to my final vote, but I don’t know how you got to 5, Lenore! And thank you so much for doing this, and for your generous donation. You rule!
Did you see how Uncle Jessie was last in the movie?! I loved having him end with his smirk. He is such an awesome dog, Jules!! Thank you for playing!
Have you ever considered becoming a brand ambassador for Ben & Jerry’s? You’ve accomplished an almost impossible task with their help, you know!
Bulu sends his woof.
Oh I shudder to think what being an ambassador would do to my waist-line, Priya.
Please give Bulu a big hug for me.
OMG they are all SO, SOooooo cute! I don’t know how you narrowed the field to 5. You did a great job on that soul-tugging video. And God bless you for your generosity to Noah’s Ark, Lenore. You’re good people.
Peg, I know I sound like a broken record, but narrowing down the pictures to five was tough. Thank you for your kind words. I try.
OMG! I don’t know how you whittled those entries down to 5. I’d have had to close my eyes and point. They are all so good. Thanks for the video. This is a great concept. Sometime, when I have some time to spare, I should try to do this for cats.
Thanks for watching the video, Linda. I wanted to make sure all the dogs were recognized, because – as you noticed – there was not a bad one in the bunch. Narrowing it down was not easy. I did stress over it. I hope you do decide to do a contest for cats.
Beautiful pics, all of them, but I had to vote for Reggie — the cutest. I would love to contribute to your donation — is there a way I could send you my share for my photo entry? I agree with a previous commenter: seriously.
Your generosity is appreciated Julia. Thank you. I will email you some information. Abby is blessed to have you as her two legged companion.
I just have to repeat what everyone has been saying…
I do not envy your task of having had to narrow down all those entries to 5! Brutal! They are all winners, of course… and even more-so because of your generosity, Ms. D!
Did you vote? Did you? Did you? Huh? Huh?
Okay, I voted with a few hours to spare!! Thanks for your reminder on FB!!! And by the way, when do you want me to send Andy along??? I am home now but would not mind having him a bit longer unless someone is chomping at the bit to get him!!! Just email me and let me know what your timetable is!! BTW, he was fine when I got home…Flat Andy can be retired!
I just emailed the next hostess. I will let you know when she responds. Thank you for voting, Beth Ann. I am happy to see you returned home safely, and your house was still standing. Good to know Andy ‘babysat’ responsibly.
Andy did great!!! I still need to take him to a cornfield…..he has seen a lot of other places but not much of Iowa so I may have to take him on a blitz tour!!!
I had no problem choosing the dog that I voted for. When I saw the picture the first time, I knew it would be the only dog I would possibly choose over my own submission.
Great, awesome, wonderful job with the contest, Lenore!
Thank you, Leonore. This was fun – even more so, because many people – er – pooches participated!