home

The Boston Red Sox took 86 years to finally win the World Series in 2004. When will Fang get to win the the Holy Grail of canine dress-up awards, the coveted “Reindeer Dog”? The Reindeer Dog award is presented every year at the Oriental Spirit Of Christmas parade – and so far for Fang, the award has remained elusive.

But Fang does have newfound pride – he is The Pet Of The Month – Mr. September 2006.

Fang is a Schipperke, or Belgian barge dog. You’ll find him at home with Bob and Carol Cowden of Oriental. Bob and Carol have become known for their creative “Fang outfits”.

Fang’s award winning proud pose at the 2006 PAWS Parade

Fang, leading a sleigh and Bob & Carol Cowden. The sleigh pulling Fang took a humbling 2nd place in Reindeer Dogs in the 2002 competition.

Bob & Carol Cowden with “Fang” – sporting a “Cat In The Hat” theme for 2003. Fang pulled the decorated sleigh the entire length of the parade – yet somehow the "Reindeer Dog" award was again denied.

Bob and Carol have an entire garage shelf dedicated to capturing the Reindeer Dog award. It’s here on the “sled dry-dock” that the prize dress-up accessories are stored, the sleds – specifically, the Christmas sled.

“Bob’s handy.” Carol says. “He made Fang a miniature sled full of baby dolls, wrapped presents, and a Dr. Suess doll.” The one thing Bob couldn’t fabricate was a pair of antlers small enough to fit the fifteen-pound dog’s head, “so we used a pair of ferret antlers.”

Unlike Santa’s sleigh, the gifts “had to be wired into the sled so, in case Fang ran away, they wouldn’t get lost.”

Fang with Carol.

Now about that name – Fang. The dog was a gift from Bob to Carol “back when he was courting me” Carol says. They promised close friend Allen Propst that they would name their first-born child in his honor. So the dog was bequeathed a name almost longer than its 14-inch body – “Allen Fang of the North”.

Though Bob claims the dog’s best trait is “affection” runners up include “stubbornness and running away.”

“He’s sneaky” Bob says. “Sometimes, while I’m talking with a friend, saying how good Fang’s been, how he hasn’t run off lately, I’ll look around and he’ll be gone.”

Fang has sneaky thoughts while Bob looks on.

“It’s when he’s in the nude”, when he’s not dressed in his Harley hat, denim vest, or miniature lifejacket, that he’s most likely to disappear.

“If he disappears around 5 pm, we know he’s down at the Tiki Bar looking for Mary.” Mary, who works at the Tiki Bar, feeds the dog milk bones until one of his owners can retrieve him.

While Fang enjoys swimming, he enjoys being dried off more. The dog has thick, jet-black hair that takes well to blow-drying. According to Carol, he “knows how to make the most of his hair.”

“Bob used to be a hairdresser.” Carol says, so after Fang gets washed, he is blow-dried. As the hot air blasts through the dog’s pelt, he likes to hold his head sideways on Bob’s leg so his hair gets “more volume”.

2006 May Be The Magic Year

2006 may be ten-year old Fang’s award-winning year. He got “Best Overall Dog” in this April’s PAWS Parade. Fang was pulling a sleigh filled with Easter Eggs.

Fang’s award winning proud pose at the 2006 PAWS Parade

Fang and his “Best Overall Dog” PAWS award.

Fang is already planning his next assault on December’s Rein Deer Dog award. A Top Secret entry is in the works.

Congratulations Fang – Mr September 2006
Fang’s Bio
Celebrity Pet Most Resembles: Jack Nicholson

What he likes best about Oriental: The Tiki Bar
Likes: Children, most other dogs.
Dislikes: The UPS man and propane trucks.
Favorite Foods: Dove Bar sticks, hamburger wrapper residue, gourmet cheese.
Words He Knows But Can’t Spell: c-o-o-k-i-e,  w-a-l-k,  b-a-t-h
Awkward Social Moment: Snagging slab of meat at a dinner party – and devouring it on host’s bed.

Know a pet that is a standout? Send in some details and a photo to info@towndock.net. Tell why that pet deserves the coveted TownDock.net Pet of the Month Prize Package --- accolades, a pat on the head (snakes excluded) and a box of Milk Bones ( or snack suitable for the species). We regret that we cannot offer a college scholarship to Pet Of The Month winners. Animals caught near the HarborCam attempting to suck up to the judges will be disqualified.