Paige runs away with BCR contest
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| Elsa Dietz of Princeton pretends to snack on a doggy bone won by her dog, Paige, as the winner of the 2010 Dog Idol Photo Contest sponsored by the Bureau County Republican. As the winner, Paige was given a basketful of doggy treats and toys. All proceeds from the contest, which raised more than $1,000, will go to the Tri-County Humane Society. (BCR photo/Phyllis Fargher) |
PRINCETON — Twelve-year-old Paige Dietz has won the 2010 Dog Idol Photo Contest sponsored by the Bureau County Republican.
Owned by Elsa Dietz of Princeton, Paige is a golden retriever and boxer mix and is also a special needs dog with only three legs.
On Wednesday, Dietz said she knew she and Paige were meant to be together from the moment she first met her five years ago.
About five years ago, Dietz was volunteering one day at the Tri-County Humane Society, as she has done for about 25 years. On that particular day, Dietz was having trouble finding a home for a male beagle, so she called the Henry County Humane Society in Kewanee to see if they could help.
The Henry County staff member said she couldn’t take the beagle right then because she had a special needs dog that they were trying to place. After further discussion, the two women decided to exchange dogs.
The two staff members met at the Junction of 34 and 40, east of Sheffield, for the exchange and it was basically love at first sight with Paige, Dietz said.
“By the time I got to Princeton, I knew I would never give Paige away,” Dietz said. “She had found a home with me.”
As a little puppy, Paige apparently did not always have an easy life. The stray puppy was about 4 months old and had a deformed leg when she was found on Paige Street in Kewanee and taken to the Henry County Humane Society. The puppy was named Paige in honor of the street on which she was found.
Because her leg was so deformed, it had to be amputated at the shoulder. Paige was then adopted out by the Kewanee Humane Society but was returned about seven years later when family circumstances changed, and the family could no longer care for the dog. Shortly thereafter, the contact was made between Dietz and the Kewanee Humane Society.
On Wednesday, Dietz said it’s meant to be that Paige is now part of her family. Dietz had lost her own dog a few months prior, and Paige has filled a big gap in her heart and life.
“I wouldn’t give her up for the world,” Dietz said. “She brings to me an unconditional love that can’t be measured.”
Having just three legs doesn’t seem to slow Paige down, at least for long. At age 12, which is about 84 in human years, her dog has developed a heart condition.
“She still runs like the wind, but she does need to take more rests now,” Dietz said.
Though she loves Paige dearly, her dog is not perfect and sometimes gets into trouble, Dietz said. She’s eaten plenty of things she shouldn’t, like sweet corn cobs, Play-Doh, foot cream and chocolate chips. She’s been to the veterinarian several times.
Also, Paige isn’t shy about laying down, rolling over, putting her legs in the air and asking for a belly rub, regardless of the place or who’s around, Dietz said.
“She’s all about belly rubs and food,” Dietz said. “But like I said, I wouldn’t give her up for the world.”
As winner of the 2010 Dog Idol Photo Contest, Paige received a basket full of dog treats and toys. All proceeds raised from the contest will go to the Tri-County Humane Society.
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