talbotlucas.org: a word to the wise is sufficient

We all made our way to Johnny Carson Park in sunny Burbank for the eighth annual Southern California Corgi Picnic. Corgis and their owners came from near and far to meet, greet, and eat. Wallace had a great time among his distant cousins, and made some new friends, including Buster from Pasadena and several handsome Cardigans.

In addition to eating, visiting, and game-playing, the organizers of the picnic arrange for a silent auction of corgi-related items, and the proceeds benefit Corgi Aid. Although some people laugh at the idea that purebred dogs require "rescue," it's still too often the case that the actions of unreputable breeders (and/or uninformed or uncaring owners) result in dogs who are improperly placed in homes where they are neglected or abused. Those people who work with the Corgi Aid network try to make the best of often bad situations by taking in unwanted corgis, retraining them (or sometimes being the first to train them), and finding appropriate homes.

This year's group (and this is only a partial shot--we couldn't get everyone in) was a good one, with many familiar faces from past years and several new faces, including a few honorary corgis (or as one owner put it, "corgis-by-association"). Terrence and Wallace participated in this year's portrait; if you can't spot them toward the back row, you can also click here. For a really impressive assortment of corgi picnic photos (sans Wallace), check out the photo site for the 2004 Pacific Northwest Corgi Picnic. At least 350 photos, but some of my favorties are here, here, and here. (Also note that clicking on the photos at right and above will open them in a larger pop-up window.)

Now...it's time to cool off! Wallace is already sleeping soundly on the bathroom floor, having saved just enough energy to find his spot and stretch out.