Dachshund owners and lovers alike filled the UC Davis Pavilion for the 30th annual Picnic Day Doxie Derby. The derby consisted of 15 heats and allowed 96 dachshunds, both standard and mini, to compete for the title of top dog.
In the final heat the winner from the mini dachshund category, Sophie, faced off with the winner from the standard group, Nibbles, to see who would be this year’s champion. The close, final race resulted in a victory for Nibbles, owned by 8-year-old Alex Weinshilboum.
“We ran a whole lot of laps at the dog park,” Weinshilboum said.
Nibbles competed in 2007 but took 2008 off when he blew out his back and had to have surgery through the UC Davis Veterinary Center, said Weinshilboum’s father. A successful operation enabled Nibbles to race this year and ultimately claim victory.
The derby is a fundraiser hosted by second-year veterinary students and the registration fees go to benefit the UC Davis Veterinary School, said sophomore veterinary student Michelle Barbieri.
– Amanda Hardwick
