The Banjax look-alike contest in honor of the cover dog on the hardcover version of The Parting Glass is officially over. What fun! Not only did I love seeing photos of your beautiful pets, it was also fun to find just the right gifts to include in the winner's basket.

Judging night was a particular high point. Authors Diane Chamberlain and Patricia McLinn, both committed "dog people" examined and re-examined the entries and debated dogs and their stories after dining on all the Irish recipes that used to grace the website "café." A gala evening for everybody, even Kiwi, my little rat terrier-Chihuahua mix, who helped us choose.

Sunshine, grand prize winner

Sunshine, who won the grand prize gift basket, came with a beautifully written story so much like the one of Banjax in The Parting Glass that we decided Sunshine was a spiritual twin. Sunshine was entered by Serena Miller. Serena told us that the dog was dropped off at her church, the Sunshine Church of Christ. In Serena's words:

"I watched Sunshine pine for almost two weeks as she stood vigil in the church parking lot waiting for her owner to come back, watching every car that passed. . . Worry about that little dog kept me awake at night. At the time we owned three very territorial dogs, and I feared they would not look kindly upon a strange dog. So I drove to the church several times a week to feed and pet her. My grown son finally made the decision for me. We'd gone to check on her and he simply opened the door and said, 'You want to go home, girl?'"

Serena goes on to say that they took Sunshine to live with Serena's 91 year old mother. "I took Sunshine up onto the porch and it was mutual love at first sight. Sunshine was too much a lady to jump on my mother and Mom was delighted with her new companion. That sweet gentle dog brightened the last two years of my mother's life."

Sunshine is now loved and cared for by the whole family, but her favorite person is Serena's nephew, who has cerebral palsy. As Serena's vet says: "There's just something about a little stray."

Hoover, the Banjax dead ringer	Second place went to Hoover, the dog of Connie Laux and a dead ringer for Banjax. Since poor Hoover now has a hyperactive Jack Russell pal he must put up with each day, he clearly deserved his new collar.
Abner, a reluctant star	Third place was scooped up by another of Serena's pets, Abner, an abused dog she has taken in. Serena says: "I never did get a good shot of Abner, our one-eyed stray. He was so abused before we got him he simply could not imagine anything good coming from being stalked by me and my camera." All of us felt Abner's photo was just fine. He deserved a prize for everything he had been through.
Rosey, Emma, Willie, Rocky and Scooby Doo waiting. . .	Finally, the consolation prizes. Although I hadn't planned this, two other entrants clearly deserved recognition. Sharon Berger, who made us smile with the photos of all her lovely dogs and Connie Williamson, whose photograph of her "grand-dogs" at the door was memorable. Both of them will receive an autographed novel.
Thanks and congratulations to all the winners. In their honor why not visit http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com to have free food donated to abandoned and neglected animals? Just click on "feed an animal in need." Visit every day. It's an easy way to help.