New York, NY-
Secluded in the back of the dark bowels of the Westminster Kennel club waits a long shot. Micheal Vick’s pride and joy. She in no means was ever projected to make it past the first round of the WKC’s 2013 Competition. Her name is Shark, a 6 year old Black Mouth Cur. She was as Mike would say “a woman trapped in a mans body”. She stands about 2.5 feet with muscles like she is on steroids, with a weight of 80 lbs. and 0% body fat. “Has she ever been in a fight” one onlooker asked. “No but I would feel sorry for the other dog” Mike said. Mike went on to say that the Black Mouth Cur breed is not AKC registered…yet. He was allowed to get her in due to a special allocation in 2013 that allows 2 dogs maximum of undetermined breeds. These dogs although not AKC defined are in fact a breed. Started in the 1940’s,hunters in the south wanted a good scent dog with stamina and aggressiveness. Mike went on to tell us about the lineage of the Cur breed. “There are a few different Cur breeds beside the Black Mouth, the Catahoula, Mountain Cur and a few others.” “The best hunting dogs you can get for wild hogs, coyote, squirrels, you name it they can hunt it.”
Vick, who began dog training classes back in March of 2013, was actually the handler wearing the unusually “un-Mike” clothing. White dress shirt, Black suit and some lame looking black pay-less dress shoes. “You have to wear what they tell you to wear, and I’m just following the rules here.” “I’m a little embarrassed but if my dog gets a win I’m all for it!”
Mike and Shark made a beautiful run past the judges with the crowd holding their breath. Once done the crowd gave them a standing ovation that lasted 10 minutes which did not please the judges who seemed a little pissed. Waiting at their position as the main judge passed to select the top 5 dogs, the crowd was on the edge of their seats. #5 was Shark and selected, the crowd went crazy! Another 5 minutes of cheering had to be stopped by the judges due to time constraints.
The final had to be delayed due to a Shark encounter that took out the #1 dog with a neck wound. Due to the rules and codes of the WKC, “Any contestant who bites another contestant will not be penalized in any form or fashion due to their accidental discharge of aggression.” The #1 dog happened to be owned by Mike Tyson and was the instigator in this drama.
Shark moved into #4 and moving into the #5 slot was a mangy Toy Poodle. As the final went down the head judge gave the dogs the sinister look they give, concentrating on every aspect of the dog, doing a mind warp on the dogs psyche, starring them in the eyes, picking up scents that the dogs give off, basking in their big time limelight. Boom, #5 goes first, then #3,then #2. Down to #1 and Shark, the judge comes up and does a pat down, looks them both in the eyes and is somewhat mesmerized by by both dogs. He stumbles back to his voting area with the crowd holding their breath again….he’s a little wobbly then all of the sudden he points to Shark! The dark-horse wins it and the crowd goes bonkers and storms the turf, the dogs go wild and it’s complete chaos. No serious injuries but many spectators were bitten by the dogs due to their fight/flee instinct.
Congrats to Mike and his dog and the work done for dogs in all of the rescue preserves he provides across the US.