TAKE ME HOME YOUR BEST FRIEND PET PRIDE Champion papillon sets AKC record, still competingTHINGS TO DO ON VACATION LITERARY LAS VEGAS VIEW CAPTION CONTEST WINNERS

bonnie lee/special to viewHello Dolly flies through an obedience trials course. Nikki Schwebel of northwest Las Vegas submitted this photo of her and her husband, George?s, two daughters, Sabrina, 12, left, and Natalie, 15, during the family?s summer vacation in Lake Tahoe. Advertisement

CANDY

I need a home, please. I'm gentle, affectionate and very sweet, and I can be a wonderful companion and family member for you. My name is Candy and I'm a dilute calico (blue, cream and white), spayed female, approximately 2 years of age. I'm waiting for you to adopt me today at the Nevada SPCA's free-roaming Cat Condo playrooms.

The Nevada SPCA is a no-kill animal sanctuary located at 4800 W. Dewey Drive in Las Vegas. For more information on animals featured here, visit www.nevadaspca.org, or call 873-7722.

NSPCA

Hello Dolly, a 6-pound papillon, is the first toy breed dog to collect more than 1,000 lifetime Obedience Trial Championship points by the American Kennel Club, says her owner Bonnie Lee of Las Vegas.

"Dolly accomplished this on Sept. 16 at the Great Salt Lake Dog Training Club's obedience trials in Farmington, Utah. On that same day, Dolly also won the High In Trial and High Combined," Lee wrote.

"To be an AKC Obedience Trial Champion, dogs must accumulate 100 points and have two wins in the Utility B or Open B class with one other win in the other class.

"All has not come easy with Dolly. In August 2006, at the Greeley KC's obedience trials, Dolly received a static shock when attempting to pick up the metal article during the Scent Discrimination exercise. Dolly cried out, jumped back from the article and very reluctantly went back to it, picked it up and delivered it to me to complete the exercise. She was a very unhappy camper -- but, what a trooper to have completed the exercise."

Today, over a year later, thanks to disciplined play drills and a patient, loving owner/trainer, Dolly is back to competing outdoors. As for indoors, it's hit and miss, reports Lee. However, Lee writes that Dolly is doing her best and the duo plan to take things one day at a time.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Operation Santa Paws drive through Dec. 17

Lucky Dog Magazine and the Las Vegas Hot-Diggity Dachshund Club are coordinating a citywide pet supply drive through Dec. 17.

Operation Santa Paws features drop-off sites at area businesses. For a list of locations, visit www.luckydogmag.com.

Needed supplies include pet toys, treats, collars, food for dogs, cats, birds, turtles, hamsters, rabbits, cat litter, pet shampoo, crates and more. All donated items will be presented to animal shelters in Las Vegas and Phoenix.

For more information, call 437-4873.

For years, Carolyn L. Ahern has turned her spouse's business trips into adventures. While her husband, Don, attended meetings, Ahern would go on sightseeing tours and then jot down notes on what she saw.

Along the way, she discovered there was a void in the travel book market where children were concerned. There were plenty of guide books for adults, but kids were left out.

Ahern decided to fill that void with a new set of picture books, the Tino Turtle Travel series. So far, Tino has traveled to London and Paris. Future books, illustrated by Neallia Burt Sullivan, have Tino headed to Nairobi, Kenya; Mexico City and Beijing.

Ahern makes frequent appearances along with her traveling turtle mascot. For information on her next event, visit tinoturtletravels.com.

Maybe you shouldn't try to bluff at the poker table.

-- Everett Croxson, Las Vegas

First Place:

Second Place:

Third Place:

Honorable Mentions:

* Yeah, my nose turns red when I lie. -- Madelon Smith, Henderson

* Honestly! You're a great mayor! Honestly! -- Lacey Valdez, Las Vegas

* That wouldn't happen if you drink a martini before you talk to anyone. -- Leonard Brandt, Las Vegas

* You mean if we tell the truth, it gets smaller? Now why didn't I think of that? -- Tim Holt, Las Vegas

* I get mine snipped once a week and nobody's the wiser. -- Jesse Weeks, Henderson

Prizes will be awarded to all the winners, including a copy of "The Reign of Sir Oscar" by Las Vegas artist Mike Miller for the first-, second- and third-place entries.

Watch for another caption contest in the Dec. 11 editions.

SEVEN WINNERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPERS STAFF, WHO EVALUATED THE 201 ENTRIES THAT WERE SUBMITTED BY A TOTAL OF 171 READERS.

* It takes one to nose one! -- Kathy Schwartz, Las Vegas