Four-legged family members compete at Misawa AAFES pet show

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kelly White
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Misawa family pets strutted their stuff for fun and prizes during the AAFES annual pet show here Aug. 28.

Seventeen pets competed in categories ranging from most tricks to biggest hair.

"This is not a professional pet show," said AAFES pet show coordinator, Taeko Westfall. "My goal is to make it fun and find a winner in every pet."

In an extra show of support for base families, AAFES invited staff from PAWS Misawa, the installation pet shelter, to bring adoption-available animals along so that AAFES could pay the adoption fee for any PAWS animal adopted during the event.

"AAFES has always shown strong support for PAWS' mission to rescue and care for the stray animals of Misawa," said PAWS President Jennifer Hazell. "We're grateful AAFES invited us to participate again this year in its annual pet show."

During the show, a panel of judges awarded a prize to each contestant and ultimately granted best of show to Staff Sgt. Michael Rainey, 35th Maintenance Squadron, for his poodle, Turbo.