2nd Annual Toughest Dog in Texas Competition was a huge success!

Mountain Breeze Campground in Canyon Lake, Texas was the setting for this years Toughest Dog in Texas Charity Competition.  The weather was gorgeous, the course was challenging, and the volunteers and supporters went above and beyond to make this event a huge success.  And let's not forget the dogs...they were beautiful and friendly, but competitive when it came time to race. 

Rowan and volunteers filling Purina Pro-plan goodie bags for the dogs entered in the race...

 



 

Beautiful trophies for the top three winners in the Law Enforcement and Military Divisions...

Rowan with his friend Dusit Butler, Miss Pre-Teen San Antonio, who came to volunteer as well...

 

There was a silent auction with lots of amazing donated items...

 

 

including this precious Shepherd Puppy that was auctioned off.

 

 

 Look at this wonderful list of sponsors for the event! 

 

More volunteers at the registration and time table...

 

 

A huge thank you to all the race entrees and their K9s, from Police Departments, Sheriff's Departments and Military Bases...

 

One at a time, ten minutes apart, the dogs and their handlers ran down the hill, jumped into the raft with their dog, pulled themselves and their dogs across the river by rope, jumped out, ran nearly 3 miles on foot to the top of a rocky cliff and back down, then swam back across the river (no raft allowed on the way back), and ran back up the hill to the finish line.

 



 

 

 

Everyone was so excited to catch the runners and dogs coming back across the river...

 

 

Rowan congratulating Deputy Jake, for being the first one to complete the course.

He ended up taking first place in the Law Enforcement Division, with their fastest time.

 

Here is the top military winner...Octavio. 

He was also last years top overall winner as well:)

Everyone ran a great race though.  This was not an easy course, and not for the faint of heart.

 



 

Rowan really enjoyed watching them run and swim, and cheered them all on as they left and came back...

 

 

Probably the highlight of Rowan's day though was being gifted these treasures from the military competitors.  He got a new K9 military police dog, a K9 hat, a special Marine Corp Military Police Badge, and a military working dog coin.

 

 

 

It definitely got hot as the day went on, so Rowan was very thankful for the donated ice cold water...

 

 

And the shade of the beautiful hill-country grounds of Mountain Breeze Camp Grounds...

 

We took a little break for a delicious barbeque lunch donated by some wonderful folks from Ingram Ranch. This is the second year in a row that Sam and his family have blessed us all with these good eats.  Thank you!

Thank you to Bernice, the artist who designed the competition logo and t-shirt artwork for this year, for also gifting Rowan with some special children's books, one that she wrote herself, and 2 that she illustrated. 

 

 

 

You may remember last year when she painted this beautiful portrait of Rowan.  What a gift!

 

 

 

After lunch it was back to work, with more racers taking to the course...

 

 

The most exciting part was cheering the runners and their K9s back across the river, as they swam and then ran through the water.

 

 

 

 

 

Rowan kept clapping and calling out "You can do it! Come on! You got this!"

 

Once all the racers had finished, Rowan and Dusti passed out the homemade dog treats that Rowan had made with love the night before...

 

 

 

 Then it was time for the awards.  Dusti helped Deputy Duane pass out the trophies to the winners in both categories, military and law enforcement.

 

Rowan got photo opportunities with some of them... He might be the inspiration for the event, but they are the real inspiration, the true heroes!

 

 

 

Then Rowan went to work, helping draw the winning tickets for the big raffle items.

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone had a great time, tons of prizes were won, and lots of money was raised for young patients and their parents in the hospital, through the Rowan Jameson Windham Foundation and its efforts.  It looks like the total raised will be around $14,000 this year!  Thank you to everyone who volunteered, donated, participated or attended!

 

 

 

It couldn't have happened though, without the creator and founder of the event, Deputy Duane Buethe, all of his hard-working partners from the Comal County Sheriff's Department, the participants, donors and sponsors from around New Braunfels and San Antonio, and the inspiration for the charitable foundation itself, our own little Rowan Windham.

But Duane, you are the brains, heart and soul of this charity competition, and we truly thank you!

 

 

 

Here are your 2014 Toughest Dog in Texas Competition Winners.

We can't wait to see you all next year!

 

 

From the bottom of hearts, thank you to all who helped make this event so successful, and so much fun!  Especially the furry four legged hard working dogs of the military and law enforcement agencies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love, Rowan