Photo: Drake University
(DES MOINES, Iowa) -- A bulldog from Oakland in Pottawattamie County, Iowa has been crowned the winner of Drake University's annual Most Beautiful Bulldog Contest.
The dog, named "Pumpkin," will serve as the year-long mascot for the Drake Relays. The event this week in Des Moines, Iowa, is expected to attract the nation's top athletes in track and field. Many of the athletes are expected to compete in the Olympics.
Pumpkin's owner, Shawna Anderson says the dog inspired her to begin rescuing and fostering other bulldogs thru the Good Life Bulldog Rescue organization.
"We are super excited because we’ve always known she’s beautiful,” said Anderson. “She is an amazing foster sister to all of the foster bulldogs that come through our home. She is great at
teaching new fosters how to just be a dog and accept love.”
This year's Most Beautiful Bulldog contest attracted 30 English bulldog contestants from four states including Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, and
Minnesota.
Griff II will remain the full-time, official Drake University live mascot.