Mutt Show Will Transform Berwyn Into the City of Dogs on May 15

Show held in conjunction with Chicagoland DockDogs(R) Competition

BERWYN, Ill., April 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC) will host the Fourth Annual Chicagoland Great American Mutt Show. The event will take place in Berwyn, IL on Saturday, May 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Morton West High School, located at 2400 Home Avenue. Chicagoland DockDogs® will hold a two-day regional competition in tandem with the Great American Mutt Show (May 15 from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. and May 16 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.).

The Chicagoland Great American Mutt Show features a wide variety of entertainment-based competitions for mutts and purebreds alike. This year the Animal Care League was selected as the event's featured shelter as the event is also designed to promote animal rescue and pet adoption in the Chicagoland area. Onsite sponsors and vendors will feature pet products, services, training techniques, and education on proper pet care. What's more, a new "Interactive Zone" will provide participants and their pooches with the opportunity to test treats such as pupcakes, scrumptious dog-friendly cupcakes; exercise their creative sides in vying to be the next Pupcasso, the doggie version of Picasso with mess-free paw painting; and walk on the wild side by testing out doggie tattoos. Even if the family dog is not of the sporting kind, there will be plenty to taste, smell, and paw.

This year, the Westminster Kennel Club celebrated its 134th dog show honoring purebreds and touted a legacy as one of the longest continuously running sporting events in our country, second only to the Kentucky Derby. It seems that until recently American sporting culture left our everyday mixed-breeds -- accounting for 70% of all dogs in the US -- underserved in the world of canine competition. Enter Berwyn's Mutt Show. In 2007, the BDC established the Mutt Show to fill the unmet demands of dog lovers in the Chicagoland area who were searching for a venue to showcase the spirit and individuality of their dogs.

"The Great American Mutt Show is one of Berwyn's premier events and is a wonderful kick-off to the BDC's events season," said Paul Zimmermann, President of the BDC. "It is an event that brings together the whole family and truly celebrates the camaraderie that our pets inspire. Even if you do not have a dog, this event is highly entertaining," he added.

Chad Lopez of The Urban Mutt and formerly of HGTV's Designed to Sell will return this year as ringmaster for the event. In 2009, the Urban Mutt launched a web-series catering to Chicagoland dog-lovers and later opened a bricks and mortar store in Berwyn's Depot District, which serves a dog fancier's every delight from food and treats to toys and accessories. Visit their media website at www.theurbanmutt.tv to view a webisode featuring last year's show.

Dogs of all types are welcome in this year's show. However, only mixed breeds who win a contest can enter the Best in Show grand finale competition. A few of the contests open for registration include the following (subject to change pending registration results): Most creative pet trick, best rescue, best kisser, best dressed, and best dancer. New this year is the online "Cutest Mutt" Contest that will rely on votes from friends and family to make the cut for the day of the show. In conjunction with the Mutt Show, the Chicagoland DockDogs regional competition will feature a mounted dock and an above-ground water pool with two days of wave times, including big air, speed retrieval, extreme vertical and divisional finals. New jumpers are welcome.

The show is open to all dog lovers who wish to be part of the event. No dog? Come for fun! Interested contest participants, vendors, sponsors and volunteers can register to be involved in the Great American Mutt Show or Chicagoland DockDogs by calling 708-788-8100 or visiting www.muttshow.com and www.dockdogs.com. Become a fan of the "Great American Mutt Show" on Facebook.

The CHICAGOLAND GREAT AMERICAN MUTT SHOW is made possible by the Berwyn Development Corporation through permission and approval of name usage rights by NYC-based Tails in Need, Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting pet adoption and animal welfare.

Each year the Animal Care League helps more than 1,100 homeless animals in the near western suburbs and performs over 2,000 low cost spay/neuter surgeries in our Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic. For information on clinic services or adopting a new pet, please visit 1011 Garfield Street, Oak Park, IL 60304, call 708-848-8155 or visit www.animalcareleague.org.

The BERWYN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (BDC) is a public-private partnership with the City of Berwyn that provides economic development and Chamber services to all segments of the Berwyn community. The BDC focuses its efforts on those activities that will improve the overall climate for local businesses and residents, in addition to encouraging the development of new commercial venues and employment opportunities. The BDC continually strives to develop new programs, services and events that promote Berwyn businesses and the community.

SOURCE Berwyn Development Corporation