ROCK ISLAND -- Sporting a hot pink sweater to fend of the spring chill, Princess looked over her competition and proceeded to prance with excitement.
It was Easter Sunday and the 6-pound Yorkshire terrier knew she was there to find some golden eggs.
In fact, more than 200 dogs sniffed out Easter treats yesterday during the seventh annual Doggie Easter Egg Hunt at Hasselroth Park in Rock Island.
The event, sponsored by Happy Dog Bakery in Moline, is a fundrasier for the Quad City Animal Welfare Center, Milan.
For a $5 donation, canines got to comb the park for Easter egg-shaped peanut butter biscuits, a few thousand of which were dropped in the grass.
"I think everyone enjoys this event," said Patti Lahn, executive director of the welfare center. "They really get into it."
Including dog owner Betty Shellabarger, Milan. Every year, she adds to Choo Choo's costume. This year the 11-year-old Maltese-mix was sporting a homemade Easter bonnet, sunglasses, a baby bib and a yellow shirt decorated especially for the holiday.
Ms. Shellabarger has been bringing her pooch to egg hunt for four years. "It is a lot of fun and a great benefit for the welfare center," she said.
Choo Choo wasn't the only canine in costume. Some sported bunny ears, some simple bandannas. Sydney, a 7-year-old German shepard and yellow lab mix, wore a man's white tank top decorated with Easter eggs and a simple wish for everyone to have a happy Easter.
Sydney has been to all but one of the hunts, said his owner, Jackie Carlson, Rock Island. He usually lands about a dozen biscuits and gets treated with one a day.
Before the hunt began, Shelby, a 5-year-old Shepard-mix, was dancing around her owner, Karen Lake, Rock Island. "Are you nervous?" she asked Shelby "Do you want to get started?"
It wasn't long before they did just that, and all of the canines began to raid the grassy field with their owners in tow.
About five minutes after the hunt began, Mike Koester, Moline, held onto Mountain's leash and with his other hand displayed their find -- six biscuits.
"And he already ate one," Mr. Koester said of the 100-pound white Samoyed.
Princess also made some finds. Four times, she ran past a biscuit, then stopped to allow her owner, Tara Polek, Moline, to pick up the treat and put it inside her pink Easter basket.
In all, the event raised more than $900 for the welfare center.
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