K-Run's Park Me In First facts for kids
K-Run's Park Me In First aka Uno
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| Other name(s) | Uno |
|---|---|
| Species | Canis lupus familiaris |
| Breed | Beagle |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | May 5, 2005 Belleville, Illinois |
| Died | September 20, 2018 (aged 13) Austin, Texas |
| Nation from | American |
| Notable role | Conformation show dog |
| Title | Best In Show at the Westminster Dog Show |
| Term | 2008 |
| Predecessor | Ch. Felicity's Diamond Jim (English Springer Spaniel) |
| Successor | Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee (Sussex Spaniel) |
| Owner | Caroline Dowell |
K-Run's Park Me In First, known to everyone as Uno (born May 5, 2005 – died September 20, 2018), was a special beagle. He was about 15 inches tall and came from Belleville, Illinois. Uno made history by winning the top award, "Best in Show," at the 2008 Westminster Kennel Club dog show. He was the very first beagle to ever win this big prize! He was also the first beagle to win the Hound Group since 1939.
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Uno's Early Life
Uno was born on May 5, 2005. He was one of four puppies born in a garage in Belleville, Illinois. Kathy Weichert was his first owner.
Uno's Show Career
In 2008, Uno entered the famous Westminster Kennel Club dog show. This big event takes place every year in New York City. Uno was already known as the sixth best dog in the U.S. in 2007.
At the show, Aaron Wilkerson handled Uno. Uno competed against 2,626 other amazing dogs. He won his breed group, which is a big deal. He was the first beagle to win the Hound Group since 1939. The judge, Ralph Lemcke, said Uno was "one of the best hounds I've ever seen."
Winning his group meant Uno could compete for Best in Show. This is the top award at Westminster. He was up against a toy Poodle, a standard Poodle, a Sealyham Terrier, an Australian Shepherd, an Akita, and a Weimaraner. The judge, Dr. J. Donald Jones, took three minutes to decide. He then pointed to Uno, making him the first beagle to ever win Best in Show at Westminster! This happened just before Uno's third birthday.
Life After Winning Westminster
After his big win, Uno stopped competing in dog shows. People thought judges might not pick him again because he had already won the top prize. Instead, his owner wanted him to have puppies. However, this plan was put on hold because Uno became very famous. The press and public wanted to see him all the time.
Uno and his owner were invited to the White House. They met President George W. Bush. The First Lady, Laura Bush, even gave Uno a special collar. Uno was the first Westminster champion to visit the President!
Uno also visited Miller Park in Milwaukee. He helped throw the first pitch at a baseball game. He did the same at a St. Louis Cardinals home game. Later that year, he rode on the Snoopy float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
To honor Uno's historic win, his home state of Illinois named a day in March after him. After his busy life as a celebrity, Uno became a therapy dog. He helped people feel better.
Uno's Personal Life
Even though there were plans for Uno to have puppies, he couldn't. His owner, Caroline Dowell, said it was okay. She just wanted him as a pet. When he wasn't traveling, Uno lived with Caroline near Austin, Texas. He lived with 40 to 50 other beagles. Most of these beagles were rescued dogs. Caroline kept Uno in a small group to keep him safe from the more playful dogs.
In 2015, another beagle related to Uno won Best in Show at Westminster. This dog was named Tashtins Lookin For Trouble, or Miss P. She was Uno's grandniece. Before Miss P's win, TV host David Frei said Uno was "easily the most popular Westminster winner in my 25 years."
Uno passed away from cancer on September 20, 2018. He was 13 years old. The New York Times wrote that Uno stayed popular even after other dogs won Westminster. But he always returned home to Austin, where his owner, many rescue beagles, and a potbellied pig were waiting for him.
See also
In Spanish: K-Run's Park Me In First para niños
