Golden Years

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Local News

GOLDEN YEARS | Sam has won the ugly dog crown for the third time, but will it be his last? 7/1/05 By ANNA DAVISON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER       Local celebrity is "winding down," though his star is still on the rise         Call him the Lance Armstrong of aesthetically challenged canines: Sam has won yet again -- but possibly for the last time. For the third year in a row, he's taken home the trophy for ugliest dog at the Sonoma-Marin Fair -- one of the premiere lineups of less-than-lovely dogs in the country. Unfortunately, his mom, Susie Lockheed of Santa Barbara, said Sam's win last weekend in Petaluma and his appearance in this Monday's Santa Barbara Fourth of July Parade might be his swan song. Sam, who's pushing 15, is "winding down," she said -- even as his celebrity is peaking. At last year's Independence Day parade, gaggles of squealing onlookers mobbed Sam and Ms. Lockheed. They marveled at his naked, thickly freckled back, his clouded, blind eyes, and the straggly hair that erupts from his dark, wrinkled forehead. Every so often, he growled and revealed a clutch of crooked teeth -- like a demented Austin Powers. "People took videos and mailed them to me," Ms. Lockheed said. "So many people have told me they've got his picture on their refrigerator. . . . He certainly has a little cult following. . . . I did years of professional musical theater and never achieved the fame Sam has." Sam's not your average celebrity, though he does have a modest tuft of blond hair, a personal chef at his disposal and the benefit of professional exfoliation treatments because Ms. Lockheed runs a facial business. Nonetheless, she said that when she and Sam arrived at their hotel in Northern California, ready to take on the other heinous contestants in last weekend's World's Ugliest Dog Contest, "the light was blinking. People wanted to meet Sam." A crowd of about 400 gathered for the event, many chanting in support of a newcomer named Munchkin. Ms. Lockheed wanted the judges to drink in Sam's finest features. The fatty lump pushing out of his chest, the line of warts marching down his snout and his knobby, drawn-out paws are best viewed up close, so, "I went over, plopped him on the judges' table and they sort of recoiled." In the end, Sam triumphed again, though Munchkin did beat Ms. Lockheed's other dog, Tater Tot -- an unfortunate meeting of Chinese crested and Chihuahua -- for the title of ugliest mixed breed. Ms. Lockheed, by the way, doesn't open her home to ugly dogs in particular. Sam's actually a pedigreed Chinese crested; Ms. Lockheed has two others that are more attractive examples of the breed.   SAM: THEN AND NOW "The other dogs are a little envious of Sam because he gets so much attention," she said. "In town, I take him out and people say, ÔIs that Sam?' " Reflecting on his notoriety, Ms. Lockheed said, "I probably should have run with it a little more, like Mr. Winkle." But any comparison to Mr. Winkle, the pint-sized, pouffy and frankly freakish-looking pooch beloved by children the world over, only serves to emphasize Sam's striking hideousness. "People are always horrified when I kiss him," Ms. Lockheed said. "He may turn into a prince yet. He's definitely a toad. "I always thought he'd be great on greeting cards," she added, "or on a commercial for Rogaine." But this year's competition win and parade appearance could be a farewell tour for Sam, who's hobbled by failing health. Earlier this year he had to turn down an opportunity to appear on "The Jane Pauley Show" -- as a kind of counterpoint to the blow-dried prissiness of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show -- because the trip east might have been too much for him. The last couple of months have been rough. Sam has been coping with congestive heart failure, lung problems and kidney troubles. Although he's become a bit less cantankerous lately -- "a kinder and gentler Sam," Ms. Lockheed said -- he doesn't take kindly to having pills stuffed down his throat, so Ms. Lockheed has resorted to burying them in tasty treats. It started with cheese balls; later there was buffalo meat and top sirloin. She tried roast chicken skin, "mac and cheese was another one," and "then he was into flan," Ms. Lockheed said. "The only way he'd take his pills is flan. "He's having a gourmand experience in his old age. Sam's diet is really incredible." Despite the luxury meals, Sam has lost weight. Ms. Lockheed demonstrates this by gently pulling a handful of elderly skin away from his neck, then letting it go, leaving a wrinkled peak. "There's like 20 feet of extra skin down there. . . . He has a lot of dangling flesh. . . . Now he needs a lift. A body lift." Still, Sam is having a pretty good time in his golden years. "Days on the sofa, nights in the bed with occasional fabulous gourmet meals in between," Ms. Lockheed said. And there are weekends at her boyfriend's Gaviota ranch, where Sam enjoys riding on the back of an ATV, his mostly toothless jaw sagging open and his few remaining hairs wafting in the wind. Ms. Lockheed credits Sam with bringing her and her boyfriend together. She posted a photo of her and Sam on an Internet dating site. "He e-mailed and said, 'What is that?' " -- and a romance began. "Sam's also been Cupid," Ms. Lockheed said.   e-mail: adavison@newspress     RAFAEL MALDONADO / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS Sam, a 14-year-old Chinese crested, has picked up another award for exceptional ugliness -- and quite a few fans. "He certainly has a little cult following," says his mom, Susie Lockheed. Sam will be appearing in all his hideous glory on Monday in Santa Barbara's Fourth of July Parade, which begins at 1 p.m. at State and Micheltorena streets and ends at Cota Street.

Comments

[andy stolarek]

HI!!!

I dont know if im so excited, scared, anxious, jealous, or what... but, I need to photograph this amazing dog!! Ive been seriously shooting animals for a little while now, and would love the oppurtunity to meet Sam and Susie and show you my work. Please email me Susie!!! Lovin' you guys.
Andy
www.stolarek.com
(ps. site is being built, please email me for more pictures! Im in the LA area)

[M]

hey sam i think ur cute in your own unique way, im glad u found someone 2 love and care 4 u no matter wat u look like