CAVE CREEK – People love their dogs.        

Whether it’s Winston Churchill and his lookalike bull dogs, Dorothy Parker and the sleek dachshund that would warm her lap while she dished out her chilling barbs, Lassie chasing Timmy, Dorothy chasing Toto, Tom Hanks’ cinematic Turner and his heartstring‑tugging, title‑sharing Hooch, or Napoleon taking his poodle, Moustache, onto the battlefield of Austerlitz–people and their dogs are not soon parted and the genuine camaraderie of a loyal dog is something cat‑lovers and people without pets probably never experience.

Visionary writer Aldous Huxley, who gave us a “Brave New World” to contemplate, observed: “To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.”

Cave Creek wildlife painter Linda Budge, it’s plain to see, is quite fond of dogs as well.

“There isn’t anything like a dog,” Budge said. “The unconditional love they give you is like nothing else. That’s what makes them so special.”

All‑around animal person and definite dog lover Budge has a long history of using her artistic talents and her “doggedness” to support animal welfare causes, including Ducks Unlimited and the National Guide Dog Foundation.

And now she’s got a hot new idea for the summer. A fundraising contest called “Dog Days of August,” from which one winner will emerge with an original oil painting of his/her dog and a set of personalized‑pooch note cards created by Budge.

“I wanted to do something fun in August, because it’s kind of quiet during the summer,” Budge said in a phone interview from Cheyenne, Wyo., where she had just finished showing her Arizona wildlife paintings in the Western Arts Show, an event she has been attending for 23 years. And yes, she did have several dog paintings on display there.

“Dog Days of August” will benefit the Humane Society and all of the animal rescue groups,” Budge said. The entry fee proceeds ($10 per entry) will go either to the entrant’s chosen charity (if paid by check made out to the charity) or to the Humane Society (if paid in cash).

To enter the contest participants must complete an entry form, supply a 4x6‑inch photo of their dog, and write a 300‑word essay describing their dog’s personality and explaining why they think their dog deserves to have its portrait painted. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.LindaBudge. com. All materials must be delivered to Budge’s studio in Cave Creek by August 31 and will not be returned.

Essays and photos will be reviewed throughout August. The winner will be notified by Sunday, September 10, and receive a 12x16‑inch original oil, custom‑framed painting by Budge of his/her dog valued at $1,950. In addition, the winner will receive a packet of 50 greeting cards featuring the painted image of the dog.

After Budge notifies the winner, she will most likely visit their home to research and take photos to use when painting the dog’s portrait. “I  love to visit the dog at home and see how the people live. The colors and backgrounds help personalize the portrait.” The winner may also opt to bring the dog to Budge’s studio for the consultation. 

“This is something to cherish for years to come,” said Budge. “It will be hanging on the wall. It needs to be very special.”

Budge said the essays that accompany the photos will go a long way toward determining the top dog. “I know we are going to get a lot of good stories,” Budge said. “And I’m sure that when I read the right story, I will know it.”

She also hinted that in November, in connection with the Sonoran Arts League’s Hidden in the Hills arts tour, she is planning to hold a feline‑flavored contest in order “not to leave out the kitty people.”

Apart from the contest, throughout August Budge will donate 25 percent of the price of commissioned dog portraits to the animal charity to be determined by the patron, who will also receive a packet of 50 greeting cards featuring the painted image of his or her dog.

Here in Arizona we may not be as sophisticated as they are in France, where at Maxim’s in Paris les chiens regularly dine at table with their owners, and sometimes have their own selections on the menu, but dog people in the Desert Foothills, at least during August, will have their day.

And so, let’s allow Mrs. Parker to rhyme us into the dog days of August with the end of the same poem we started with:

You are God’s kindliest gift of all–a friend.

Your shining loyalty unflecked by doubt,

You ask but leave to follow to the end.

(Couldn’t you wait until I took you out?) 

“Dog Days of August” contest will accept entries from August 1 to 31. Entries, including a completed application form, $10 fee, a 4x6‑inch color photograph and a 300‑word essay describing the dog’s personality and explaining why the dog deserves a portrait, must be hand‑delivered to the Linda Budge Studio, 38252 N. Jacqueline Drive, Cave Creek, Tues.–Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.Linda Budge.com. Photos and essays will not be returned. Applicants under the age of 18 must have a parent or a guardian sign the entry form and a release. For information, call (480) 595‑9985 or visit www.LindaBudge.com.

Reach the reporter at cmoore@thedesertadvocate.com.