Five things about ... annual Mutt Strut at Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS -- When nearly 10,000 dogs converged on Indianapolis Motor Speedway this past weekend, a new meaning was given to the phrase "debris on the backstretch."

All around the 2.5 oval, dogs, puppies and even one small pony walked one lap to raise money for the sixth annual Mutt Strut benefiting the Humane Society of Indianapolis. Officials expected to raise at least $300,000 and possible more.

NASCAR Charlie, my field-bred English Springer Spaniel, raised nearly $200 for the cause and thought he was pretty special, namely when Pam Boas, Tony Stewart's mom, told him how adorable he was.

Here are five even more adorable things about this year's Mutt Strut:

Mutt Strut grand marshal Pam Boas

As a member of the board of directors and treasurer of the Tony Stewart Foundation, Boas waved the green flag for Sunday's crowd.

When asked if she brought her son's canine companions along for the walk, Boas laughed and said, "No, I just brought my husband."

Boas also gave her thoughts on Stewart's progression and success as a new team owner and said he's the happiest she has seen him in a long while.

"I think his success escalated so quickly that he didn't have time to catch up with it and now he has," Boas said. "He's really much more secure with his situation and more mature."

Stewart, as well as his mother, are huge animal philanthropists and maintain somewhat of a sanctuary on Stewart's property in Columbus, Ind.

"Tony loves his deer," Boas said. "He has certain ones marked that aren't allowed to be hunted and ever once in a while they let you love on them."

Tammy Beaver has her hands full.

While in line to register for the event, Charlie made the acquaintance of seven Siberian Huskies.

Holding each dog was Tammy Beaver, a young lady from Indianapolis who had rescued all seven dogs and planned to walk them all on separate leashes.

"I already have a bloody hand, it doesn't look very girly but we'll be OK once we get on the track," she said.

And they were. The dogs walked very well on the track and worked together in unison just like sled dogs.

I thought to offer some help but my 45-pound pulling machine was bad enough! And I worried what the surface of the track might do to Charlie's paw pads, visions of last year's tire shredding at the Brickyard still fresh in my mind.

Around the entire track, event organizers filled small blue wading pools and long troughs with water to keep the dogs cool and hydrated in the 80-degree heat.

Unfortunately, my dog refused to drink the community water and pawed at my leg for my bottled version.

However, I wasn't too upset or bothered by Charlie's request or lack of interest in the public water stations after I saw a yellow Labrador pee in one of the pools.

4. Dressed for success ...

This Shetland pony is a horse of course, even at a dog walk.

Carla Mann and Migel

If Stewart's Chihuahua, Kayle, is ever looking for a partner close to home in Indiana, Migel Mann of Indianapolis is on the market. He's single, enjoys long walks in the dog park and is willing to share his favorite squeak toy.

For the Mutt Strut, Migel's mother, Carla Mann, dressed the tiny dog in her toddler's sun glasses, a Hawaiian lei and board shorts.

If there was a costume contest, Migel would take first prize! Many other four-legged friends came dressed for the occasion as well, sporting race-related garb, festive bandanas and canine-style T-shirts.

Most interesting, however, was the small Shetland pony who participated in the event and wore Build-a-Bear shoes on all four hoofs! Apparently the horse is a regular as this year was his third appearance for the Mutt Strut.

NASCAR Charlie is dog-tired.

Nearing the end of our one-lap trip, Charlie's energy is waning. Either he is tired or bored. Then he sees someone dressed as a giant red dog, perhaps a mascot for the event, on the other side of the finish line and kicks up his speed. Once he crosses the finish line, Charlie is barking at and lunging for the harmless mascot posing for photos with a slew of other polite, calm dogs sitting on the Yard of Bricks.

Embarrassed like a mom with a bad kid in a grocery store, I drag him from the scene and head for the free dog food samples and free Frisbees outside the pagoda.

Overall, the event was a huge success, and a lot of funds were raised for shelter animals in Indianapolis. Charlie didn't "kiss the bricks" but he somewhat licked them after I broke up a bone near the pavers.

This poodle didn't take the checkered flag, he wore it.