Dogs of all sizes show their stuff at Ramona Bow Wow Pow Wow

Ruffellina Delicious VonVicious, a 5-year-old toy schnauzer adopted two years ago from the SanDiego Humane Society, trotted off with Best of Show honors at Kiwanis Club of Ramona’s 17th Bow Wow Pow Wow Dog Show.

Ruffellina won Dog and Owner Look-alike and Best Costume with her adult owner, Jan Savage at the Sept. 13 event.

“I’m shocked; I’m just amazed — there are so many cute dogs,” Savage said after accepting her Best in Show ribbon and Best in Show basket filled with dog goodies. “It was a nice afternoon.”

Savage, a Del Mar resident, isn’t new to the Ramona Kiwanis show. She participated in the club’sfirst Bow Wow Pow Wow show in 2004, when she entered Ruffles VonVicious. They didn’t win,but this year made up for that.

She doesn’t recall how she learned about the first show, but she’s glad she listened to friend Mary Caraway’s suggestion to participate this year.

Caraway, a Poway resident who attended last year’s show, also enjoyed the event, listing “thevenue, the shade, the root beer floats” among the reasons.

“We’ll be back next year,” said Caraway, whose Shih Tsu CinnaBella Buns placed second in theBest Costume (Adult’s Dog) category.

Ken Bates, treasurer for Ramona Kiwanis and the show’s finance master, said 32 contestants entered this year, up from 22 last year, about a 30 percent increase. In addition, the show attracted eight canine spectators.

Kiwanian Chris Bertolero, the event’s master of ceremonies, announced a special feature aboutmidway through the show as two San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies arrived with a K9demonstration that featured Argo, a dog specially trained to sniff out narcotics.

Sheriff’s Deputy Jeffrey Chu, Argo’s handler, and Deputy Marcus Perez shared information about the 18 dogs on various K9 patrols and answered questions before Argo wowed the audience by sniffing three boxes before sitting next to the one containing the narcotic.

As the dog show continued, the deputies and Argo stayed by the sheriff’s Volunteer Patrol station to converse with attendees.

The show included nine categories, culminating in Best in Show. Also featured were 19opportunity drawing baskets, nine silent auction items, food ranging from hamburgers and bratsto nachos and kettle corn, and several vendors.

This year’s judges were Ramona Honorary Mayor Tim Connelly, Ramona native and RealtorTaylor Vincent, and Veterinarian Anne Serdy, owner of Kritter Kamp.

Contestant winners by category:

Best Costume (Adult’s Dog)

1st Place — “Queen Bee” Ruffellina Delicious VonVicious; handler Jan Savage

2nd Place — “Queen of Hearts” Cinna Bella Buns; handler Mary Caraway

3rd Place — “Firefighter” Gigi; handler Lisa Pittman

Best Costume (Child Owner) 

1st Place — Bunny; handler Kelcee Pressler

2nd Place — Zeke; handler Mags Lynch

3rd Place — Feliz; handler Zelmira Pritchard

Most Beautiful Female 

1st Place — Sunny; handler Kaia Pressler

2nd Place — Daisy; handler Tracey Stephens

3rd Place — CinnaBella Buns; handler Mary Caraway

Most Handsome Male

1st Place — Hank; handler Kathy Dahl

2nd Place — Bub Bub; handler Alessio Pritchard

3rd Place — Major; handler Kim Rush

Dog and Owner Look-alike

1st Place — Ruffellina Delicious VonVicious; handler Jan Savage

2nd Place — CinnaBella Buns; handler Mary Caraway

3rd Place — Zeke; handler Mags Lynch

Most Talented

1st Place — Sunny; handler Kaia Pressler

2nd Place — Gertie; handler Olivia K

3rd Place — Bunny; handler Kelcee Pressler

Best Tail Wagger

1st Place — Picca; handler Beth Delaney

2nd Place — Bayou;; handler Ariel Muro

Cutest Little Dog

1st Place — Daffodil; handler Lucy Felber

2nd Place — Fenway; handler Eddie Browning

3rd Place — Molly; handler Jeff Griffin

Best Kisser

1st Place — Ralph; handler Stephen Bertsch

2nd Place — Hank; handler Kathy Dahl

3rd Place — Bayou; handler Ariel Muro

Seven contestants qualified for Best in Show. To qualify, the contestant must have entered at least three categories and place first in at least one. In addition to Savages’s Ruffellina Delicious VonVicious, Best in Show contenders included Kelcee Pressler’s Bunny, Kaia Pressler’s Sunny, Kathy Kahl’s Hank, Beth Delaney’s Picca, Such Felber’s Daffodil, and Stephen Bertsch’s Ralph.

Event Chair Jon Stephens spent much of his time grilling hamburgers, hot dogs and brats.Jeanne Bell was in charge of the opportunity drawing baskets and silent auction items, and PatBell was fundraising chair.

Among those assisting Ramona Kiwanians at the show were 2024 Ramona Rodeo Queen IzzyLynch, 2025 Ramona Rodeo Queen Nicole Bell, 2025 Ramona Rodeo Young Miss Macy Mault,and Magnolia and Sidney Lynch.

Silent auction items included two dog houses made by students in Montecito High School’saward-winning construction class.

The final tally of the event is not yet available, but 100 percent of the show’s proceeds will gotoward community projects supported by the Ramona Kiwanis Foundation.