It has been ten years since The Newtown Bee last ran its King and Queen Dog Contest. We didn’t want to let another year slip by without crowning a couple of new top dogs for Newtown and helping out a few worthy causes at the same time.

The last time around, scores of dogs entered the contest, and hundreds of their supporters contributed thousands of dollars in “votes” before it was all over. The proceeds — about $8,000 — went to the Spay and Neuter Association of Newtown (SNAN). In our new, updated version of the contest, we hope to entice even more canines and their supporters into the competition by broadening the list of contest beneficiaries to include not only SNAN, but also Canine Advocates, which helps place dogs without homes, and a couple of groups with more of a human focus: The Newtown Fund, which provides emergency assistance to Newtown families in need, and Newtown Tercentennial, Inc, which is currently trying to raise funds for the year-long celebration of Newtown’s 300th birthday next year.

In the coming weeks, The Newtown Bee will be photographing all the four-legged contestants and publishing their photos so all of Newtown can vote on this year’s King and Queen Dog. The winners will have a place of honor near the head of the Labor Day Parade on September 6 to greet their adoring subjects. We urge everyone to join in the fun and help boost the fortunes of some worthy local causes. Full details on the contest can be found this week on page A-3.