FUR FLYING OVER NEW PUREBRED POOCH AWARDS

FUR FLYING OVER NEW PUREBRED POOCH AWARDS

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Wireless Flash) -- Fur is flying over a new dog contest that's only open to purebred pooches. The so-called Awards for Canine Excellence are sponsored by the American Kennel Club -- which registers purebred dogs -- and will honor heroic purebred pups. However, the contest's "purebred only" rule is raising the hackles of animal activists at the Animal Protection Institute, who say it gives mixed breeds a bad name. Spokesperson Dr. Jean Hofve thinks the program will discourage people from adopting mutts, and could increase the number of pooches put to sleep in animal shelters. However, the AKC says it will stick to its guns and will not allow non-purebred mutts in the contest because, "It wouldn't be appropriate."