Bailey the minature pincher-Chihuahua gains fame
The strategy for the win in the St. Charles Herald-Guide’s Photo Shootout Contest was simple – go with a non-baby photo and churn votes through social media.
This is how Blaire Fonseca, 20, of Luling’s Bailey the mixed miniature pincher-Chihuahua gained her fame as a poster child for pets buckling up (her father’s idea) and as this year’s winner.
The photo took first place by a 42-vote margin.Fonseca is the daughter of Clarence and Holly Fonseca, also of Luling.
Bailey is enjoying the good life now, particularly since being rescued at an animal shelter in Gautier, Miss.Fonseca would send photos of cute photos of dogs to her boyfriend Hayden Rushing of Ocean Springs until he finally said, “Let’s get a dog” and so she searched everywhere for a possibility. The two conferred on what kind of dog to get and how old – a puppy or adult, but then suddenly Fonseca sent a note to him saying, “I want this one.”
The next day, Rushing had their new 10-week-old fur baby. They “share custody” of her while Fonseca studies Supply Chain Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond and Rushing studies nursing.
But Fonseca says she spends most time with her and it was one of those days in September when she was leaving for school that Bailey was buckled up in her car headed for school and the photo was taken that won as the September photo and now the yearly contest.
Honestly, Bailey doesn’t stay in the seatbelt throughout their trips, but rather gets sleep on the seat or watches out the window. She’s mostly living the college life with Fonseca and even has a boyfriend, Clyde the tuxedo cat.
“She’s kind of a hyper dog and she loves people,” Fonseca said.
Admittedly, she said the money will come in handy for school with this year’s cuts in the TOPS or Louisiana’s student financial assistance.
“I’m excited,” Fonseca said of the win. “It’s definitely going to help out for school.”
Although Fonseca believes Bailey instead “wants me to buy a bunch of dog toys” with the $500 prize money.
Once the photo was announced as a finalist in the contest, she set her strategy in motion for the win.
“I shared everyday from Thursday to Monday, asking for votes,” she said of learning the move from past contest winners. “I texted some people. I actually got one of my college business classes to vote, and they helped out one day.”
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