Rottweiler-coon hound is top dog in Greensburg’s pet ambassador contest
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El Guaje Villa is Greensburg’s first official pet ambassador.
The 3 1/2-year-old Rottweiler-coon hound mix — Guaje for short — topped a field of more than 50 contenders in a competition for the title that ended at Thursday’s Greensburg Night Market.
With 350 points out of about 2,000 cast by downtown shoppers, Guaje led in the running to collect his prizes: a basket of treats, an engraved silver charm, and a yellow ambassador bandana to wear during future public occasions.
Guaje’s owner, Renee Hertzog, said her pet received no special training to give him an edge. She said he is naturally well-behaved in public.
“That’s how he’s always been since he was a puppy,” said Hertzog, who lives in Greensburg and works as a city police secretary. “He’s been to tons of events in town,” including concerts at St. Clair Park, a holiday luminary night and other special shopping nights.
“I can take him anywhere,” she said. “Dogs can growl at him, and he doesn’t growl back; he doesn’t bark, he doesn’t bite.”
Adopted from the Action For Animals shelter in Derry Township, Guaje was supposed to be a pet for Hertzog’s son. The dog’s name was inspired by the nickname of her son’s favorite soccer player, David Villa.
“My son was supposed to take him back to Slippery Rock, but he wouldn’t ride in the car,” Hertzog said. “He never made it to Slippery Rock, so I ended up with him.”
Hertzog and Guaje have since bonded, and he’ll get in the car with her for a ride to Greensburg’s Seton Hill University campus. The pair take frequent walks there and have made friends with the students they’ve met, including members of the cross country teams.
They were set to make their first appearance as ambassadors on Friday, when the Greensburg Community Development Corp. will present a $5,000 facade improvement grant for recent work done at the Greensburg train station.
“We’re very pleased with the response from the community,” said one of the competition organizers, Amy Beeghly. “We never dreamed we could raise almost $2,000.”
Beeghly is president of the Greensburg Business and Professional Association, which presented the contest in partnership with the Greensburg Community Development Corp.
Votes for each of 10 semi-finalist pooches cost $1 each and were collected at participating downtown businesses. The proceeds will be split between the Westmoreland County Humane Society and the Wayward Whiskers animal rescue organization.
All of the finalists received treats.