Local pet could send couple to Idol finale

Two Elizabethtown residents will appear on television Wednesday morning to compete for a trip to attend the American Idol finale next month in Hollywood.

Submitted photo

Mazie

Mazie, an English bulldog from a Sonora breeder, and her owner, Todd Alexander will be on WDRB-TV’s “Fox in the Morning” as part of the station’s Pet to Idolize contest competition.
Alexander said the picture of Mazie in her plain, brown collar stood out among thousands of pictures of pets dressed in costumes, sportswear and other clothes.

“She’s so pretty,” he said. “She’s lovable, big and lumbering, all the things that make a bulldog great.”

Millie Alexander, Todd’s wife, heard about the competition while watching television and sent in pictures of Mazie and the couple’s 3-year-old pug, Chloe.

The couple occasionally submits pictures of their dogs to online cutest pet competition but they were surprised to hear that Mazie was chosen as one of 12 semifinalists out of about 27,000 entries of all types of pets. Then, they got a call while they were in Chicago for their son’s graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy to watch the Monday show.

During the show, Mazie was named one of the top five pets that will go on the program, where a judging panel will make a final selection.

Mazie will receive a silver charm for her collar for being in the final five. Todd Alexander said that’s a recognition that will never be taken away from the bulldog.

“We’re just awful proud of her,” he said. “She’s still a baby, barely over 1.”

Millie Alexander will be working, so her husband will take the dog on the show. They said they’re both excited.

He’s a little nervous about how Mazie will fare in front of cameras and around other pets.

The couple records every episode of American Idol to watch together. Todd Alexander said he and his wife would love to see the finale live.

“I would be shocked,” he said. “To me, it would be very disappointing if we didn’t win.”

Either way, the couple’s dogs still will be more like children.

They have their own room scattered with toys. They both love car rides, popcorn and tagging along when their owners leave the house.

Todd Alexander said Mazie sleeps on the bed with the couple until lights out. Then, she sleeps under the bed.

She is lovable and has never growled at anyone, he said.

Amber Coulter can be reached at (270) 505-1746 or acoulter@thenewsenterprise.com.