Local pup to compete in television dog show

Little Otis, a Kitsap Humane Society alum, was rescued from an abandoned house in 2017

A Kitsap Humane Society pup with an extreme underbite — Little Otis — who was rescued from an abandoned house in 2017, is now set to compete in the nationally televised 2020 American Rescue Dog Show.

Little Otis is a pug and chihuahua mix and was selected to compete in the “Best in Underbite” category after producers saw his pictures on Instagram, according to the Kitsap Humane Society. Otis’ unique underbite didn’t emerge until he was six months old.

After learning more about Otis, such as his love for salmon treats and his favorite toy being shaped like a pizza, the producers flew Otis and his adopter, Cody Brecht, to Los Angeles to compete in the pre-recorded competition.

The competition showcases rescue dogs competing in a variety of “adorable” categories, including snoring, couch potato, talking, wrinkles and wiggling. When Otis first came to KHS in 2017, he was a small puppy. He and a sibling were rescued from an abandoned Suquamish house by KHS animal control officers.

Brech, of Seattle, had been looking to adopt a shelter pet for several months when he spotted Otis on the KHS website and came to meet him while his wife was out of town, the release stated.

“Something just felt right about adopting him,” Brecht said.

The program will air Sunday and Monday at 8 p.m. on the Hallmark Channel.