So many dachshunds! 2nd annual festival held in Plattsburgh

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) - Plattsburgh has gone to the dogs as the city hosts its second annual Dachshund Day .

Nancy Stanley, almost 78, has had a dachshund in her life since she was 3. She lives in Peru, New York, and couldn't miss an opportunity to hang out with dozens of them.

"I was just thrilled to be here and watch it. I've probably met and held 20 dogs since I've been here - everything from longhairs to smooth, all different colorings. They're just a great breed, and that's why I came to see them today," said Stanley.

Dachshund owners say they love their pups for their strong personalities: affectionate, loyal, silly and independent.

"You don't own a dachshund, the dachshund owns you," said Stanley.

Becky and Andy Shallcross had so much fun at another dachshund festival that they had to adopt some of their own.

"I just thought they were the funniest, weirdest little things and I wanted to get one, so I did, and two are better than one," said Becky Shallcross of Burlington.

Dachshund days like this one also provide the dogs and their owners opportunities to socialize which 6-month-old Casey's owners say are important to his development.

"We've had a really hard time finding other dachshunds in the area, so this is a great opportunity for everyone to come together and be able to meet others of his kind," said Travis Needham of Queensbury, New York.

Derby races are another staple of dachshund festivals. This year the winner was 10-year-old Hudson. He was last year's runner-up.

"I just scream his name as loud as I can, and she just hypes him up to go. We've been doing that since he was little, holding on to him and just letting him run, so he's used to this," said Laney Feazelle of Plattsburgh.

The closest dachshund day is in Syracuse, about four hours away.

"Since I wanted to go to one so badly, why not just create it for Plattsburgh? It'll bring people to Plattsburgh and it has. We've had people come from New Hampshire, and all the way from Virginia that actually came," organizer William Ashabranner said.

The festival is free to attend, but its raffles raise money for the Saranac Veterinary Clinic to help treat rescue dogs.