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Alice Hutto sees a lot in her dog. In fact she sees the beautiful, smiling face of her late daughter, Kristy.

Alice lost Kristy on Sept. 3 to a car accident that occurred as the avid Clemson fan was on her way to a game in the Upstate. While attempting to turn on Interstate 26, a black 2006 Chevrolet Silverado ran a frontage road stop sign and took the life of the paramedic who enjoyed helping to save lives as a member of American Heritage medical transport in Orangeburg.

The ever-caring Kristy, who was admired and respected by family, friends and co-workers, will be missed for her exuberance and zest for life. Her care extended to both people and animals, as evidenced by the beloved dog she left behind and who is now in the care of her mother.

The female dog, a Rottweiler mix, ambled upon Kristy's door step lonely and lost with matted hair and a body ravaged by what looked like mange. The skin disease led to her being named "Itchy."

Alice spent many days pet-sitting for her daughter's treasured dog, who soon became a part of the family. She especially loved when Kristy would greet Itchy at the door by playfully asking, "Who's the most bea.jpgul girl in the world?"

Kristy's spirit lives on in her dog, who has gone on to gain a star status of its own as winner of The Times and Democrat's third Pet Idol contest.

"It was just really exciting because I felt this was sort of a tribute to Kristy. I really put Itchy in the contest this year because she's had such a traumatic year. She's had to adjust to a new home, but she's done a good job," said Hutto, a sales associate at Century 21 The Moore Group.

The "Pet Idol" and 12 other special pets have captured the attention of thousands of readers of the newspaper.

"The winner of our third annual Pet Idol is Itchy, a bea.jpgul, loving dog," said Georgianne Walton, assistant to the publisher of The T&D.

Itchy will be featured on the cover of the newspaper's 2008 calendar. The winner will also have a small picture on each month of the calendar with the other 12 pet finalists that will be featured on a month.

Hutto said Itchy has come a long way in her journey to becoming a Pet Idol.

"I need to write a little children's book about her adventures in becoming the Pet Idol. She was a homeless dog that just wandered up to Kristy's door, and she was in really bad condition. Kristy decided to take her in, clean her up and get her in good shape. After that, she kinda' ruled the roost," Hutto said, smiling.

She said Itchy is gentle and carries a lot of sentimental value for her.

"She was Kristy's dog. Everything that had to do with Kristy seems to be more special now. I can never just give Itchy away to somebody. I need to know that she's taken care of. Itchy was very special to Kristy, and I think she's just a special dog, too.

"Kristy called her 'Itchy Girl.' The favorite thing that I've always heard her say when she would come in the door is, 'Who's the most bea.jpgul girl in the world? Itchy Girl!' Boyfriends come and go, but Itchy was a keeper," Hutto said.

The newspaper's Pet Idol contest featured 132 entries of cats, dogs and even a pot-bellied pig, two parrots, a rabbit and a horse this year. Each pet had a chance to be one of 13 lucky winners featured on the 2008 calendar, which will be distributed in the Dec. 25 edition of The T&D.

"This year, we have two bea.jpgul cats in the top 12. We have two pets in the top 12 that were also in the top 12 last year, Sassy and Sparky. Ironically, Sparky had the same entry number (105) that he had last year," Walton said.

Readers were judges for the contest, during which each pet's picture was published in The T&D's Sunday "Pet Idol" special section and pages, which included a voting form. Ballots were also available in The T&D lobby at 1010 Broughton St. and online at the newspaper's Web site, www.TheTandD.com.

Readers voted for their favorite pet photo along with making a voluntary 25-cent-per-vote donation to the Newspapers in Education Program (those who didn't wish to donate were allowed to cast one free vote per ballot).

T&D Publisher Cathy Hughes said, "The pet lovers of The T&D Region have stepped up again to cast votes for their Pet Idol and to support Newspapers in Education at the same time. Every 25-cent donation pays for two of the newspapers that are delivered weekly throughout the school year to more than 13,000 students at all grade levels in 365 classrooms in 70 schools across five counties."

Hughes said that represents an increase of 1,000 papers the newspaper is delivering per week over last year.

"The number of classrooms has increased 40 year-over-year. Because of Pet Idol votes and sponsorships from individuals and businesses, every newspaper is absolutely free to the teachers who request them. Anyone, of course, can sponsor newspapers for use in the schools at any time, at any amount. You don't have to wait until next year's Pet Idol contest," she said.

One new contest feature included individuals being able to vote online at The T&D Web site, www.TheTandD.com.

"Almost 3,000 ballots were submitted, which included online ballots," Walton said.

The idea for the contest came from a T&D sister newspaper, The Pantagraph, in Bloomington, Ill.

This year's contest featured three rounds of voting, with votes carrying over from round to round.

Hutto said she knew it was all of Kristy's friends and her efforts to spread the word about the contest that helped propel Itchy to the contest win.

"A lot of people have picked up on the fact that this was Kristy's dog and the fact that she had to go through a change in where she lives. Everybody knew how much Kristy loved Itchy, and I've gotten support from a lot of people," said Hutto, calling Itchy a gentle dog who wouldn't hurt a fly.

"She looks like she could tear you up, but you can feed her out of your hand. Even when I'm walking down the steps, if I say, 'Wait,' she'll wait and not try to yank me down the steps. She wants to protect you, but she would really like for you to protect her," said Hutto, noting that Itchy's new-found fame as a Pet Idol will not go to her head.

"I doubt it. I think she's gonna' be the same little Itchy," she said.

Sponsors for the 2008 Pet Idol contest include: Bair Prints, Discount Building Materials, Carolina Veterinary Practice, Zipidee Do Dogs, Piggly Wiggly and Edisto Pet Clinic.

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5334. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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