The Slice: Finally, dogs have their day

OK, where were we.

Oh, yeah. A reader challenge for the dog days of summer.

Teri Maurice proposed changing “Ben-Hur” to “Ben-Cur” or “Ben-Fur.”

Hollis Bredeweg suggested turning “Dodsworth” into “Dogsworth.”

Nine-year-old Tessa DeTillion noted that “Jaws” could become “Paws.”

Many responding readers failed to follow the rules. But here’s a sampling of entries from a few more who did.

“The Good, the Bad & the Pugly.” – Jeannie Maki

“The Hound and the Fury.” – Kristi Philip

“Jurassic Bark.” – Steve Wilder

“Fly Like a Beagle.” – Colleen Rugg

“Don’t Be Afraid of the Bark.” – Carl McMinimy

“The Scarlet Setter” and “Heart of Barkness.” – Linda MacDonald

“Raiders of the Lost Bark” and “The Pawless Breed.” – Allen Schweim

“The Beagle Has Landed.” – Sharon Leon

“The Empire Strikes Bark.” – Bryan Dooley

“Dog Quixote” and “Gorky Bark.” – Retta Malone

“A Tail of Two Cities.” – Doreen Robbins

“Bone With the Wind.” – Rob Vogel

“The Yelp.” – Marci Houts, Ann Rule and others

“The Whelp.” – Kirby Nelson

“Pup in the Air,” “Iron Beagle,” “The More the Terrier,” “Pork Chow Hill,” and “Mars Needs Poms.” – Ryan Grant

I’m declaring Nancy Russell the runner-up. Her entries included “On the Fur Side of the Mountain,” “The Hound of Music,” “The Woof Man,” “Teen Woof,” “Turner and Pooch,” “Ground Dog Day,” “Hairy Potter,” “Paw” and “Yankee Poodle Dandy.”

And John Yancey is the winner. His dog days titles included “For a Few Collars More,” “Bone Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Ma and Paw Kettle,” “Muttiny on the Bounty,” “Bites of Passage,” “Fetch,” “On Golden Pound,” “Pup the Down Staircase,” “The Defiant Bones,” “Stray Dogs,” “Walk Street,” “Bitch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Seven Year Bitch” and “Blair Bitch Project.”

Today’s Slice question: Who has logged the most miles on the Fish Lake Trail?