TRAVERSE CITY -- Jim Allen didn't know if his three-legged dog could even swim when he watched the dock jumping competition at the National Cherry Festival two years ago.
Allen found that Pogo, the 4-year-old black Labrador retriever that he rescued, can not only swim, she can jump.
"When I saw the dock jumping contest I was really interested," said Allen, who rescued the dog that his veterinarian says was probably born without her right front leg.
"I took her out to see if she could swim and she loved it. She swam around without any problem," said the Eaton Rapids resident who grew up in Traverse City.
Once Allen knew that Pogo loved the water, he had her give dock jumping a try. To his surprise, Pogo succeeded at that as well. The Grand Junior Jumper Champion's personal best is 15'8".
This week Allen will return to the National Cherry Festival not only with Pogo, but with the two other rescue dogs he has adopted to form Team Second Chance.
Rogan and Molly MacGuire, 3-year-old golden retrievers, round out the team that Allen travels with to tournaments around the Midwest.
"We started them out jumping at the local fair and they did well, so we have continued with it," said Allen, whose team is sponsored by The Golden Retriever Rescue of Michigan.
Rogan, a top contender for the 2009 Ultimate Air Dogs "Ultimate Dog" title, has a distance jumping record of 22'6'' and has earned the Grand Senior Jumper Champion and United Supreme Ultimate Vertical titles.
Molly MacGuire's personal best is 19'10" and she has earned the United Senior Jumping Champion title.
Team Second Chance will compete during the Ultimate Air Dogs Competition, to be held Thursday through Sunday in the Open Space.
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