Beenie Von Weenie Wins ‘Fastest Wiener in the West’ Competition

If we can have human beings race on a track to determine who is the fastest, then we most certainly can do it with our 4-legged furry friends! Insert the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals and the Fastest Wiener in the West competition!

Over in California, it's become a yearly tradition - 26 years in fact. The good folks over at the famous hot dog chain, Wienerschnitzel, hold their annual wiener dog races at Los Alamitos Race Course in California, and it's probably the cutest thing you'll ever see.

Over the course of an evening, 100 different dogs race "with their tiny legs," in 11 different races. We found great video from one of this year's competitors, Rowdy Dachshund, and it's had me smiling all day. Watch this:

The 2023 edition crowned "Beenie Von Weenie" as the Fastest Wiener Dog in the West. Mr. Von Weenie won $1,000 (which he'll likely spend on extra treats), and a new doghouse.

Proceeds for the annual event go to the Seal Beach Animal Care Center, so the dogs are also doing some charity work!

"I have the winner, Beenie Von Weenie!" Beenie's owner, Nicolee Leonard told ABC 7 in California. "Fantastic! I've been coming every year. And he nailed it. He won a doghouse and $1,000. And the title, 'The Fastest Wienie of the West!"

I might just have to make a trip out west for the 2024 edition of the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals. Maybe we can get exclusive WKML footage of Beenie Von Weenie spending all his prize money.

Here in North Carolina, we don't call dogs "mans best friend" for nothing right? I can't think of anything anymore therapeutic than a walk with your dog on a brisk day like today.

For those of us that live in the Tar Heel State, we are spoiled having the coast, the Southern Coastal Plain, the foothills, the mountains and thousands of places to go for a healthy walk with our dog.

One of my personal favorites is the Cape Fear River Trail in Fayetteville. I think the trail is in the neighborhood of 6 to 7 miles long and wanders alongside of the historic Cape Fear River.

So grab the leash and hit the trail.

Below you will find the top 10 cities across the nation for the best places to take your dog for a walk. I also included the top 5 North Carolina cities for the best place to take your dog for a walk as well.

The factors that Lawnstarter used in the study to determine the best cities include access to and the total miles of dog-friendly trails, the quality of available dog parks and safety for dogs and for dog walkers.

So which North Carolina cities are the best to take your dogs for a walk? Here's a look at the top in the country and the state!