Recognized for excellence

Leslie Strauch poses with Happy, an Australian Shepherd Border Collie with a hint of Blue Heeler mix breed. The canine won the Boise Humane Society Pooch of the Year award earlier this month. Strauch, who acquired the dog 11 years ago at the Mountain Home Animal Shelter when he was about two years old, can't imagine life without him. Happy also came in third place in the people's choice award during this year's competition.