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10-18-08
Gulf Breeze pup
reigns in Atlanta
'Herschel' the bulldog
wins newspaper's pet contest
BY SCOTT PAGE Gulf Breeze News
scott@gulfbreezenews.com
 Submitted photo
'Herschel' is owned by Gulf Breeze resident and University of
Georgia alumnae Martha Merrill. More pictures of the
award-winning English bulldog can be seen on YouTube.com.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution recently named a local English
bulldog, Herschel Walker Merrill, "Atlanta's Top Dog." Herschel wasn't born into the lap of luxury, but he has always had star
potential according to Martha Anne Merrill, a Gulf Breeze resident and
Herschel's owner. "He loves people, and everyone in our neighborhood knows his name," Merrill
said. Herschel also enjoys a link on YouTube full of his pictures and videos. Merrill, a graduate of the University of Georgia, purchased Herschel from a
breeder in Cantonment and named him after her favorite football star. "Herschel Walker has always been my favorite football player," Merrill said.
"I always wanted an English bulldog, and I've always known that I would name him
Herschel." Herschel's road to stardom began in July when The Journal- Constitution asked
for photos of reader's dogs of the American Kennel Club's top 11 breeds. "When they asked for bulldogs, I submitted a few of Herschel," Merrill said.
"They published two of his as the first two." Merrill said that the AJC editors then decided to choose two pictures of each
breed and have readers vote on their favorites. After the vote, the results were
clear: Herschel was "Top Dog." "It really wasn't a contest when I submitted the pictures," Merrill said. "I
found out a week later that he had won this contest." Herschel's title as "Atlanta's Top Dog" earned him a feature story in the
AJC. "Herschel won and the editor e-mailed me for info on him and asked for his
YouTube link so they could post it," Merrill said. According to Merrill, Herschel's popularity and star power skyrocketed after
his YouTube link was printed in the AJC. "Once they printed the link his views went from 2,000 to 10,000." Herschel might live a small-town life in Gulf Breeze, but he will always be
the second-most famous Georgia Bulldog to at least one woman. "He is just so cool and laid back," Merrill said. "He doesn't like to fight,
and he loves people."
  
Hi Alesia...Herschel made the paper again...my in-laws live in
Birmingham and sent in his Halloween picture and it was chosen for
last Sunday's paper! Below is the scanned page that she sent
me...He truly is a star!! Love him to pieces!!
All the best!
Martha Anne
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