SLIDESHOW | Pink poodle to dye for

I've noticed at Cherry Blossom events this year that Lacie the pink poodle, seen at right, is always a crowd favorite. And it's not just the young who are enamored with Lacie and her brightly colored hair - she has quite a following among all generations. I think she might even be more of a Cherry Blossom celebrity than founder Carolyn Crayton herself.

I've even had a faithful reader ask the question, "Just how do they get that poodle pink?" Well, I happened to find the answer to that question in The Telegraph's archives. At the end of this post, you'll find a story written by former Telegraph staff writer Karen Shugart that was printed on March 18, 2005.

Not everyone thinks pink poodles are cute, but I happen to think that Lacie is adorable. And she seems to handle the fame as though it is nothing at all. It's not every animal that could handle her duties as a pink princess. Why, just Sunday, there was this white- and brown-spotted horse in the parade that had been dyed a hideous shade of neon pink. That poor animal looked more like a horrible blend of Pepto-Bismol and diarrhea.

Also, Lacie isn't the only pink poodle in town. I guess she started a trend because pink poodles are popping up everywhere from store fronts to gift shops. Just take a look for yourself. CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS OF PINK POODLES AROUND MACON.


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BRIGHTLY COLORED POODLE MAKES A SPLASH AT CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVITIES

Not many dogs have their own 1975 pink Cadillac Eldorado.

Not many dogs sport bright pink nails encrusted with nail art.

But then, not many dogs spend four and one-half hours getting their hair dyed.

Not many dogs are like Lacie, the Cherry Blossom Festival's unofficial pink poodle.

And that's not just any pink. Bright pink. As in the Manic Panic shade of hot pink, the shade punk rockers and teenagers use.

"When you do pink, you really get noticed. You really get noticed," says Lacie's owner, groomer Paul Williams of Macon.

The pink poodle has been a festival tradition for years, joining the ranks of other pastel attention-grabbers: pink pancakes, pink grits, pink jackets.

But it's Lacie - now in her second year as the pink poodle - that might draw the most year-round attention from children and senior citizens.

Her caretakers, Paul and Alice Williams, keep the canine in pink nearly every day of the year.

And that's a lot of hair dye.

Paul Williams says it takes several hours and between six and 10 bottles of dye to get Lacie's hair the deep color.

"Say, 'I'm worse than any old lady going to the hairdresser,' '' Paul Williams says to Lacie as he leans down to rub her near her rhinestone-encrusted black collar.

Lacie started doing the Cherry Blossom Festival circuit about two years ago. Before that, the Williams' late poodle Casper held the role, and before that another family's dog named Teddi was known to prance around with pink fur.

Her "responsibilities" take her to ribbon cuttings, Central City Park events - sometimes even fashion shows.

But as possibly Macon's most well-known dog, she makes appearances throughout the year, visiting nursing homes, vacation Bible schools and elementary schools.

When your hair is pink, you're in demand. And you have to keep up appearances.

"She's usually dressed to the nines, because she does get attention wherever we go," Paul Williams says. "If she's not pink, people are disappointed."

Sometimes those appearances can be quite impromptu, such as when motorists lean out their windows and urge the pink Cadillac chauffeuring the pink Lacie to pull over.

"People have actually chased us down," Paul Williams says. "She's quite a crowd pleaser."