Designing Poodles

Angela Kumpe, who has become the groomer-to-beat at contests like this, spent more than six months turning a poodle into a buffalo, but changed her mind after her mother, Linda Smead, died Feb. 24. A week ago she began grooming Missy, a friend's poodle. The design, which she called a ''grieving angel for my mom'', included a reclining woman and delicately shaped flowers. Kumpe took home first place.

Second place went to Francesca, a dog that, when it stood on its hind legs, was meant to look like a poodle-sized seahorse. It stood before a sea-themed vinyl shower curtain, which hid a man holding a plastic toy that made bubbles to drift through the scene.

Third place went to a dog named Tucker, who was competing as the Mad Hatter, accompanied by three people fully decked in other Alice in Wonderland costumes. The dog ''wore'' a fur coat colored brown, had the March Hare on its left rear leg and tea cups on its right.