Angelyne is a superdog. Defying gravity like an hyperactive jackrabbit, the cattle dog can literally leave the Earth.

She moves through the air like a canine version of Major Tom and over the grass of the Idaho Springs football field, landing in owner Eric Melvin’s arms to the crowd’s applause.

Angelyne is deaf, knows almost 40 hand commands and was one of the many attractions at last Sunday’s seventh annual Westmuttster Dog Day Afternoon.

The fund-raiser is one of several events each year orchestrated for Charlie’s Place, the Clear Creek/Gilpin County Animal Shelter, by KYGT radio and the nonprofit Friends of Charlie’s Place.

Dogs, pulling their owners along at breakneck speeds, enthusiastically barked at anything that moved as they headed down the town’s small streets to the football field.

Despite bouts of wind and rain, spectators and participants brought man’s best friends to mingle and compete in a variety of kooky contests, including longest tail, best smile, most disobedient and worst breath.

Melvin and Angelyne hail from Windsor, and this was their second year coming to Idaho Springs to entertain the groups of curious curs and their hapless human handlers.

“This is nice — it’s easy to find, it’s right off the highway — the mountain communities are all really friendly,” Melvin said after Angelyne’s first show of the day. “This is a dog-friendly community. … People love to get their dogs out, people love animals — so this is perfect.”

Clear Creek County resident Bob Poirop was standing in the crowd with his dog Bruiser, a Shih Tzu. Poirop said he brought Bruiser to do a little socializing and to compete in the best smile and least obedient contests. Poirop admitted he’d never attended the fund-raiser before.

“Our little pup, just thought we’d bring him over and let him see the other dogs,” Poirop said, adding: “… He’s going to have the best smile.”

Laurie Phenix, president of Friends of Charlie’s Place, said she thought the event went well despite slightly lower attendance than the previous year.

“It was lower than expected,” Phenix said. “I think maybe the weather had something to do with it, and of course the economy ... we still did OK. We had a good time.”

Phenix said all of the money raised at the Westmuttster event will go to the shelter for the animals’ medical expenses. She estimates this year’s event raised more than $2,000.

“It was a lot of fun — Westmuttster is always a lot of fun,” Phenix said. “This year, when the weather was good, we had a really good time. I’m really glad we did it, and we’re looking forward to next year.”