Champions: Dog Show Is Where It All Begins
The Moore County Kennel Club just concluded another successful two-day AKC Sanctioned Dog Show and, as a prominent judge was heard to remark, "This is where it all begins."
The road for many Westminster and Eukanuba champions starts in a similar setting that occurs all over the United States and also in foreign countries. A kennel club like the local MCKC, holds one-, two- or three-day shows that give all sorts of canines and their handlers, owners and special stylists a chance to "wet their feet" in the world of dog showing and obedience. In this grassroots manner, the dogs are prepared for even bigger events as they earn their ribbons and points along the way.
Steve Watson, club president, remarked that he is constantly amazed by the way the club pulls it all together; the hard work and the months of planning are unimaginable. Judges must be found, and they have some of the best at their shows, which in turn brings in exhibitors anxious to show under a "top judge."
The AKC oversees all shows, and rules are strictly adhered to, in every way.
"MCKC is lucky to be here in the Sandhills to have such an excellent venue in which to hold their annual event," says Watson. "If the weather cooperates, one can't find a better outdoor spot to prance around the prize pooches."
MCKC has additional projects that go on along with the shows themselves.
This year there was the usual Micro Chip Clinic offering an extremely low price for locals to chip their critters. Every year the club has used the Vet Tech students from Central Carolina Community College to assist in the clinic.
"This year there were 12 very enthusiastic and helpful young women, who are first year vet tech students," says a spokesman. "Dr. Jim Watson and Dr. Melissa Israel, two of the attending veterinarians, were complimentary of the young women, who they said were great with the nervous and jumpy dogs."
The technicians also collected the fees and assisted folks filling out the forms. This year, the techs also helped in the Obedience Ring, a wonderful experience for both VT's, the judges and club members working with them.
Obedience Judge Don Young said he was impressed by the way two young VTs had to learn in five minutes just what an Open A ring was all about, and how they instantly became good ring stewards. There was the rally equipment to put up and take down and dogs to watch who tried to leave the ring.
"Vet Tech Lennie Hunt said that it was a wonderful experience for her that she will no doubt not forget soon," says the spokesman.
The micro chip clinic chair, who arranges for the VTs each year, said that she couldn't have done it without the help of VT Sam Corhran, who helped coordinate her fellow techs and was helpful in many ways. This year's participants include Rosa Barrera, Lennie Hunt, Belinda Mades, Kobi Berger, Sam Corhran and Lori Ritchey (Saturday), Rhonda Hulon, Carole Nilsen, Rebecca Thornton, Corrine Smolinski, Jamie Watson, and Mindy Gill (Sunday).
"To see these young people, on their day off, volunteering to help and pitching in with any chore handed to them was inspiring," says the spokesman.
Club member Maryann Phillips arranged for the presence of two of Fort Bragg's Military Working Dogs and their three handlers to be on the grounds at Saturday's show. The 42nd Military Police Detachment Canine Section was well represented as they went through their paces for the large and enthusiastic crowd. The ever vigilant and clever Belgian Malinois dogs, "Bad" and "Jopes," put on an explosives and drug demonstration.
The three young soldiers, Staff Sgt. James Cooey, Staff Sgt. Marvin Slade and Sgt. Rob McCaulley stayed afterward to answer questions.
"Many people came up and thanked them for their service to our country," says the spokesman. "This is such a positive experience for both military and civilians to get to interact, and the young men couldn't have been nicer. They even posed for pictures with their newfound fans, including the vet techs."
"The club is thankful for the local veterinarians who commit themselves months in advance to spending their weekend off helping out as vets on site for the two-day show," says the spokesman. "Along with running the Micro Chip Clinic, the vets are on hand in case there is an emergency on the grounds. Without cooperation such as this from local people it would be impossible to put on a show."
Veterinarians came from Pinetree Hospital, Critter Fixer Mobile Veterinary Service, Carthage Animal Hospital, Seven Lakes Kennels, Banfield, The Pet Hospital of Southern Pines and after hours, Small Animal Emergency Services.
Emily Partain, a young lady previously featured in The Pilot, competed in both Junior Showmanship and Puppy Breed categories. "Westwood Pretty In Pink," a Rough Collie, known as Sadie, and Emily, a West End Elementary School student represented them very well at the show. Emily and Sadie placed second each day in Open Junior.
On Saturday, in breed, she took a fourth in the Herding Group in the Puppy Group competition, and Sunday they placed second in the Herding Group and again in the Puppy Group. Jane Forsyth, assistant chairman for the show, said that the world of dog showing likes to see young people coming up and encourages them to participate.
Show Chairman Patty Pace remarked about the work involved in setting up the entire show grounds, arranging for food, the buying of trophies and coordinating of the awards.
"The selling of the programs, and getting advertisers for those programs -- all this is a heap of work," she says. "More work done before the actual event includes all of the publicity from posters to newspaper and TV stories."
Is all this work, in the name of dogs, worth it?
"The answer is a resounding yes," says Pace.
Nona Burrell is a member of Moore County Kennel Club, lives in Pinehurst with two cocker spaniels and two cats. She may be reached at nburrell@nc.rr. com.
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