Carnival contest a doggy delight

It was raining cats and dogs at St. Davids Lions Carnival’s first annual dog show this past Saturday. Well, dogs anyway, as cats would have been a distraction to the coiffed, costumed and incredibly cute dogs of all sizes waiting to be judged.

“Oh, I think we have a fantastic turnout for the weather today,” said Kelly, a St. Davids Lion and dog show organizer. “We planned on having it outside and at the last minute we put it under the tent. I am fantastically surprised at how many people are here.”

The event started with a special award named after Kelly’s dog, a whoodle (a wheaten terrier and poodle mix) who had just recently passed away.

‘The Beatrice’ was awarded to a three-legged dog, named Hattie, for her gentle, loving, kind and sweet nature. “At three months old, Hattie fell down a flight of stairs and shattered her leg,” said Kelly. “Her owners at the time left her to suffer for a week, and she was eventually surrendered to the SPCA.”

Mary Jane and Donny McGibbon, regulars at the club, spotted Hattie and “it was love at first sight,” said Kelly.

“Hattie is pretty much the Lions’ mascot. She shares breakfast with The Breakfast Club every morning and is a regular around the club,” said Kelly to the packed crowd under the tent at the York Road carnival. “She runs around the grounds here at the club like a race car.”

Judges Wayne Gates, MPP, Susan Snider, Lions club president, and Martin Forster, past president, made notes and conferred continually during the hour-long show.

They chose Bib, an American Coated Terrier, as best in show. Bib is owned by Linda and Mel Hughes from Niagara-
on-the-Lake.

John Bertram from St. Catharines entered his Australian Cattle Dog, Joey, in the most handsome category. Born deaf, Joey sported a jaunty red bow tie.

Waiting for contestants to make it to the stage, Kelly played music which corresponded to the category.  Of course, Puppy Love played before the ‘youngest’ category.

Queenston Road residents Kaliana and her mother, Anysa Neal, showed Remington, a young red fox Labrador retriever puppy who fell asleep in his owner’s arms during judging.

Top three dogs in each category won prizes, some of which were donated by Virgil’s Pet Valu. Minor Brothers sponsored a water station. The $10 donation entry fee for each entry will be donated to Lions of Canada Foundation for dog guides.