From wandering Beef Island to defending his title of “best in show” at the Humane Society of the BVI’s annual dog show, Fred, a golden Labrador mix, has come a long way.
Nancy Woodfield-Pascoe rescued Fred from the animal shelter in 2018, and for the last four to five years, she has entered him in the show annually.
“It’s just a celebration of dogs and dog owners,” said Ms. Woodfield-Pascoe, who is on the humane society’s board. “And you’ll be surprised at how many different breeds are on the island — and then, of course, all the different mixed breeds.”
Fred was one of 70 dogs registered for the Sunday event at Captain Mulligan’s at Nanny Cay, which featured 14 categories.
The “official” categories included contests for agility, puppies, best junior handler, small mixed breed, large mixed breed, small pedigree and large pedigree. The “fun” categories included “waggiest tail, “quickest sausage catcher” and “best paw shaker,” among others.
The winners in each segment competed for the overall title of “best in show.”
The money raised from such fundraisers is used to “keep the doors of the shelter open,” said Amanda McKenna, an organiser. Ms. McKenna, who is also a board member for the humane society, said the organisation hoped to raise $12,000 from the show.
This goal was met and exceeded: The society announced on Monday that it had raised $15,930.
A spectator holding her dog watches the competition. (Photo: ALLISON VAUGHN)-
A girl leads her dog around the arena on Sunday at the Humane Society of the BVI’s annual dog show. (Photo: ALLISON VAUGHN)
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Fred, a golden Labrador mix, lays in the shade near his owner Nancy Woodfield-Pascoe at the annual dog show. (Photo: ALLISON VAUGHN)
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Volunteer Sean Osborne lifts shelter dog Pinky over an obstacle during the agility course at the Humane Society of the BVI’s annual dog show on Sunday. (Photo: ALLISON VAUGHN)
Shelter dogs
Among the competitors were six shelter dogs looking for a home, said Vijay Bissoondutt, the shelter’s general manager.
Volunteers handled these dogs, which each wore an “adopt me” lead.
Sean Osborne looked after one such animal, a brown-and-white mixed breed named Pinky. As the dog laid panting in the shade, Mr. Osborne described her as a “lady leisure.”
And during the agility course, Mr. Osborne picked her up and helped her through some of the obstacles.
“It’s good to get them out,” Mr. Osborne said.
Ms. Woodfield-Pascoe said the event also served another purpose for many of the canine attendees. “These kinds of events are really good for socialising dogs,” Ms. Woodfield-Pascoe said, adding that the show has helped her pet. “He used to be very, very afraid, particularly of men.”
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(Photo: ALLISON VAUGHN)
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(Photo: ALLISON VAUGHN)
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(Photo: ALLISON VAUGHN)
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(Photo: ALLISON VAUGHN)
New shelter
While the funds from Sunday’s festivities will go toward running the existing animal shelter in Johnsons Ghut, event organiser Els Kraakman said that construction is still under way for the new shelter in Josiahs Bay.
Funding for the facility, she noted, has primarily come from sponsors.
“We have a couple of very good sponsors, like people who really know us and love us and want to help with the new shelter,” Ms. Kraakman said.
She added that she hopes the new shelter will open around July.
“The building is there,” she said. “What we are now doing is the outside — the outside dog kennels. The stainless little cages are in order. It’s really the last-minute things. Air conditioning is being installed; hurricane shutters are going up. And then we need to paint things and put furniture in. And then we can slowly move the dogs over and the cats over.”
British Caribbean News
