Wilmington Kennel Club Dog Shows This Weekend

It's a little taste of Westminster in our backyard.

The Wilmington Kennel Club hosts its annual dog shows Friday (starting at 9 a.m.) and Saturday (starting at 8:30 a.m.) at Lums Pond State Park near Glasgow. Best in Show winners are crowned each day late in the afternoon, but judging goes on all day, each day in 14 different rings.

It's great to see the more than 1,500 dogs compete, first by breed, then by category and, at the end of the day, for Best in Show. Many of the dogs just seem to know how to "work the ring" and the judges.

It's also fun to see all of the variety of breeds, some of which you don't get to see very often. My favorite rarities are Bouvier Des Flandres (absolutely beautiful dogs) and Komondoroks (they look like dust mops with off-white dreadlocks). And the dog handlers and owners are some of the nicest people outside of the ring, too. Most are happy to have you pet their dogs and will tell you plenty about them.

If you go, dog show organizers ask that you leave your own dogs at home. They can distract the dogs that are competing, or cause a ruckus outside of the rings. Leave the pooches at home, and just come to marvel and to learn.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and kids 6 and older, and free for kids 5 and younger. The shows take place near the campground entrance for the park on Del. 71. Bring a chair if you plan to stay for a while, and concessions and pet vendors will be on site.

A portion of the proceeds will go to support the New Castle County K-9 Unit, and Saturday's schedule will include a demonstration by that unit during the noon lunch break.

A Pet-Loving Designer

After Sunday's 5K walk, we made the rounds of the tables at the pet fair at Killens Pond State Park. One of the nicest people there was Catherine Hefferan, a graphic designer who does all things pets under her business, Cathulu! Cards and Gifts. You can see - and shop - her work on Cafe Press. Or e-mail her at rummah2001@hotmail.com.

The great baseball jersey she has on in the photo - love the simple idea and the artwork - is $16.99 on her site. T-shirts go from $8.99 to $26.99 for a hoodie. And one of my favorite items is the Cat Journal ($9.49), featuring a big gray cat on the cover playing with a purple ball of yarn. Don't tell me your cat's antics - or yours - couldn't easily fill the journal's 160 pages.

Meet Nero the Great

One of those happy (I think he was happy?!?) to be at Sunday's Furry Scurry at Killens Pond was Nero, the Great Dane puppy of Larry and Cris Rhoads of Harrington.

Larry says Nero is just 9 months old and weighs 130 pounds. Nero's dad weighed 180, so at least in his genes, there is room to grow.

We saw Nero later on the 5K walk and he did appear to be enjoying himself, and exercising those great long legs.

Great Turnout for Furry Scurry

The weather was cooperative for Sunday morning's Furry Scurry, a 5K run/walk fundraiser for the Kent County SPCA at Killens Pond State Park near Felton. More than 300 people signed up to participate, including the Garrisons (Lisa and John, above) and their sons, Noah and Leon, who participated in the Kiddie K (Noah finished first!).

The Garrisons of Milton brought dogs Serena (a Pekingnese mix), Dorry (a pug) and Jazzy (a Doberman) to the festivities.

After the run/walk, pet vendors, pet agencies, nonprofits and rescue groups set up for a fair in the park. The event is one of the first in the Delaware Week for the Animals. I ran into Patricia Haddock, one of the organizers of the week, and says there are more than 50 events across the state throughout the week. She says she is particularly pleased with the variety of events and the national speakers who will be here.

Check out the week's Web site to find something that is right for you.

Watch here for more from Sunday's Furry Scurry and the pet fair.

Photo of the Day: Puppies

Are those two great faces, or what? Wyatt e-mailed this photo of Drake and Remy, a couple of book-end-matching 3-month-old Labs.

If you have a cute photo of your dog - or any other pet - e-mail it to pets@delawareonline.com and we'll give it a boost here or in a photo gallery for everyone to see.

Thanks for the great photo, Wyatt.

A Week Just for the Animals

I loved this photo shoot of little Brad Olin of Clayton and his dog Doozer. We used one of the photos on the cover of the latest issue of Delaware Pets, and here, you get another one. It's emblematic of the relationship that we all will be celebrating during Delaware's first Week for the Animals, starting Saturday and running through April 27.

There are events that criss-cross the state. Fun things like Sunday's Furry Scurry at Killens Pond State Park - an event I'm attending - and serious ones like Nathan Winograd's April 27 workshop on how to create a no-kill Delaware.

Just find your event - new ones seem to be added every day- and celebrate all that is true and good about the animals we share our lives with.

A Mexican Cat Dance

That's Pork Chop enjoying, OK, not enjoying an oversized sombrero. By the way, we have the same sombrero at home that a stuffed grizzly bear sits on. (Don't even ask!)

Unfortunately, we don't have a cat to wear (or not wear) our sombrero.

What's the funniest thing your cat will (or won't) do? Post here or e-mail me at pets@delawareonline.com.

Photo of the Day: Marmaduke?

Is that Marmaduke poking out his head on Thursday at Battery Park in Old New Castle?

Nope, that's Montego, a 2-year-old Great Dane who was enjoying the sunshine and temperatures in the 70s. Montego is owned by Karin Roseman of Greenville who, along with her mother, Silvya Horn, was walking her two dogs, Montego and Fitzgerald, at the park. Roseman was using her mother's car, because Montego likes to ride with his head sticking out through the sunroof.

Hmmm ... just like Marmaduke.

Petey and Me

I remember the day I picked out Petey at the shelter in Little Rock, Ark. One thing was clear to me: I needed her and she needed me. She was so small that she almost fit in one hand.

Weeks later, I took her to the vet to be spayed. He declared her part terrier, part whippet and part Dalmatian. I declared her my furry companion.

We were inseparable. She slept in my bed - just as much or as little as I did. She walked me in the mornings and the evenings. She raced into the house and back down the hallway when I came home. She romped all over our favorite bark park. She ate with me - I had people food; she had Science Diet.

Eventually, she grew into a 45-pound watch dog who meant business with strangers, especially men. She would stand in a defensive posture, barking, at any man whom she deemed the least bit suspicious. The only guy she ever warmed up to was my future husband, who fed Petey when I was away on business. Petey and I called him "the food guy."

When Petey died years ago, a little of my heart died with her.

I suppose that sense of loss is indicative of the emotional connections we have with the pets who share our lives. It's also at the core of the celebration that is Delaware's Week for the Animals from April 19-27. I'm happy to shine an extra light on this week, and I encourage you to find an event or two that will be meaningful to you - and your favorite pet.

Look for all sorts of details about the week and what you can do be a part of it in a special bonus issue of Delaware Pets, arriving in pet stores, vets' offices and groomers' shops later this week.