The human/animal bond was on prototypical display all weekend at the Charles County Fairgrounds. The occasion was the annual Blue Crab Cluster, a series of five dog shows sponsored by the Potomac Hound Club, the Southern Maryland Kennel Club (SMKC) and the Rock Creek Kennel Club RCKC). All events were American Kennel Club (AKC) sanctioned.
The all-breed shows sponsored by SMKC and RCKC on successive days Friday through Monday featured breed conformation and obedience events followed by the group and then Best-in-Show competitions. There are seven AKC groups: Terrier, Toy, Working, Herding, Hound, Non-Sporting and Sporting.
More than 1300 entrants participated in the SMKC show, according to Lisa Miller, show chairperson. She said there is an attempt by SMKC to reach out to the non-show public. She said there is so much negative publicity about “bad dogs” that they wanted to show the public the other side of the story. One way that they have done that is to have a “Meet the Breeds” event for the public to interact with the dogs and learn more about them.
Miller said the economy has hurt the dog show circuit but it’s starting to pick back up. Show people had cut back on the number of shows they attended, she said. “They were being more selective.”
Miller, along with her husband Harry, runs Kiarry Kennels in Mechanicsville. They are show veterans. Lisa has shown dogs at the Westminster Kennel Club Show in New York, considered to be the World Series of Dogdom. Harry is president of SMKC. They breed American Foxhounds.
Best-in-Show of the July 1 SMKC show was a Black Cocker Spaniel, Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction. Best-in-Show winner of the SMKC July 2 show was an Affenpinscher, GCH Banana Joe V Tani Kazan.
One of the highlights of the weekend was the appearance of Eli, a black Belgian Sheepdog, who is the last surviving 9/11 dog. He was called to aid and comfort in recovery efforts following the days of our nations attack. He worked side by side with the Red Cross, NYPD, and National Guard during extreme stressful times. For his services he was recognized by the AKC and awarded the highest honor for canine excellence. On October 16th, 2010 Eli was awarded the AKC’s Lifetime Achievement ACE Award. The 12-year-pld Eli posed for pictures with his owner and soaked up the attention.
Another show event was an art contest and fundraiser sponsored by Melwood’s Camp Accomplish and SMKC. First place winner received a Best in Art Show Award on July 2 before that shows Best in Show dog award. The art was be judged by Charles County Commissioner Debra Davis, Esq. Proceeds from sales benefited t Camp Accomplish and SMKC’s canine rescue efforts throughout our tri-county area.
And of course a Blue Crab Cluster of dog shows would not be complete without a crab feast on the fairgrounds midway on Saturday. The shows have been at the fairgrounds for the last several years, and Miller said it has proven to be a perfect venue. Before that the shows were held at Take-It-Easy Campground in Callaway and before that at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds.
The Southern Maryland Kennel Club is an all-breed AKC club. They advocate for the purebred dog as a family
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