Dartmouth Dog Show

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Check Facebook page and posters around town for further details.

The following article was published in the March issue of By The Dart - click here for article

Canines of all shapes and sizes will be descending on Coronation Park next month for the Dartmouth Dog Show. Organiser Mia Cameron says there’s still a lot of work to do before the rosettes can be given out...

Mia Cameron, Dartmouth Dog Show organiser

Mia Cameron, Dartmouth Dog Show organiser

36-year-old hotel receptionist Mia came up with the idea of holding a dog show in the town back in 2013. At the time she was working at Coast and Country Cottages: “One day a lady came in asking for fundraising ideas. When I suggested running a charity dog show everyone laughed saying it wasn’t the sort of thing people would bother entering. Anyone who really knows me knows I love a challenge and if you say I can’t, I try to prove I can.” So with help from businesses and volunteers Mia ran the first show that spring. It was a success and she has since held another two events, switching venues between the Market Square and Coronation Park. This year she says it’s back to the park because growing numbers in the market meant sore paws:

“We had a lot more dogs last time and it was hard to keep order, with owners jostling to the front and dogs being stepped on.” The 2017 show will be held on Sunday 23rd of April.

There will be the usual serious categories like ‘Prettiest Bitch’, ‘Most Obedient Dog’ and ‘Best Rescue Dog’. Other, not so serious categories include a ‘Dog Owner Lookalike’ round - Mia says they get people who genuinely look like their pets and then other more competitive people who scruff up their hair and grow beards just to win. This year there’ll be an opportunity for people to adopt a dog. Gables Farm Dogs and Cats Home will be bringing one of their rescue dogs along in the hope of finding a new owner. The charities Halo and the RNLI (who are providing power on the day) will also benefit from funds raised at the event.

Cat loving Mia says she would run a feline show if she could but admits Dartmouth is probably more of a dog town on balance. She says preparing for this year’s event has not been easy: “I had to wait three months to hear if I had council permission to use Coronation Park, which was a nail biting time. Finding volunteers has proved tricky this year, as lots of families seem to be away. We need people to sell the category entry tickets, look after the sound system, hand out programmes and sell raffle tickets! So if anyone wants to help please get in touch.”

Mia says the dog show is always the highlight of her year: “I love seeing people having fun with their pets, especially children. They look so proud as they walk around the ring clutching the lead. If they win they accept the rosettes like they’ve won the lottery.”

Look out for posters around town with further information about the show. If you want to contact Mia about becoming a volunteer email miacameron66@hotmail.com