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The countdown to one of my favorite events of the year is officially on...The Shaggy Dog Show! It’s the biggest annual fundraiser for the KSPCA (the Kenya Society of the Care and Protection of Animals).

Over the tense waiting period last weekend after the elections, the hardcore dog folks were at the East Africa Kennel Club showgrounds in Jamhuri for the 46th Open Championship Dog Show

This Sunday November 7th is the KSPCA’s largest FUNdraiser of the year, so come out to the Hillcrest School on Langata Road in Karen (conveniently next door to the KSPCA).

I have been attending the Shaggy Dog Show for the last 6 years and, without a doubt, this years was the best ever.

The Shaggy Dog Show was a great success. There was a large attendance and people enjoyed themselves immensely. There were twenty nine stalls for early Christmas shopping, plenty to eat and a bar.

Last weekend was the East African Kennel Club Craft Fair to raise money for the Kennel Club. It was hot but really, really nice to see families out with their dogs!  There were beautiful pedigree dogs, and much loved mixed breed mutts as well.

Cheap can be expensive!  Why buy an expensive pedigree dog and spend the money shipping him to Nairobi and then feed him cheap but crappy quality food?

They run a dog show once every year.

It is a fun filled day for the family. People bring in their dogs to compete in certain classes eg “Fancy Dress” class where you have to dress the dog and yourself.

Many new arrivals in Kenya go to the KSPCA and come up with a long list of complaints;  they have too many dogs, cats wandering around, they don’t have fancy flyers, they don’t have adoptable pets on their website, they aren’t open on Sunday the list goes on and on. However, for an organization that gets by solely on donations (no money from the Kenyan government) they don’t do such a bad job.

Now THIS has been a big week for Duffy. We have been out to the local mall twice this week for some socializing.

Amy grew up on a game farm in Indiana, USA so her lifelong association with animals started at a very early age. Her horses ran with the zebra, camels, buffalo and llama. Amy’s family bred and raised working Australian Shepherds. Amy worked for Radisson Hotels while attending Ivy Tech in Indianapolis, and then moved from The Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites in Indiana to the Radisson Mark Plaza Hotel in Alexandria, VA. Amy then moved to Moscow to open the first American-managed hotel in the Soviet Union, the Radisson Slavjanskaya Hotel. Amy oversaw all events at the residence and dachas, including 7 visits of the US President and Vice President.After a 15 year career in Hospitality Management, Amy took off her high heels to return to her roots and work extensively with the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac (a rescue started by ethical Labrador breeders) in Virginia, USA where she trained foster dogs and helped many dogs overcome behavioral issues. She also raised puppies for the CETC (Canine Enforcement Training Center) in Front Royal, VA. Five of the 6 puppies she raised went on to detect drugs and currency for US Customs and Border Patrol.Amy has been in Kenya since 2006 where she founded the East African Kennel Club and has been an active member ever since. She also belongs to the Labrador Retriever Club of Kenya and the Ladies Kennel Association. She teaches the Wednesday morning socialization class for the Labrador Club, the beginner’s obedience class on Saturday afternoons run by the German Shepherd Dog League and has recently started teaching a communication class for the Kenya Police Dog Section for the new dog handling recruits. Amy has worked with the staff at the KSPCA to train dogs for their annual Shaggy Dog show. In 2008, Amy started Custom Made K-9 Supply making handmade leather, professional quality leashes and working gear for security dogs as well as companion dogs.In her free time, Amy is working on a storybook to educate primary school children about how to take good care of their animals, especially dogs. Amy enjoys camping and frequently camps with the Labrador Retriever Club.Amy currently has a yellow Lab that was a US Customs dog (yes, she kept her only “failed” pup) and a lovable shenzi that showed up under her gate 2 years ago, likely from the Karura forest.

            Date 1st July 2012                                      Number: 47