What began as a way to bring people together during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into a fall tradition filled with costumes, tricks and plenty of four-legged contestants.
The Kiwanis Club of North Shore will hold its annual dog show on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m. at Garvies Point Dog Park. The event raises money for the club’s Koats 4 Kids and Kicks 4 Kids programs, which provide coats and sneakers to children in need.
Leslie Wanzor Klee, of the North Shore Kiwanis Club, came up with the idea during the pandemic, when many of the organization’s usual fundraising activities could not take place.
“People were very isolated in their homes and dogs seemed to be a thing that was floating around,” Klee said. “So I thought maybe we could do this. It was outside. It was something that was fun that could get people out of their house.”
She launched the event without knowing whether the concept would catch on. It did.
“I started this, no concept of how it was going to work out,” Klee said. “And it’s adorable.”
Dogs and their owners compete in four categories — fanciest, best matching outfit, best trick and overall winner. Contestants walk their dogs past the judges, while those entering the trick competition stop to demonstrate their talents — or at least attempt to.
“They all forget their trick because the dogs are all very excited to be there,” Klee said. Owners insist their pets can normally perform on command, she added, but sometimes the excitement gets the better of them.
“It’s just full of laughter and joy,” she said.
The event typically draws about 25 dogs, though Klee said organizers can accommodate roughly 35. Participants range from children walking their pets to senior citizens and couples.
“I think the thing that’s really nice about it is two things,” Klee said. “One is that the dog owners get to show off their best friend. They’re all so proud of their dogs and they get to dress them up and dress themselves up.”
For Klee, the atmosphere is intentionally far removed from a formal competition.
“It’s a lot of smiles,” she said. “It’s not serious. It is definitely not American Kennel Association competition.”
John Canning, a longtime North Shore Kiwanis member who serves as the show’s announcer and master of ceremonies, said owners put considerable creativity into their entries, particularly the matching costumes.
“People put tremendous thought into it,” Canning said, noting that the October timing often inspires Halloween-themed outfits. “They extend it to the canine community.”
The $25 entry fee and sponsorships help the event raise roughly $4,000, Klee said. The proceeds are divided between purchasing coats and sneakers for local children.
But the fundraising is paired with something simpler: an afternoon designed to make people happy.
“The whole thing is just, everybody’s just got this huge smile on their face the whole time,” Klee said. “It’s just a fun, fun way to spend a nice fall afternoon.”
Walk-ins are welcome, although advance registration is encouraged because participation is limited. The deadline to submit the $25 entry fee by mail is Oct. 15.
