First of all, we'd like to say a huge Thank You to everyone who contrbuted to our annual Fun Dog Show & Fete at Salt Lake Green, Porthcawl which, despite rain threatening to wash out our endeavours, turned out to be just as good as it had been in previous years, raising nearly £2,000 for animals in need.
With the weather looking ominous, things had looked bad for the annual August fundraiser, but just as the show was about to start, the clouds miraculously parted, the sun began to shine and the people flocked in to browse among the stalls and watch the dog displays put on by the organisers. As in previous years, experts in dog behaviour were on hand to answer questions and advise on how best to get your pet to do as it is told – although with so many different breeds on the field, canine curiosity often got the better of good manners! Doing their best to make their way through all this doggy mayhem were the P.A.W.S. Volunteers and members of the Army Cadet Force, busily collecting donations and parading a selection of mistreated and abandoned dogs in desparate need of new homes. With the help of Glasfryn Kennels, the society takes in these animals, often paying for their medical care and this year, thanks to the generosity of the public, many of them went home with new owners to lead better lives.
On a lighter note, the P.A.W.S. Fun Dog Show Competition, with well known psychic Gavin Cromwell acting as Guest Judge, proved as popular as ever. Entries in “The Waggiest Tail” and “Dog Most Like Its Owner” Classes melted hearts and caused more than one member of the audience to go, “Awww...!” For the more wild at heart, of course, there was the chance to marvel at the beautiful motorcycles brought along by the Harley Davidson Owners Bike Club who, as well as raising money for Cancer Care Cymru, were more than happy to let visitors be photographed next to their amazing machines.
As the day came to a close and the marquees were being dismantled, all those involved could take pride in a job well done as well as breathing a sigh of relief that, once again, the weather had smiled on their endeavours – although, as one P.A.W.S. Member said as the tents were coming own, “Right then. Time to start planning next year's show!”