Animal Assistance League’s ‘Bark in Maple Park’ draws 100 dog owners

By JOHN HENDERSON

(ENLARGE)

STAFF PHOTO BY JUSTIN FALLSSpot (right) checks out his surroundings as Brutus (rear) has his collar reattached by owner Calvin Hewitt of Moyock during the Animal Assistance League\u2019s \u201CBark in the Park\u201D dog show in Maple Park Saturday.

(ENLARGE)

STAFF PHOTO BY JUSTIN FALLSWayne Boyd holds Willie, an applehead chihuahua, during the Animal Assistance League\u2019s \u201CBark in the Park\u201D dog show at Maple Park Saturday.

(ENLARGE)

STAFF PHOTO BY JUSTIN FALLSLabrador retrievers Garr, (right) and Saint (left) sniff one another during the Animal Assistance League\u2019s \u201CBark in Maple Park\u201D dog show at Maple Park Saturday.

Staff Writer

MAPLE — Because the “Bark in Maple Park” dog show had already been postponed once because of bad weather, Ginger Sikes was glued to The Weather Channel in the days leading up to last Saturday.

Sikes, who is president of the Animal Lovers Assistance League Inc., was watching The Weather Channel because she was concerned that the dog show would be postponed again, this time by passing rains brought by Hurricane Noel.

“I have gray hairs with Noel’s name on it,” she said.

The show was originally planned for the weekend before but was postponed by rain showers and rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 3. While the winds were strong early Saturday, they subsided as the day progressed and Bark in Maple Park went without a hitch and attracted more than 100 dog lovers.

The Animal Assistance League awarded prizes to dogs in categories ranging “longest tongue” to “most wrinkles,” as well as “best dancer on two legs,” to “happiest tail wagger.”

The “most inspirational dog” category was won by Nila, a three-legged German-Labrador mix owned by Chris Clark.

According to Clark, Nila had a leg amputated after it became infected and Animal Lovers Assistance League helped with the costs of the surgery.

Clark said he enjoyed the dog show and gave it high grades.

“I think what they are doing out here is great,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity for everybody to get together and see each other’s dogs.”

In other competition, the dogs showed off their agility on an obstacle course.

Many of the dogs who attended the show were not there to compete but to enjoy the afternoon with their owners.

One of those dog owners was Julie Papineau, who brought her Chihuahua to the event but arrived too late enter her dog into a contest.

Papineau said her dog enjoyed socializing with other animals.

“She loves it,” said Papineau, adding she usually takes her pet to a dog show in Virginia.

“I’m really glad that they have one closer now,” she said. “I think it will definitely grow every year.”

Saturday morning,Raymond and Laura O’Shaughnessy were dealing with pounding wind and rain and surf in Kitty Hawk, where they live. By Saturday afternoon, they were standing under sunny skies, enjoying the dog show in Maple.

“It’s great,” Raymond O’Shaughnessy said.

The dog show also included a silent auction, bake sale and raffle.

But the event was not focused primarily on raising money, but more so to emphasize that dogs pets are part of the family and should be treated as so, Sikes said.

“Its main objective is to get people to understand that their dog is a part of their family, and come have a fun day with your family, including your dog,” she said.

The event also included a demonstration by Blackwater Worldwide’s K-9. In the afternoon, the Currituck County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit gave a demonstration that simulated a criminal apprehension and narcotic detection.

The law-enforcing dogs sniffed a line of purses to reveal the one filled with narcotics.

The Animal Lovers Assistance League Inc. held a dog show 10 years ago, but nothing of the size of Saturday’s show, Sikes said.

She hopes the event can become an annual tradition.