Greater Fort Myers Dog Club to hold Spring Show
For more than 35 years, volunteers of the Greater Fort Myers Dog Club have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to promote the sport of showing purebred dogs. Their hard work will pay off this May, as exhibitors from throughout the southern United States will travel to Fort Myers for an official American Kennel Club (AKC) event.
This year’s event will draw more than 150 different breeds to Southwest Florida . The show will include conformation, obedience & rally trials, junior handling and a puppy match. There will also be vendor booths that will be filled with treats, toys and trinkets targeting man’s best friend. Show organizers are optimistic that the show will have approximately 1200 registered exhibitors.
“One of the main goals of the Greater Fort Myers Dog Club (GFMDC) is to promote responsible dog ownership,” said Janet Bulson, show chairwoman for the GFMDC. The other priority of the club is to educate the public about the do’s and don’ts of selecting the right family companion.
The show will be held at the Lee Civic Center, located at 11831 Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers (at the junction of State Road 31 and 78) on Saturday, May 16 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 17 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with judging beginning at 8:30 a.m. each day.
On Saturday shortly before 8:30 a.m., the National Anthem will be performed by the Tamiami Sound. Tamiami Sound is an a cappella quartet from the larger Sweet Adeline chorus – Spirit of the Gulf – based in Fort Myers. Both groups sing four-part, barbershop harmony. Spirit of the Gulf is a chorus of 150 women singers who perform and compete on the international level. Their last competition was in Honolulu, Hawaii in November 2008. Tamiami Sound is a fairly new quartet, whose members are Barb Wallace, lead, Jackie Barfield, Bass, Roz Williams, Tenor and Sheila Gnat, Baritone.
The National Anthem on Sunday will be performed by Connie Barata who has a performing arts background and has appeared as a solo singer/songwriter at a number of cabaret venues around New York City, including Don’t Tell Mama on Restaurant Row. She has sung the National Anthem for the New York Jets at Giants Stadium for nine years, for a total of 19 performances of season and pre-season games.
There will be an $8.00 per car per day entry fee, or $15 for both days. Due to AKC regulations, dogs not entered in the show will not be allowed into the building. Additionally, no children’s strollers are permitted in the buildings.
For specific breed information, visit www.fortmyersdogclub.com or call 239-945-2776.