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| Animal Lovers Assistance League, Inc |
The Bark in Maple Park was a success in spite of threatening weather and heavy rain in the Moyock , Ranchland, Grandy, and other areas of the county.
Some of those planning to attend called me after I got home from the event and said that they were sure that we had postponed it due to rain and what time would we be starting on Sunday. It's unfortunate that some people and their dogs missed a fun day but In the future, if people are uncertain about the weather, we hope that they will call the shelter or listen to the radio.
A shower sent us scurrying just as we ended the last event.
We really appreciate the help of our distinguished judges, County Commissioners John Rorer, Paul O'Neal, and Barry Nelms; Sheriff Susan Johnson; and Barbara Trainor.
With their tape measures in hand to measure the Longest Tail, Longest Tongue, and Longest Ears; and their calculators as they counted the Most Spots, everybody had a great time!
First place winners even received an Olympic style neck ribbon with a medallion!
And every dog was a winner and received treats, a ribbon, and a certificate.
The dogs seemed to prefer the treats. Some of the really big dogs, such as the Great Danes, took their owners on a merry run to fetch the dog shank bones that the Girl Scouts hid around the field. A new feature that was a big hit with the dogs was a Hot Dog Bob. We have to remember to let the little dogs go first next year!
Our Silent Auction was a huge success thanks to the generous high quality donations of many local businesses and individuals. The beautiful Grand Prize in our raffle, a hand-made quilt featuring dogs which was made especially for our League by Cindy Mattingly, is still available for purchasing raffle tickets. The drawing will be held approximately Dec. 15, to give everyone a chance to win this prize that everybody wanted in time for Christmas!
Many thanks to all of those who made our Third Annual Bark in Maple Park a success. Our sponsors Chesapeake Bay Helicopters/Phyllis Kohler, Owner and President; of the Bank of Currituck; Dog Nutz of Corolla, who also donated the gourmet treats for the small dog prizes; Connie and Richard Eckhart represented by Libby Newbern; Debbie and Cameron Tabor. They also donated many of the treats for the medium and large dog prizes. Our thanks also to the Currituck Dept. of Parks and Recreation for getting the field and pavilion in excellent condition.
The Currituck Sheriff's Dept. K-9 Unit under the direction of Deputy Bryan Dudley gave a demonstration of fugitive apprehension. The dogs in the K-9 program under go extensive training.
Animal Lovers Assistance League, Inc. will be sharing with you in the next few days some of the pictures taken on the field by photographer Thom Spagnol. Our appreciation to Thom and to professional pet portrait photographer Laurie Stuart of Kitty Hawk, who took outstanding dog portrait photographs that some people ordered as Christmas cards or seasonal notecards. Mike Zimmerman made a wonderful Santa, patient and kind!
Our supporters donated a delicious assortment of home-made baked goods, which we greatly appreciate. We also appreciate Pilmoor United Methodist Church and Bob Kohler and the American Legion loaning us tables and chairs.
Dogs that came dirty left clean, thanks to our Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Troop Leaders are Rusty Waldrop and Michelle Santa.
Rivaling Rembrandt, Carrie Brennan and her friend, Brittany Elliott, did some neat face painting.
To produce an event of this magnitude takes thousands of hours of work from a multitude of dedicated volunteers. Our sincere appreciation to our volunteers: Frances Walker, Julia Brennan, Jo Drago, Carl and Jean Estus, Shirley Wilson, Peggy Fuller, Jim Hornbrook, Phyllis Kohler, Jo Meade, Jerry Person, Barbara Trainor, Nancy VanClief, Venetia Huffman, Sammy Walker, Debbie and Cameron Tabor, Charlotte Martin, Lea Ann Owens and her friend Jim. And to our staff of Shelter Manager Laura Marquette, Becky Beasley, Scott Bailey, Barbara Martin, Sarah Capps, Tim Puckett ,and Mitch Baer, thank you for going far beyond the call of duty.
Follow-Up written by
Ginger Sikes, President of the Animal Lovers Assistance League, Inc.
(edited by the Pampered Pets Guide) we are sorry if anyone was left out.