On Sunday 8th September , bathed in beautiful sunshine The Old Moat Garden Centre held their 2nd Fun Dog Show within The Walled Garden. There were 9 fun classes to enter including classes for the Dog with the waggiest tail, Dog most like its owner, Best rescue dog, Cleverest trick, Dog the judge would most like to take home and the hardest one to judge , apart from Best In Show had to be Musical sits, like musical chairs but the dogs have to sit, Trying to see who was the last one to sit was hard work and extra eyes were required.
Judging the classes was Nikki Brown, aka The UK’s Leading Natural Dog Whisperer. During the interval Nikki took questions from the audience regarding any problems people were having. She also gave advice on reading and understanding your dog’s behaviour. A very interesting chat which has made me stop and think about what I am feeding my dog which may be the cause of his nervousness.
As the classes continued for some it was time for nap
But the classes kept coming and so did the dogs. In total there were over 80 entries in the 9 classes cost £2 per entry. With all the money going to The Old Moat.
The last class of the afternoon was the Best In Show. This was made up by the winners of the 9 classes and Nikki was joined by Cllr. Bernie Muir, a great supporter of The Old Moat, Like the Musical Sits this was a tough job. All the dogs deserved to win but there could only be one winner. This went to Franki, a Standard Poodle,. Franki is a Family Support Dog and a Therapy Dog for Dementia suffers.
The afternoon was not just about have a good time it was also to raise funds for the work The Old Moat does.
The Old Moat Garden Centre is not just a garden centre. They are part of Richmond Fellowship, a national mental health charity, and reinvest all their profits into supporting the recovery of local people living with mental ill health.
Their goal is to help them gain confidence, skills and qualifications working alongside the staff and volunteers in a safe, supportive environment that encourages them to overcome challenges and obstacles.
Their work impacts directly on about 150 people with mental ill health each year, but the ripple effect touches hundreds more as their families and friends gain peace of mind, waiting lists in doctors’ surgeries and hospitals are reduced, employers gain qualified confident staff, and the community is enriched by the increased participation of those whom we support.
The Old Moat would like to thank the following:
Judges
Nikki Brown and Surrey County Councillor and Epsom & Ewell Borough Councillor Bernie Muir,
Dog agility provider
Cathy Tse, Horton Dogs,
Master of Ceremonies
Paul Jackson, for his time, his MC skills and his music choices!
Additional prize donors
For All Dogkind,
Stall holders
Hound Help Canine Massage,
Refreshments
Tiger Lily Bus Company,
And last but most definitely not least: Their staff, volunteers and the people whom they support.