St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 424 W. Market St., Warsaw, will hold a Community Dog Show Oct. 7 to benefit the church’s food pantry.
Brenda Rigdon, Food Ministry Steering Committee, said the west side of town is part of a grocery desert with people that are low-income, so getting to a grocery store can be difficult for those people.
St. Anne’s did a book study during Lent about food insecurity and that’s what prompted them to put on the event.
A free-will donation of food items or cash will be taken at the dog show. Proceeds from the event will help fund the three-year plan to feed hungry people on Warsaw’s west side, Rigdon said.
Rigdon said the church’s self-service food pantry was opened about a month ago. Other than the self-service pantry that it available 24-7, the three-year plan includes help with delinquent lunch accounts, a community garden, a monthly hot meal and groceries for seniors.
This is the church’s first dog show.
For the dog show, registration opens at 9:30 a.m., and the show starts at 10 a.m. During the dog show, an agility demonstration will be done by Marcia Martin with some of her dogs. After the demonstration, anyone who wants to have their dog go through the an obstacle course can do so and will be talked through what to do.
Rigdon said it’s good for dogs to do those sort of things due to the mental stimulation and helps them from developing dementia or other behavior problems.
People need to make sure their dogs behave well around other dogs they don’t know. The dog needs to be on a leash, unless they’re going through the obstacle course. Someone has to stay with the dog at all times.
The dogs will be judged by Suzie Light, Dr. Tom Howard and Jeff Grose. There will be five classes dogs will be judged in: best trick, waggiest tail, costume class, best in show, owner-dog look alike and best in show.
The show will emceed by Dave Baumgartner and Jay Rigdon.
On Oct. 8, during the 10 a.m. church service, there will be a pet blessing. The church has always done a pet blessing for the Feast of St. Francis, Rigdon said.
Rigdon said the church felt it may be a good opportunity for people who go to a church that doesn’t offer a pet blessing to bring their pet to the service and get their pet blessed.