Pocono News Section

Going to the Dogs

Going to the Dogs - Monday, April 28, 2008 at 3:04PM EST

Monday, Apr 28, 2008 @ 03:04pm EST
SHAWNEE ON DELAWARE - Pooches are showing off their stuff at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort this weekend. They're Clumber Spaniels competing to find out who is top dog.

"We just have a blast because we all have a perfect thing in common, you know, our dogs, our babies," said Lori Wright. She spent 70 bucks to fuel up and drive to Shawnee from Lancaster County. But it's well worth is to treat her dog Ally who gives her so much love.

She explained, "It's just unconditional for them. You have a bad day, it doesn't matter."

Dog lovers came from all over the world to compete and to learn. They'll take classes on breeding and canine care.

It seemed the dogs weren't as interested in the classes as they were playing in the rain.

The show pets are normally nice and white but Monday there were allowed to get dirty. After all, it was a vacation. Wright said, "Our world revolves around them. Everything we do revolves around our dogs, all of our vacations, it's all about the dogs.

The pets and their owners take up every single room at the Shawnee Inn. On a normal rainy Monday in April only about 10-percent of the rooms would be filled.

"We think it's great. Everybody needs help, so it's really good," said dog owner Denise Scheler.

Treating their pooches and boosting the economy, seems "going to the dogs," isn't such a bad thing.

The dog show runs all week long at Shawnee. It's free and open to the public. Organizers ask that you leave your own dogs at home so they don't distract the competitors.