September 18, Fatacil, Lagoa – from 10am to 5pm
Scruffts Dog of the Year Show is the most important event in the APAA’s calendar.
Proceeds from the show will help to fund the Association’s charitable efforts, providing food and veterinary treatment for animals across the Algarve, including spaying and neutering, and supporting people who take in and care for stray and abandoned animals.
Last year, for example, we spent €19,700 on veterinary fees. However, in the first seven months of this year we have already exceeded our budget for the year. We have spent €17,521 and have authorised expenditure of a further €5,300 on operations and treatments.
 David Gowen from Olhos D’Água says Paddie, five, is truly his best friend in the world. “He comes to work with me every day so is quite well known in the Algarve! My loveable, huggable dog was rescued from Goldra. We have had the best five years and hopefully many more to come,” says David. It’s a hard life being a working dog. |
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This budget overspend has resulted in us not meeting our targeted saving for a new rescue centre. Consequently, APAA has had to put a temporary halt on its SNiP (Spaying and Neutering in Portugal) programme because of financial pressures.
So, this year, more than ever, APAA needs the community to support the 12th Scruffts Dog of the Year Show and we promise you will not be disappointed. We have laid on three special classes in which the public can participate.
Before lunch, we will be asking the public to judge two classes: the People’s Favourite Dog (Mixed Breed) and the People’s Favourite Dog (Pedigree). During the lunch break, volunteers will count the votes and immediately after lunch both classes will be invited back into the ring for the announcement of the winners and presentation of prizes.
 Janice Stephens sent us this photo of her brother’s dog Edie, aged three, the French Bulldog, and Lily the cat. She said: “I have just returned from staying with my brother, who lives in Moncarapacho, and while there I read your newspaper which mentioned the photo competition. My brother has several dogs and cats including ones currently being fostered for the local animal rescue centre”. |
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The other new class will be the Dog and Young Handler Lookalike. We look forward to seeing lots of youngsters in fancy dress – and the dogs, too, if you like. This class is due to start at 2.20pm and entrants will be given a free voucher to have their faces painted by our resident face painter, Paula Watt, on Stand 23, but don’t leave it until the last minute!
This year, too, we look forward to welcoming the four Best in Show winners from the Portugal News Dog Show which was held in June. The organisers of that show asked if they could offer free entry to a Scruffts class as a prize for their Best in Show winners and we were delighted to grant this request.
The more serious side of the Show will be in the hands of two very experienced and well-known judges. Georgie Saffin, an International and Portuguese Kennel Club judge, will judge the Pedigree classes while Marilyn Albergaria from Lisbon will judge the Mixed Breed classes.
As in previous years, the judges will give their time and expertise free of charge for which we are very grateful. We could not run Scruffts without their help nor, indeed, without the generosity of the President of Lagoa Câmara who grants us free use of the Fatacil Showground.
 Lorraine Orford-Gowen from Olhos D’Água says she adopted Hazel, aged 11, from some friends who moved back to the UK. “I don’t think she was loved a lot before but we’ve certainly made up for that as she is totally adorable. She has turned grey with age since we have had her but she is extremely well behaved, snores a lot and she would only ever lick you to death!” says Lorraine. “She has all the traits of a Labrador. I brought a programmed food bowl with four days worth of food and came home to all four dinners eaten in one go! We love her to bits.” |
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This year entrants to classes may pre-register by emailing [email protected]. We will have a separate desk for those who pre-register where they can pay their entrance fees and collect their competitor numbers.
ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS IN THE ALGARVE
More prizes to be wonthis Sunday!
As we are all preparing for Scruffts 2011 on Sunday, here we publish the last entries in the My Best Friend Photo Contest. Again, our thanks to all those who participated in the photo competition and we hope to see you and your dogs at Scruffts!
Independent Judges select 3 best photos:
An independent panel of judges, including a professional photographer, will be voting for the three best photographs in the competition, with many fantastic prizes to be won (see list below).
The results of the My Best Friend Photo Contest will be announced at 4.10pm on Sunday.
 “Taj was the last remaining puppy from a litter of 16 and was dropped off in our garden,” says Jane Hulshoff Pol from Moncarapacho. “Ollie was living on the street with his mother and siblings until they were all poisoned and taken by a kind woman to the vet. Some of them survived, including Ollie.” In this photo, best friends Taj and Ollie, at the time aged two-and-a-half and one, are at their favourite place, the Ria Formosa, where they had all the space to run wild and free |
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Your dog can win these fantastic prizes…
1st – Sac of dog food (15kg) + year’s subscription to the Algarve Resident + picture in canvas (20cmx30cm) + goodie bag
2nd – Sac of dog food (6kg) + picture in canvas (20cmx30cm) + goodie bag
3rd – Sac of dog food (2kg) + picture in canvas (20cmx30cm) + goodie bag
The Public’s vote:
The public will also be able to vote for their favourite photograph for a chance to win a dinner for two at the prestigious Le Meridien Penina Golf & Resort near Portimão, as announced in last week’s edition of the Algarve Resident.
To enter the Public’s Vote Competition, all you have to do is go along to The Resident Group stand (nº15) at Scruffts, pick up an entry form, go along to the photo exhibition stand and vote for your best dog photo!
 Victoria Mills from Vilamoura sent this photo of her two dogs Scooby the Doberman, who is two years old, and Smithy, aged one. “Scooby came from England with us on our big move to the Algarve and he just loves sleeping in the full sunshine! Smithy is a rescue dog that had been thrown in a bin in a supermarket car park in the Algarve. He was only about three months old and a very scared dog, but now he is a lively and alert little soul”. |
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We are also pleased to announce that Woof Woof Boutique & Spa in Portimão is offering the two photographs with the most votes from the public a free Pet Grooming Session each!
The winning member of the public and the two photographs with the most votes from the public will be announced in the September 23 edition of the Algarve Resident.
 Kirsten McGuirk-Young from Boliqueime sent us this photo of Baby Giz, aged four. Taking doggy sunbathing to new extremes … |
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