They turned up at the Ngong Racecourse grounds in great splendour, flanked by families, friends and caregivers. The stage was set for them to put their best paw forward at the Shaggy Dog Show, dubbed ‘Pawchella,’ last Sunday.
The furry affair saw dogs of all breeds and sizes flaunting their charm and competing in nine categories, including ‘dog with the waggiest tail’, ‘dog most like their owner’, ‘best fancy dress’ and ‘shaggiest dog’.
Annette Martyres, whose two dogs, Kobe and Rafa, won ‘dog with the waggiest tail’ and ‘dog most like their owner’ respectively, says participating in the event is not about winning titles.
‘It’s just like how you can take children out for a fun event, I take my dogs out,’ she says.
Ms Martyres adds that the show gives her pets a chance to practise what they have been taught by their trainer. ‘They learn how to socialise with other dogs.’
Although she insists it is not about winning, it is impossible to miss the pride in her voice as she talks about her dogs. ‘Kobe is the friendliest dog, which is probably why he won the waggiest tail. He loves everybody.’
She believes Kobe’s motto is ‘Don’t worry, just be happy,’ a mantra that has inspired her and her family in how they approach their own lives. Kobe, a three-year-old Labrador, has been with her since he was a pup.
Rafa is a black and white Springer Spaniel she has had for just a year. He is a rescue dog whose previous owners could not afford to keep him.
‘Luckily, they were kind enough to bring him to the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) kennels, and that is where I adopted him,’ says Ms Martyres. ‘Now, wherever I go, he goes. I am the light of his life. He is a very obedient boy, very sweet and very protective.’
Making memories
Ladha Sathya, a returning attendee of the dog show, was accompanied by her husband and their three white dogs, a close-knit furry family of their own: Sparky, the father, a 15-year-old Maltese-Shih Tzu cross; Spotty, the mother, a 12-year-old West Highland Terrier; and their son Buddy, a 10-year-old who earned his name for his friendliness.
‘We travel with them wherever we go, even on holiday,’ says Ms Sathya. For them, every day spent with their dogs is a special memory, especially now that Sparky has dementia.
‘Sometimes he forgets everything except how to eat,’ she says softly. ‘It is heart-breaking, and that is why we wanted him to come to the show this year. With his age, you never know about tomorrow. When he sleeps, we are always worried whether he will wake up.’
The couple finds it difficult to spend time apart from their dogs.
‘They are pampered, indoor dogs that sleep with us, so we cannot leave them at a kennel somewhere. That is why we cannot have a holiday to ourselves without them,’ she explains.
To anyone considering adopting dogs, Ms Sathya cautions, ‘You will need a lot of time for training and to give them attention. You cannot just lock them at home and go away. If you will not give them the care they need, then do not get a dog.’
Traumatised to transformed
Another participant, Sandy, a three-legged rescue dog, captured hearts with his remarkable story. Named after Colonel Sanders of KFC, he was adopted late last year by Nicodemus Mulinge.
‘He had his leg chopped off because he used to hunt people’s chickens,’ Mr Mulinge recalls. ‘His tail was also cut off, and if you look at his face, around the nose, he has several scars.’
Mr Mulinge chose the name Sandy because of his colour and age. ‘I wanted an older dog, and he is eight years old.’
When Sandy was first adopted, he was frail and traumatised. With constant love, care and daily exercises to strengthen his remaining legs and improve his balance, Sandy has transformed into a healthy, affectionate companion who loves being in the garden and no longer hunts chickens.
Sh500,000 treatment
One of the biggest dogs at the show was Zena, a massive Caucasian Shepherd who won the ‘shaggiest dog’ category. Despite her imposing size, Zena was gentle and calm, happily soaking up all the attention.
She was accompanied by Mugo Karaba of Green Garden Kennels, which offers dog boarding services.
His biggest challenge, particularly with large dogs, is injuries.
‘You cannot stop injuries, especially if you have big dogs that like playing rough. Like now, Zena’s brother broke an elbow while playing with her, and treating that cost me close to Sh500,000.’
Another standout at the show was Romeo, a sleek black German Shepherd who competed in the ‘fancy dress’ category, wearing a red hoodie and shiny neck chain.
Deep Nimavat, who brought Romeo from DD Kennels, maintained a tight grip on his leash throughout, especially when other dogs wandered too close.
‘He is very strong and aggressive and doubles up as both a guard dog and a pet dog,’ says Nimavat. ‘He is generally okay with people. He just gets jealous when other dogs come close to me.’
For Nick Foley, whose Great Dane won ‘best fancy dress’ in a green alien outfit, supporting KSPCA’s work made the event even more meaningful.
‘The competition was stiff, so it feels amazing to have won, more so because my children designed the dog’s outfit.’
Besides being a fun day out for dogs and their humans, the Shaggy Dog Show also presented a fundraising opportunity for KSPCA, whose operations are entirely donor-funded.
‘It is also a way to sensitise the public on the need to adopt and give shelter animals a second chance,’ says Wangari Kariuki, a shelter director at the animal welfare organisation.
‘Anyone can attend, even if they do not own a dog, and learn a bit about what we do and why it matters. Our culture has not fully embraced animal welfare yet, but it is important for people to understand that animals have feelings too. They are social beings and deserve kindness.’