Dorchester Banner/Gloria Rojas
Mikey is ready to go, in his fire fighter’s outfit at the Cambridge Fun Dog Show this past weekend at Governors Hall.[/caption] CAMBRIDGE—It’s a Springtime Cambridge tradition. For seventeen years the Fun Dog Show, a fund raiser for programs at Christ Church and the Baywater Animal Rescue, has provided dog owners an opportunity to show off their dogs as they vie for blue ribbons. On Saturday at Governor’s Hall in Sailwinds, some fifty dogs participated in the yearly event. After a prayer blessing for dogs and all animals by Pastor Bob White, State Senator Addie Eckardt opened the grand parade. Owners led their pets around the ring before the judges. Dogs showed off style, strut, plus the good behavior of the dog (and the owner.) It’s like the walks at the Westminster Dog Show. But there is one big difference. While some entrants here do have pedigrees, many of the contestants do not come with fancy or known breeding history; they are rescue dogs. Adults as well as children are proud of their four-legged friends, but Trippe, a rescued dog, is a three-legged friend, severely abused before being rescued. His owner says Trippe doesn’t realize he’s missing one leg. Some once-abused animals, starved and injured, are now handsome, glossy pets who all deserve to win best-in-show. That’s not one of the categories here; dogs compete as best smallest dog, dog looking most like owner, cutest costume, most obedient, best tricks, a wide range of fun show classes that can make you smile. A dancing dog carries off the best trick ribbon and every dog, is best-in-show as far as their owners are concerned.