2008 National Pet Month Post Event Competition
Mount Stewart & Jubilee Vets in Northern Ireland wins National Pet Month’s ‘Best Event’ for 2008
Mount Stewart, with the support of Jubilee Veterinary Centre and the local community, has been awarded the prize ‘overall winner’ of the 2008 National Pet Month Event Competition.
Over 320 events, from the length and breadth of the UK, participated in National Pet Month during April. Mount Stewart, the stunning National Trust House and Gardens on the shores of Strangford Lough, entered the competition for the first time and decided to take the theme of Assistance Dogs, as 2008 is the Year of the Assistance Dog. Guide Dogs NI, Hearing Dogs NI, Search & Rescue Dogs, The Dogs Trust, Assisi and the local dog warden with the town’s mascot, a Siberian Husky, all contributed to the success of the event. Jubilee Vets were also on hand with free clinics for obesity, diabetes and dental checks.
The prize, a magnum of champagne, was presented by National Pet Month Chairman, Phil Sketchley, on 20 August at a tea-party on Mount Stewart’s croquet lawn.
Commenting on the award Winsome Linton (fourth from left in the above photograph), Mount Stewart said:
“The Mount Stewart team and supporting organisations are delighted to have won this prestigious title. We held our first-ever Wet Nose day on 19 April, opening the garden gates to all dog walkers to celebrate 2008 as the year of the Assistance Dog. There was a jam packed programme for every type of bow-wow, big and small. Dogs walks, paws garden trail, breed quizzes, obedience training, working gundogs, doggie demos and even the chance to consult with the on-site veterinary team from Jubilee Vets. It’s fantastic that we have won the overall title of Best Event.”
Phil Sketchley (in centre of the above photograph), National Pet Month Chairman, said:
“This was not only an excellent event which attracted over 800 visitors and 1,000 dogs, but it also endorsed the aims of National Pet Month, which include promoting responsible pet ownership. The event also focused on the mutual benefits between animals and people, and it was great to see the National Trust and Jubilee Veterinary Centre working so closely together.”
Bryan Muskett (On the right of the above photograph), Jubilee Veterinary Centre Senior Partner, added:
“We have been involved in National Pet Month for a number of years, holding open days at the veterinary centre. This year we decided to expand our awareness of the event and became actively involved in Mount Stewart’s Wet Nose Day. It was a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of responsible pet ownership.”
Mr Sketchley stressed there were many other great events held all over the country - in vet practices, by local authorities, in schools and in pet shops, and there were winners in many different categories.
2008 National Pet Month Event Competition - Roll of Honour
Overall Winner Mount Stewart National Trust & Jubilee Vets, Northern Ireland
Veterinary Practice event category
Winner The Veterinary Hospital, Plymouth
Runners up Brookfield Veterinary Practice, Hereford
Pet Shop event category
Winner Frome Pet & Aquatic Centre
Animal Welfare Charity event category
Winner The Scratching Post, Cheshunt
Runner up Ty Agored, Wales
School/Youth Group Event Category
Winner Tina Yeo Childminding, Sussex
Runner up Lancaster & Morecambe college
‘Special’ category (that does not quite fit into the categories above!)
Winner K9 Pursuits, Co Durham
Runner up Barton Hill (last year’s winners), Hereford
There’s a new breed of shopper in town
The National Pet Month ‘Hall of Fame’ Exhibition
National Pet Month celebrates ‘Great British Pets’ in its first ever ‘Hall of Fame’ photographic exhibition at Selfridges, London. Commencing on ‘Wet Nose Day’ Wednesday 23rd April, all the nation’s pet lovers are invited to pop down to Selfridges pet department to enjoy some precious pet moments.
Pet fanatics from across the nation have bombarded the National Pet Month headquarters with their nominations through a competition with Your Cat and Your Dog magazines. Over 700 photographs of cute, crazy, dynamic, talented and lovable pets were judged by an expert panel according to seven different categories.
For each category, a winner and two runners up have been chosen to go on display at the exclusive ‘Hall of Fame’ exhibition which runs for two weeks. The results are as follows:
Pet Portrait WINNER (and Best in Show) - Leanie Welch from Cheshire |
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Cats Caught in Action WINNER - Joni Redpath from Surrey |
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Cute & Cuddly Pets WINNER - Sara Sansom from Nottinghamshire |
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Best Friends WINNER – Rachel Bray from South Molton |
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Crazy Cats & Dynamic Dogs WINNER – Simon Fuller from Suffolk |
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Animal Encounters WINNER – Stephen Sykes from Halifax |
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Talented Pets WINNER – Sandra Morton from Sutton Coldfield |
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The overall ‘Best in Show’ winner in the ‘Hall of Fame’, Leanie Welch, will receive an exclusive Snappy Snaps Studio Shoot and canvas of herself and pet. All category winners will receive a year’s subscription to Your Cat or Your Dog magazines, a Snappy Snaps canvas of their photograph, a month’s supply of Iams pet food and the framed exhibition image.
