Events

SETTERFEST 2006

This year's SetterFest was held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Florida All-Setter Rescue program. We had perfect Florida weather as a background for a beautiful blur of red dogs! Chuck Petterson (Iowa) of Gordon and Red & White Rescue just happened to be working in Florida in October and attended both days of SetterFest. He is the ultimate in event assistance, from parking vehicles and planting birds to selling raffle tickets! He wrote the following article for the GSCA "NEWS" and the ISCA "MEMO"

--- Bonnie Foster

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SetterFest 2006 was held near Umatilla, FL, October 14th and 15th. Bonnie Foster hosted the event at her property, in the lake country north of Orlando. The turnout was excellent, with Setters of all persuasions in full force. The Bay Area Irish Setter Club of Tampa sponsored a "B" Match. Fun Matches were held by the Gordon Setter Club of Central Florida and the Central Florida English Setter Club. Toni Thomas judged a large entry, including junior handlers. In addition to conformation judging, dogs and handlers had opportunities to experience agility exercises, bird-field work, and grooming tips. Kate Boulos and Greg Brannen of Cedar Ridge English Setters provided the expert oversight of the field activities and there was a constant group of dogs and handlers waiting for a turn to get a sniff of a quail. However, the gathering wasn't all work and no play. Between morning and afternoon conformation events a huge pot-luck lunch was spread out. Late in the afternoon games were held for the dogs, including a costume contest, singing dog recital, and hot dog dunk. A Parade of Rescues reunited a score of dogs with many of their former foster parents. Each of the adopting families was all gushy about their special Setter. A short biography was read about each dog and they were all given rosettes and treat bags. All of these activities were for the benefit of Florida All-Setter/Magnolia Setter Rescue and the Gordon Setter Club of Central Florida. Between entry fees and fund raising activities each group had a successful weekend. An event such as this does not happen without good planning and plenty of help. Bonnie Foster did a superb job on the planning and enlisting help.

--- Chuck Petterson (Persia, Iowa; Kennel Help and Rescue Bus Driver)

IRISH SETTER CLUB OF AMERICA
35th ANNUAL NATIONAL SPECIALTY SHOW
Hilton Hotel
Ocala, Florida
April 23 - 28, 2007

This year's Irish Setter National was a great success for Rescue. Of course we all enjoyed the week-long flurry of activities and give a special thanks to Mindy Higby and Diane Seibel, Showchair and Assistant Showchair, for their ceaseless attention to detail in putting on an event of this size and caliber. We had a wonderful site for our rescue booth under a large live oak tree with plenty of shade for all of our "customers" looking over the large display of items to be raffled off at the end of the week. Irish Setter Rescue ambassadors had their own special setup behind the rescue booth with x-pen play yards and had constant attention from visitors to the booth. They enjoyed their walks around the show grounds and their grooming appointments generously donated by a number of show exhibitors who just wanted to help out. Saturday, April 28th, was the big day! The annual Parade of Irish Setter Rescue Dogs was held at noon with 36 rescue dogs and their families from as far away as Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and of course Florida. Each of our participants, sporting their Rescue Rosettes, took their turn going around the show ring as their stories were read by Marilee Larson, National Director of the Irish Setter Club of America Rescue. Everyone received a gift bag, and we ended the event with a gathering for a group photo. Enjoy the pictures!

--- Bonnie Foster

AKC® RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP DAY

Saturday, September 15, 2007

North Carolina State Fair Grounds
Raleigh, NC

Attendees to this year's AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day met over 50 AKC breeds and enjoyed demonstrations of agility, flyball, rally, obedience, and grooming. Our booth was near the flyball area, and numerous visitors stopped by to pick-up pamphlets and meet some of our local Setters. Setter Rescue ambassadors in attendance were: foster dogs, Sean, Danny, Red Baron, and Bella, and Rescue Alumni, Belle (2005) and Kyle (2006). Rescue alumnus Deliah (2007) also came for a visit with her new family, Greg, Cindy, and Moby - Moby was on his way to the microchipping clinic. The dogs enjoyed the attention and their jaunts around the grounds. Many thanks to Marge, Thea, Logan, Margo, and Jack for staffing the booth!

--- Vicki Horton