Historical November–December 2007 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Sarah Cross is 10 years old and a fifth grader at St. Roch.
She is intelligent and committed and she loves animals. What is remarkable about Sarah is that she created a very popular neighborhood event three years ago when she was just 7!
She clearly has inherited some organizational skills and determination from her father Andy, the neighborhood’s premiere volunteer activist. But, Sarah adds something special to the mixture.
She is very caring about animals and about people and their feelings. Sarah loved her dog Dixie. But, Dixie was not a pure breed so that much as Sarah wanted her to compete in a dog show, there was no show for her.
She loved Dixie so much that she decided to have her own dog show, a show for all dogs.
She discussed some strategies with her friend Gretchen Boxdorfer. Interestingly, Gretchen’s dog Trenton won the most ribbons at that very first show. Both Dixie and Trenton are gone now but Sarah dedicated the second show to Dixie and the third to Trenton. Sarah thought of the dog show seven months before it actually took place.
After clearing a date with the SDCC office, her preparations began.
She was so enthused that she wanted to buy dog treats and do flyers right away.
Her parents convinced her to wait for closer to the date of the show. Sarah wanted everyone attending the dog show to feel included. Every dog would get a ribbon and a prize would go to the dog that garnered the most ribbons.
The dogs were judged in categories such as smallest dog, biggest dog, friendliest dog, dog with best trick. Anyone could suggest a category at the beginning of the show. Sarah tries to have a category for evey dog so that the owner can be “happy about their dog.” Sarah’s dog show flyer is distinctive.
She designed it herself and tried to put dog faces in each letter. About 50 dogs and 70 people came out that first year.
This year there were 100 dogs.
When the category of friendliest dog was announced, one third of the canines present swarmed the stage. Sarah had faith that people (and dogs) would come to this event and she was certainly correct.
The dogs have all behaved and interacted well and it is a very fun time. And every dog is a winner.
This year, neighborhood vet Steve Brammeier attended and brought frisbees and other toys for the dogs.
In June of 2008, the fourth annual dog show, Sarah will be accompanied by her family’s new dog, Griffin. He’s a Boston terrierbeagle mix. He’ll get to meet the 100+ Skinker DeBaliviere dogs and owners that liven Four Corners for the dog show, a show created by a seven year old for the benefit of all.
It is no wonder that the SDCC honored Sarah Cross with an award at their annual meeting.
Original photograph caption
Sarah Cross, dog show award and family dog.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2007.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2007_11.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
