Darcy Funday a tail-wagging success
By Kim Campbell Thornton
May 31, 2008
Hot dogs don’t float. That’s what we learned today during the bobbing for hot dogs competition at the second annual Darcy FUNDay to raise money for research into causes of and treatment for mitral valve disease in Cavaliers and other dogs.
My husband and I founded the Darcy Fund almost two years ago after losing our 6.5-year-old tricolor Cavalier to MVD. With the money raised from today’s event, it’s brought in more than $16,500 so far, which is being used to finance studies at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Edinburgh.
Approximately 45 Cavalier slaves brought their dogs for a day of contests–Best Costume, Best Trick, Race to Owner, the aforementioned bobbing for hot dogs and more–a raffle and silent auction and a potluck picnic. Author and pet “edu-tainer” Arden Moore spoke about cooking for dogs and the importance of weight control, all the while handing out samples of her Marvelous Mutt Meatballs to Maui the Cavalier, who kept nosing his way into the presentation in the hope of sneaking a snack. He was well rewarded.
Some of the Cavaliers tried out a mini agility course set up by Audrey Pavia, who competes in the sport with her Corgi, Nigel. Nigel was there as well, and I was disappointed Audrey didn’t enter him in the costume contest: Cavalier disguised as Corgi. Nigel’s been a good friend to our dogs over the years; he might have been able to pass. Normally I’m not in favor of dressing up dogs, but I have to say that the sailor girl here and the therapy dog/belly dancer and French sophisticate were pretty darn cute.
The silent auction and raffle raised more than $700, on top of the more than $1,000 in entry fees, about $400 more than last year. Winners went home with a set of two Cavalier art books, crates and carriers, gift certificates, books on training, treats, health and behavior, a couple of fancy wrought-iron dog beds, grooming equipment and a lot more. I don’t know who was happier, the people who won or my husband, who has patiently put up with all of this stuff piling up in our condo over the past year. He entered Harper in the “shortest ears” contest, then refused to enter any others after realizing that winning might mean taking items home again.
We all had a fabulous time and during clean-up were already talking about a theme for next year’s event. And I like to think that a certain tricolor Cavalier was there in spirit, sampling meatballs and pup-pizza and looking for a lap to fill.
No doubt Darcy was in attendance. She was probably the reason the hot dogs wouldn’t float! (Did you notice them disappearing after they sank?)
Comment by slt — June 1, 2008 @ 9:16 am
Hmmm, you may be right. She was definitely a typical sneaky Cavalier chowhound.
Comment by Kim Campbell Thornton — June 1, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
Oh, sounds like Darcy’s Fun Day was a howling success! I had no idea that MVD or what i call CVD was a polygenetic problem in Cavaliers, affecting them at a young age as opposed to the rest of the dog population.
My 11 year old IG was diagnosed 1 1/2 years ago with CVD. It was a shock to me, as she leads an active lifestyle and gets a dynamite diet. However, her murmur had responded well to Co Enzyme Q 10 and 1000 mgs of fish oil. So far. She’ll have a check up later this month, and we are crossing our paws everything is going well.
Acronyms however drive me nuts. When I see MVD, I see MvD, which is hepatic Microvascular Dysplasia, another possibly polygeneic disorder where microscopic shunts affect the dog’s liver function. Arrgh!
Anyway, here’s to Darcy and her Legacy!!!!
Comment by Deb — June 2, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
*Some* hotdogs do float. I don’t know if it’s fat content or what.
Comment by Deanna — June 3, 2008 @ 7:42 am