Dog owners from many states travel to the T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena for the 58th All-Breed Dog Show held by the Clemson Kennel Club January 4-5. The dogs in 129 breeds signed up to compete in several categories, many times in recreational vehicles with their star passenger, their show dog.
For more than 50 years, the Clemson Kennel Club is the AKC-licensed, all-breed kennel club for Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee Counties in South Carolina. Whether far away or from nearby, dog handlers travel to the show to show their well-groomed canine.
Jamie Clute of Anderson, who has shown dogs since he was five years old, says it’s often a family affair. “This is a family sport,” said Tara Martin Rowell, the AKC Representative in the area. “We have competition for children, from 9 years old to 18 years old, junior showmanship competition. Then we have separate showmanship competitions. At the end of the day, we have a best in show,” Rowell said. “There’s 129 winners and 129 breeds here. There’s a lot of winners here,” said organizer Brian Jones of the Clemson Kennel Club.
Jones said parking and raffle money raised allow the event to donate to Pickens, Oconee, and Anderson animal shelters, around $3,000 of items of needed for each. “We’re trying to do a lot in the community (and) educate,” Jones said.
Ken Ruinard, staff multimedia photographer in Anderson, S.C., since 1988, covers Upstate South Carolina news, features and sports. He can reached at Kruinard@gannett.com.
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