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Veterans Day at the American Cemetery in Corozal
Scenes from the San Miguelito - Juan Diaz Grito de Los Santos parade
Boquete Dog Show
Overseas Vote Foundation post-election survey
Pets of the Week

Boquete Dog Show... the cat won

by Fran Hogan

The sound system blared Kenny Rogers' "Know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em" while contestants lined up to make an entry on to the linoleum basketball court. It was a Sunday afternoon for the First Annual Boquete Dog Show, held in the gymnasium next to the baseball field where an ongoing game continued in spite of the rain.

Inside the plastic Purina Dog Chow curtain we'd seen several classes, each usually consisting of six or seven contestants. Most dogs present were not even contestants at all but seemed to be there to mingle, show off, or possibly for an inauguration into the noisy chaos of competition. Dogs were everywhere, most on leashes, milling about at the entrance, on the court and in the bleachers. There were several puppies, three or four schnauzers, one German shorthair pointer, one dachshund, one chocolate lab, two pushy pit bull teenagers with their macho body-building owner, two collies, three Yorkshire terriers, two cocker spaniels, several rottweilers, a few boxers, two German shepherds, a golden retriever, and others. Many of them barked --- and barked. The loudspeakers roared with country-and-western interspersed with American show tunes.

It was a family thing and kids of all ages freely roamed the stands and the show ring. There were serious kids, practicing showing their pets, most which appeared to be entirely unfamiliar with a leash or with any form of instruction. Equally serious adults also strolled the ring, warming up for their event, often with dogs consumed by lively curiosity, equally alien to constraint techniques.

In the crowd, perched on the shoulder of a Panamanian, silently sat a green parrot. It didn't make even the slightest sound until it was time for a contending dog to put its best foot forward... standing for physical exam then trotting away from and then toward the judge.

That was the apparent signal for the bird to wolf-whistle, screech, imitate angry cat sounds, sirens, “good bird” and its “I loooooove you” routine. If a dog had possessed a shred of concentration prior to his turn to show, it was instantly lost. Befuddlement ruled. Chaos controlled. Barking stepped up. Parrot redoubled. Barking increased proportionally. Dogs, trotting toward the judge, stopped to pee. Johnny Cash sang I'll Walk the Line.

The next group, the costume class, consisted of four dogs, dressed up in various elaborate outfits --- and a cat. A really big longhaired gray cat wearing a handkerchief around its middle, held in the arms of a tiny girl about four years old. The cat hung down loosely, disinterested and undisturbed by its surroundings. When it seemed about to slip completely out of her grasp, the young girl would hoist it up to safety. No dog in the building gave it a second glance.

The judge dutifully examined each animal and explained the significance of each costume to the crowd. He interviewed each handler and held the microphone for each to say whatever they wanted, which was often not related to the show, the animal, or anything in the immediate vicinity. The judge made his choice based on audience applause for each contestant. The cat won. The prize was a bag of dog food. It was perfect!

The First Annual Boquete Dog Show was a huge success. I'm still laughing. Panamanians know how to have fun!