The Dynamic Dog Club put on a fundraiser show at Lake Miona Recreation Center recently.
The Dynamic Dog Club of The Villages put on its famous dog circus show at the Lake Miona Regional Recreational Complex, and it was all lights, barks and laughs.
Dotty Crain, of the Village of Bonnybrook, gave a cheerful introduction as the circus’s ringmaster and led the circus’s canine cohort from one skilled dog to the next. Crain’s witty and wacky plot featured dogs controlling remote-controlled cars, skateboarding and performing circus tricks in shiny, brilliant costumes. Since March 2017, Crain has acted as ringmaster, and he still considers the audience’s amusement to be the best part of the circus.
The circus usually puts on a show once a month, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are several openings on its schedule. Its next appearance was on June 10 at Lake Miona. The performances are often fresh and new with a variety of acts, so the cast of seven to eight dogs can change from show to show.
Crain said, “The dogs will always do something different.”
The dogs, however, hold the heart of working animals behind all the polka dots and bright frills of the circus show. All of the canine clowns and performers are service dogs who support the Dynamic Dog Club and the Villages group in a number of different ways.
The Dynamic Dog Club has 88 dog-handler squads, 33 of which represent work schools in and around The Villages.
The show acts as a fundraiser for the club, having raised more than $21,000 as of its most recent performance. Following the event, monetary contributions went to the Patriot Service Dogs, a volunteer group that provides intensive training for dogs in order to fit them for emotional support with wounded active-duty soldiers or honorably discharged veterans with health complications varying from amputees to PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.
The Dynamic Dog Club supports service dogs with funds raised from their circuses, so the collaboration is substantial.
Because most dogs do not make the final cut, service dog training, which entails learning over 100 commands, is rigorous. Dogs may be taught to do everything from calling an elevator to sitting or running ahead of their veteran to clear suspicious corners that could cause concern to a combat veteran.
Before the circus show, Michael “Mike” Appelbaum, of the Village Mira Mesa, spoke about his work with Patriot Service Dogs.
“You take a puppy and make it a companion,” Appelbaum said.
The Dynamic Dog Club and Patriot Service Dog alliance recently completed training on another funded dog, a golden retriever called Radar, who was named Dog of the Year by the group. The training was entirely financed by the circus’s income as well as other fundraisers coordinated by the Dynamic Dog Club.
Visit dynamicdogclubs.com for more information on the Dynamic Dog Club. Visit patriotservicedogss.org for more information on Patriot Service Dogs.
– Attributed Source, The Villages Daily Sun