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Cats And Dogs Will Have Their Day At County Fair

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 1, 2008

DADE CITY - Feb. 23 will still be a dog day afternoon at the 61st annual Pasco County Fair.

But that morning will be the cat's meow.

The inaugural Feline Fine Cat Show will be from 10 a.m. to noon at Dan Cannon Auditorium at the fairgrounds off State Road 52, next to Pasco High School.

The Rock Around the Dog Show will follow at 12:30 p.m.

The parade of pooches began two years ago as a take off on the old fair pet show that fell by the wayside.

"It proved to be a real howl, so we added a cat show to the agenda," Pasco County Fair president Wilton Simpson said.

Charlene Smith of Miami Cat Fanciers is chairing the feline flaunting, but assures that it's purely for fun - no cat fights allowed - and open to any cat.

Deadline to register for either show is Feb. 14. The $15 entry fee includes one gate admission and parking pass. Pasco County Fair Association members receive a $5 discount on the entry fee.

All cats and dogs must be whisked off the grounds when their show ends but their owners can get a hand stamp to return to the fair.

Each kitty entered will receive a treat, and prizes will go to the top two finishers in each category. An Overall Best Cat will be selected from the category winners.

Those categories are smallest cat, largest cat, best trick, most obedient, best costume, best look-alike costume, longest tail and shortest tail.

The canine competition works the same way and the categories are similar: smallest dog, largest dog, fastest eater, best trick, most obedient, most vocal, best costume, longest tail and shortest tail.

Like her Feline Fine counterpart, Betty Sue Hamilton assures that the show she's chairing won't be dog-eat-dog.

Whether purebred or mutt, each pup must have a current county license, and a copy must accompany the registration form. And all dogs must be on leashes at all times unless they're onstage.

A complete list of rules and applications for both shows are available at www .pascocountyfair.com; at the fair office, 36722 State Road 52; or by calling (352) 567-6678.

The fair - with the theme Rock Around the Stock - runs Feb. 18 through 24.

Tribune correspondent Carol Jeffares Hedman contributed to this report.

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