VietNamNet Bridge – Five national and international dog shows organized by the Vietnam Kennel Association (VKA) were officially announced on Wednesday in HCMC.

Staff of the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers performs Christmas songs at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony to welcome the festive season.

They are the VKA Championship Dog Show and VKA Phu Quoc Dog Show on Saturday, December 29; the AKU (Asia Kennel Union) Championship Dog Show, Phu Quoc National Specialty Dog Show and FCI (the Federation Cynologique Internationale) International Championship Dog Show on Sunday, December 30. All events will be held at Phu Tho Indoor Stadium at 219 Ly Thuong Kiet Street in HCMC’s District 11.

“The organizer has sent invitations to 85 member countries of the FCI to join in the event. Due to festive season celebrations, the contests cannot lure more participants from European countries but those from neighboring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia will take part,” said Ly Nguyen Khon, head of the organizing committee/vice president of VKA.

“The reason why we organize two Phu Quoc dog contests at the same time is to promote the country’s unique dog to the FCI committee to enable the dog to compete at international level contests,” Khon added. “FCI regulates a dog breed that participates in any international contest need to have at least 1,000 individuals. That’s the basic requirement. Phu Quoc dog breed was acknowledged a century ago worldwide but due to wartime and other historical conditions this breed has been fallen into oblivion and not many dogs are left. Now, VKA targets to generate this breed and help promote it to a professional organization like FCI.”

There are eight levels of competition including Baby (3-6 months), Puppy (6-9 months), Junior (9-18 months), Intermediate (15–24 months), Veteran (eight years and over), Open (from 15 months), Working (from 15 months with certificates) and Champion (from 15 months with certificates).

The jury board for the FCI and Championship shows consists of Rafael de Santiago, treasurer/vice president of the FCI and Espen Eng, executive director of Norwegian Kennel Club while local judge Le Tuan takes charge of the Phu Quoc show. Invited guests are Yves de Clercq, FCI executive director, Roberto Velez-Pico, executive director of the Federacion Canofila de Puerto Rico and Singapore Kennel Club president Jina Williams.

The fees for national and international contests are VND300,000 and VND400,000 respectively. Entry forms can be sent by post, email or fax to Vietnam Kennel Association at 188C Le Van Sy Street, Phu Nhuan District, HCMC, tel: 08 3991 6901, fax: +84 8 3991 6901,  email:  [email protected] or access the website www.vka.vn.

The deadline for registration is December 25.

Source: SGT