Animal lovers of all ages will bring their pets to this weekend’s Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Pet Show. Blowing Rock Chamber Hosts Annual Pet Show Saturday By Mike Shands High Country animal lovers can celebrate their pets this weekend in Blowing Rock. The town will host its 15th Annual Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Pet Show Saturday, Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. in Memorial Park. The event includes classes for dogs, cats and other pets, which in previous years’ shows have included pygmy goats, ferrets, alpacas, rabbits, tarantulas and hedgehogs. Susan Gragg, the show’s organizers, said pet shows are a long-standing tradition in Blowing Rock. “A number of years ago the Junior Women’s Club sponsored an annual pet show in Blowing Rock,” she said. “The chamber revived this tradition for the town’s centennial celebration in 1989.” Classes for dogs, cats and other animals will be divided by the age of the exhibitor and include categories for ages 4-and-under, 5 to 8, 9 to 12, teenagers, adults and seniors. The finale is a special competition for best trick. Hedy Steadman and Pat Chommie will coordinate the show’s registration, which begins Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the park’s gazebo. John Chommie will serve as the show’s announcer. Joy Travis will judge this year’s show. Travis and her husband, Charlie, live in Blowing Rock with a houseful of pets. They have rescued two standard poodles, Layla and Shiloh, who joined their first poodle, Merlin. Merlin is the house’s pack leader while Tess, a basset-beagle cross, is the group’s rabbit lover. A cat named Felix completes the family. Animals are a natural for Joy Travis, who grew up in a family of horse-lovers. Her father would bring his team of carriage horses and a surrey to the Moses Cone Estate and enjoy many hours on the Cone carriage trails. “Sometimes people would catch a ride in the surrey,” she said. “It was a beautiful way to see the estate.” Travis will look for a variety traits when she judges this weekend’s show. She said the animals should be well groomed and in good condition. They should also enjoy the experience and have good rapport with their owners. All pets at the show must be on leads or in pet carriers and under control at all times. Parents are encouraged to assist their children in the ring if necessary. No registration fee is required. Volunteers from Watauga County Animal Control will also visit the show with several pets available for adoption. Contact the chamber at (828) 295-7851 for more information.