Warwick will once again host its popular Dog Show.

On Saturday 18 July, The Collegiate Church of St Mary's will see the show return in College Gardens, with all proceeds supporting the Priory Pools Community Centre appeal.

Local dog owners are invited to bring their four-legged friends along from 2pm, with no need to pre-register – simply turn up on the day to enter.

Three dog-loving judges will be putting pooches through their paces:

• Richard Nicholson, foundation principal, Warwick Schools Foundation
• Karen Lynch, former high sheriff of Warwickshire
• Daren Bowye, master of Lord Leycester Hospital

There is a category for every well-behaved dog:

• Best Dog Under 2
• Best Vintage Dog
• Agility Course
• Waggiest Tail
• Least Obedient Dog
• Most Beautiful Smile
• Cleverest Trick
• Cocked Leg Cup for Leakiest Dog

Entry costs £2 per class, with every penny going towards the campaign to build a new Community Centre for the Packmores Estate.

Dog Show poster (image supplied)

Suzette Aagaard, families and community engagement minister at St Mary's, shared: "As a huge dog lover, I love bringing our Dog Show to the heart of Warwick and would love to see a great turnout.

"We'll have refreshments, dog-themed stalls, fantastic prizes kindly donated by local businesses and, of course, plenty of wagging tails! No dog will leave empty-pawed. Please come along for a fun afternoon in the beautiful College Gardens while helping support a fantastic local cause."

Priory Pools Community Centre recently celebrated reaching a major fundraising milestone after securing a £300,000 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, taking the total raised to £2.1 million towards the new £2.49 million Community Centre.

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The charity is now completing its contractor tender process and hopes to begin construction in September, subject to securing the final funding needed.

The Dog Show will also help promote the charity's Aviva Community Fund crowdfunding campaign, which is entering its final days. The campaign closes at 10am on Tuesday 21 July, with every individual donation up to £250 currently being matched by Aviva, doubling the value of every gift.

The campaign aims to raise £50,000 towards the Centre's solar panels, air source heat pump system and low-energy lighting. These sustainable features will reduce future running costs, allowing more income to be invested in community activities, support services and affordable facilities for local residents.



Photo from last year's Dog Show (image supplied)

Janette Eslick, trustee and lead fundraiser for Priory Pools Community Centre, added: "We're incredibly grateful to St Mary's for their continued support of our project. Their annual Dog Show has become a fantastic community event and another opportunity to bring people together while raising funds for the new Community Centre.

"We're now entering the final few days of our Aviva Community Fund campaign. If you've been thinking about supporting the project, now is the perfect time. Every donation, whether it's the cost of a coffee or something larger, will be doubled by Aviva up to £250 if received before 10am on 21 July. It's a wonderful opportunity to make twice the impact and help us reach the finish line."

For more information about the Dog Show or to support the Community Centre appeal, visit here or donate directly via the Aviva Community Fund here.