The dogs have been running

Four weekends a year, Misty Rivers Howard and Judy Brawn host the Willamette Valley Basenji Clubs, AKC coursing events.

There are now three types of events that registered purebred and mixed breed dogs may compete in. For all types of reg. purebred and reg. mixed breed dogs WVBC holds a Fast Cat event (100 yard dash) and a CAT event (Coursing Aptitude Test, which is a course of 600 or 300 yards with turns) on Memorial Day weekend. Each day there are two events of each type, allowing dogs to earn points or legs toward an AKC title. This year the club posted the amazing amount of 381 separate runs over the Saturday and Sunday.

The people entering enjoyed such outside activities as touring the Island, riding the ferry, eating at local shops, purchasing gas, attending the local farmers market and a myriad of other area activities.

The second weekend is for AKC registered Sighthounds, (dogs bred to specifically chase game). The dogs of each breed compete against each other in groups of up to three at a time. Each dog with the highest scores moves through the event to compete for a Best of Breed title. After those titles are earned for each of the breeds competing, the BOB winner will compete against all the other winners until the fastest dog at the event is crowned Best In Field.

As they chase the "bunny," three plastic bags attached to a pulley system, the dogs show off their love of running, and to the watchers their various styles of running.

The folks who attend these events have said they enjoy the hospitality of the Island and the town of Cathlamet and are eager to return in the fall at the end of September for the next series of events.