THERE were 147 different varieties of dogs at the St Patrick's Day Championship Dog Show in Cloghran, Co Dublin, yesterday and thousands of dog lovers.
It is said people often come to look like their favourite pet, and in some cases yesterday it was quite easy to match the dog with the owner: the perm haired woman with a poodle and the bearded, long haired hippy with his wheaten terrier.
Another amazing sight was to be seen in a marquee at the back of the building where a woman was holding an Afghan hound wearing - a green silk headscarf.
"Is he celebrating St Patrick's Day or what?" I inquired from the Northern Ireland woman handling the dog. "He is a she, and she is wearing earguards to stop her ears getting in her food," she explained patiently.
And where else would one be able to bay insurance to protect you and your dog at an annual cost of £167.40 if you live in Dublin city and county and £131.40 if you live elsewhere? This new insurance, provided by a company called Petplan, covers veterinary fees up to £5,000 a year and £2 million if your dog causes damage or injury and you are liable. They even pay you if your dog dies.
This death benefit is explained in the literature by a line which says: "losing a dog is a great sadness bat we will refund the purchase price."
Other benefits include a payment of £500 if you are hospitalised for more than four days, £250 to advertise if your dog is stolen or lost and £500 if your dog has urgent surgery or goes missing up to seven days before you go on holiday, forcing cancellation.
Back at the show, the Best Dog" of the Show was Gentleman Joe at Dehra, an Irish terrier owned by Mr P. Anderson, of Tallaght, Dublin. The Reserve Champion, was Drammanor Cadhla, a bearded collie shown by Mr M. Collins, Portadown, Co Armagh.