As many of you know by now, Hurricane Helene has devastated Western North Carolina. While most of the news coverage focuses on Asheville, smaller communities like Sparta and Laurel Springs in Alleghany County, Jefferson and West Jefferson in Ashe County, and Todd in Buncombe County have also been hit hard. If you’ve ever traveled on I-77 to attend dog shows, you’ve likely passed through these areas.

These counties are well-known for their Christmas tree production, with Alleghany County being one of the top producers in the country. The people here are farmers, weavers, artisans, furniture makers, and candle makers. The beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway runs right through Laurel Springs, and the New River, one of the oldest rivers in the world, flows from Alleghany County into three states.

Paying it forward…

When my new house burned down in 2017, the dog show community came to my rescue. From individuals to clubs to organizations like Take The Lead, we wouldn’t have made it through without their support. So, when I saw a post on the Yadkinville Facebook page that Mike Southern was collecting supplies to help those impacted by the hurricane, I knew I had to act.

I gathered everything I could from my house and purchased additional supplies to donate. I reached out to Cathy Flanders, Secretary of the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association, and she immediately sent money and supplies. Shelley Barclay, Vice President of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America, thought it was a great cause and sent funds as well. Don Evans, President of the American Lhasa Apso Club donated right away. Elizabeth Fulghum, Web Liaison for the Akita Club of America, called to check in, and after hearing what I was doing, she said, “CALL KEITH!”

I spoke with Keith Venezia, President of the Akita Club of America, and he jumped into action. The Akita Club of America quickly donated $1,500 and even arranged a bulk discount at Tractor Supply in Elkin. As Keith said, people are inherently good and want to help—they just need to know how. Thanks to his leadership, the supplies began flowing.

I also connected with a fellow collie fancier in West Jefferson. She described the devastation and shared that people were collecting water in jugs from Shatley Springs. The need for supplies is critical.

After posting about the relief efforts on Facebook, the response from the dog show community has been overwhelming. People and clubs have stepped up, offering donations through PayPal. Supplies were running low in stores, so Patty Mortara, Webmaster for the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association, set up and maintains an Amazon list to streamline donations. We are working directly with Tractor Supply for pallets of dog food.