STOP PRESS – DUE TO THE VENUE CANCELLING THIS EVENT, WE CURRENTLY HAVE NOWHERE TO HOLD IT, SO ARE LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE VENUE. When we do finally hold this it will be even bigger and better than it would have been, everything happens for a reason, right?! If you know anyone who was planning to attend, please let them know and check back here soon, as the new plan is for it to be held in June sometime. Thanks for everyone’s support, especially the Express & Star newspaper, who let us postpone our planned advertising just a few hours before going to print!

ORIGINAL POST: We are very excited to announce that on Friday 2nd May 2014, at The County Hotel in Walsall (postcode WS1 2NG), My Forever Home Animal Rescue will be holding our biggest fundraiser to date! With over 60 very kindly donated brand new designer wedding and bridesmaid dresses, posh frocks and prom gowns of all styles and sizes up for grabs on an auction basis, it promises to be a night to remember. Everything must go, so with a total retail value in excess of £25,000, and prices starting at just £50 for wedding dresses and £10 for everything else, from names such as Maggie Sottero, Alfred Angelo and Paloma Blanca to name just a few, we are expecting a very busy night!

Doors open at 6pm to preview/try on dresses, and the sale itself kicks off at 7.30pm. There is also a further opportunity to view the night before the auction, from 6pm on Thursday 1st May, where you’ll have the chance to make us an offer and take the dress away with you on the spot, if you can’t cope with the thought of losing it in the auction!

To occupy you whilst your favourite outfit comes round (maybe this gorgeous creation?), we will have a multitude of tables selling fabulous girlie items and services, not just wedding related but with a variety of products and services that we know will be of interest to you. As all profits will be ours, with even the venue kindly being donated (thank you, County Hotel!), you’ll have the added warm fuzzy feeling of knowing your money will really be benefiting local animals in need. It’s just the icing on the [wedding? ] cake that you will also save yourself a huge amount of money on some really stunning dresses, with individual RRPs up to almost £1,000!

We will also be holding a raffle on the night, with prizes worth hundreds of pounds, again not solely aimed at brides-to-be, but anyone enjoying shopping, pampering, champagne etc… so probably 99% of you! We guarantee our extremely charismatic auctioneer, Mr Craig Pullen from Switch Radio, will keep you entertained; that is, assuming having just been on the red carpet this week for the film premiere of Locke, where he interviewed various stars including Jasper Carrott and the very much in demand Tom Hardy here, we can still afford him!

Entry is just £1 per person, which includes a glass of bubbly or a soft drink, and one free entry into the raffle. There’ll also be information and special offers from the assorted wedding and other girlie product sellers available on the night, so even if you’re just at a loose end and would like to support your local animal rescue, please do come along and of course bring your friends!

Please get in touch by calling Jane on 07887 426997, or via our contact page here, to find out more information or to enquire about having a table – these are available on a strictly limited first come first served basis, as we need to keep as much space as possible for our lovely bargain hunters! We will also be adding more information and some further sneak peeks of the dresses, like this beautiful and unusual burgundy and ivory one, plus links to the many people and businesses who have been so incredibly generous and helpful, so please do check back later in the week.  Thank you very much and see you on the night!

The post STOP PRESS – EVENT POSTPONED! MFH Designer Wedding Dress & Posh Frock Charity Auction NO LONGER TO BE HELD ON Friday 2nd May 2014 at County Hotel, Walsall appeared first on My Forever Home.

First though, to tell you a bit more about the day. Gates open at 10am, if you want to be first in the queue to register for the classes and get an early peek around the lovely array of stalls we’ve got for you. Then the show opens properly at 11am, with a display of super-skilled doggy dancing by the Westglen Heelwork To Music Club, several members of whom have competed in the late stages at Crufts! They’ll have a stand there too, so you can have a chat and find out more about this very popular activity you can do with your dog.

Then, at 11.30am, the competition really kicks off! The 21 classes below will run in two rings, some are obvious opposites like puppy/oldie, smooth coat/long coat, but once the first four have finished it could get interesting

Above all, this is a FUN show, so no problem if you are entered into classes on at the same time, each dog will have their own number and you can just go from one ring to the other. And if your dog wants a better view of what’s going on, just lie down and let them stand on you, as Shadow demonstrates so well here! He’s a very cheeky hound, it’s a good thing we love him and his lookalike sister Storm here.

So – what exactly are these classes then? Here we go! In Ring A we have:

1) Best puppy (under 24 months old, minimum age 12 weeks, must have had full puppy course of vaccinations – please bring card)

2) Best long/rough coat

3) Prettiest bitch

4) Dog least likely to win at any other show (this could be the worst behaved, most noisy/unruly, no limits – this is to give those dogs who for whatever reason have had a tough past a chance to win too – just, muzzle must be worn if required, as we need to keep everyone safe!)

5) Best condition dog

6) Best family of 2 dogs or more

7) Best ears

8) Best rescue dog – the rescue must be stated, it can’t just be ‘I got him a guy in the pub’, although you did undoubtedly rescue him!

9) Dog the judge would like to take home (god help the judge here!)

There will then be a short break, before the ‘reunion’ part of the show – a parade of our gorgeous previously rehomed MFH dogs, come and see the dogs you’ve just read about before! Then a second chance to see the fab display of doggy dancing by the Westglen Heelwork to Music Club. Then the classes re-start.

10) Fancy dress – the funnier and more original the better, you’ll have had all break to get ready!

11) Open class. This is for all dogs who have entered any other class and not been placed in the first six – absolutely everyone in this class will receive a rosette, and they are the same gorgeous ones as all the other classes receive, not a lower grade effort! I really wanted to show our appreciation to people for travelling sometimes huge distances, and for every dog there to take away a memento of what I know will be a great day.

12) Best In Show – all winners of every class automatically qualify for this, and it is well worth getting here too, because the Champion Dog of the Day will win amongst other prizes another stunning rosette, a Champion’s sash and best of all, the Bella Challenge Trophy, in loving memory of Isobel Marriott, our ‘Nanny Bella’. They will also be sent a 24” canvas of their proud moment. We’ll have similar gorgeous rosettes and a sash for the Reserve Best In Show, and a third place ‘Highly Commended’ too. I can’t wait to see who takes our first show’s crown!

Then, in Ring B also starting at 11.30am we have:

13) Best oldie (over 7 years old, or if a rescue dog, your best guess!)

14) Best short/smooth coat

15) Most handsome dog

16) Best behaved dog (this is what class 4’s dogs aspire to!)

17) Best young handler (children 10 years old and under, dog any age)

18) Waggiest tail

19) Best talking dog (any noise whatsoever, if they talk, bring ‘em in!)

20) Best catch (this will be done in rounds, bring your dogs fave treats)

21) Best trick (can be one, or a whole routine – will be judged one at a time)

Once Best In Show is finished in Ring A, it’s time for the doggy gymkhana/party games! £1 to enter, then you take part in as many games as you wish, prizes will be awarded to sixth place to those with the most points. Games will be confirmed on the day, to give you an idea they’ll include things like 7-legged race, high jump, egg and spoon etc – just a fun way to end what we aim to make a brilliant day out for everyone, what a great way to raise money to help more animals in need!

Other activities

We will have a ring of basic agility equipment set up, with jumps set at different heights, there will be a small A-frame and a little see-saw if your dog has used these before, plus lots of tunnels. Come and have a go in a nice secure environment (ring will be fully fenced).

Then starting around 2pm we’ll have a few classes, one for smaller dogs, one for larger ones, and if there’s demand, one for experienced dogs, which will be a sight to behold if you’ve never seen these super-skilled doggy athletes! Prizes will be given for the classes, and special rosettes during the day for those who have the most fun! £1 per go, take your time, no pressure, just see if your dog has any hidden talents!

We will also have a flyball machine, again just for fun and to see if your dog likes it, and not to be missed, there’ll be a 50 metre ‘doggy dash’ competition, with prizes for the fastest dog of each breed/type – don’t worry, if yours is a real Heinz 57 we’ll go on size, so your chihuahua won’t be expected to outrun a greyhound! Again, the course will be fully secured, for obvious reasons, this is for how fast the dogs can run, not us!

And we haven’t even mentioned the ‘doggy hamster wheel’, the multitude of stalls and rescue animals to admire – you just HAVE to come see for yourself! And if you can go away with a nice red rosette like our gorgeous Welly here, then so much the better, just remember it’s the taking part that counts – and helping us raise funds to help us save more like him. Today is all about having fun with your furry mate – see you there!

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