Dogs, owners showcase agility in a chase for a canine cancer cure

CHAPEL HILL -- Weaving around poles, bounding up ramps, scrambling through tunnels, clearing high hurdles with a single bound -- on a bright and breezy Sunday, the dogs were having a blast.

Their two-legged partners were having fun, too -- although some came up a little short of breath.

"It's one of those things that gets kind of addictive," said Charles Menn of Youngsville, who competed with his Belgian sheepdog, Clover.

But more was afoot than athletic dogs and their breathless human partners. They were competing in the Lance Memorial Canines for the Cure: a two-day set of agility trials held this past weekend to raise money for canine cancer research.

Sponsored by the Agility Addicts Rover Fanatics, or AARF, a Triangle-area club, the trials attracted about 100 dogs from near and far. Dogs and handlers tested themselves against the clock, with the canines hurtling through, over and around obstacles such as tunnels, jumps, climbs and slalom-like "weave poles" as their human partners ran alongside.

Shelly Harris of Apex, an AARF member, organized the benefit in memory of Lance, her agility partner and "All-American" -- meaning a dog of no particular breed.

Lance died in April 2006 after a 15-month struggle with lymphoma. One in every three dogs is diagnosed with cancer, Harris said, and only about 10 percent of those recover after treatment.

"It's something that touches a lot of dog owners," she said.

A sheltie named AlliGator traveled the farthest of the weekend's competitors, arriving from Gainesville, Fla., with owners Mike and Mary Cercone, who is Harris' cousin. Others came from several hours away as well.

Running the obstacle course is good for a dog, said Laurie Graichen, who drove in from Catawba, S.C.

"Clears their minds," she said.

In agility trials, dogs and handlers -- it really is a team sport -- compete more against the clock and the courses than against each other. The Lance Memorial courses were laid out in two 100- by-100-foot enclosures. Some trials used only jumps, some only tunnels, some a mix of obstacles. In most events, the handler runs alongside the dog, but in one the handler had to stay inside a restricted area.

The goal is to run the course, through, over or around each obstacle in correct order without mistakes, and doing it in under a set time. Communication between two-legged and four-legged partners is the key to success.

"It engenders a lot of camaraderie, as we're not out to beat each other," said Valerie Olszyk, owner of the Pet Behavior Help dog-training center on Farrington Road, where the competition was held.

Competing for a cause

Sydney Armstrong, who was running a raffle as well as competing with her 13-year-old beagle, has lost three dogs to cancer over the years.

"You meet a lot of nice people out here," she said. "Get to play with dogs."

Harris said she hoped the trials would raise $10,000 for the National Canine Cancer Foundation, which is conducting a drive for $100 million to pay for research. Money was coming in through the entry fees, a raffle, T-shirt sales and shared profits from several vendors working at the event.

There was a laid-back, friendly tone to the trials, with moments of excitement as dogs and handlers sprinted through the courses. There were mishaps here and there, such as one canine competitor running into a jump instead of going over, knocking it to pieces. There also were impromptu detours.

"Dogs sometimes go sniff," said Ron Young of Apex, who served as a judge at the event.

And there were moist eyes at times, such as during the moment of silence for the departed "friends and partners" who "embarrassed, thrilled and charmed us."

The Lance Memorial was the first canine-cancer benefit in the area, Harris said, run in concert with the annual spring trials of her dog agility club, AARF. The club's spring trials in 2006 were Lance's last competition, Harris said.

The 2008 trials won't be the only Lance Memorial, said Becky Spring, the event secretary.

"We will do it as long as it takes," she said.