Dogs strut on the catwalk

Barking dogs and laughter drowned out the hum of Frank Sinatra songs playing on a boom box inside Windsor Reflections.

"Oh boy, look at him," Bernadene Smith said while smiling at her husband, Alfred, and pointing at a German shepherd puppy.

It was a special day for residents — one they look forward to throughout the year, said Neema Patel, life enrichment coordinator at the Lakewood Ranch facility. The facility hosted its annual dog show for residents and their families on Friday.

"This event is special to each resident, you can just tell by how involved they are with putting it together every year," Patel said.

The dogs competed in a range of categories, such as Best in Show, Cutest, Youngest and Most Well Behaved. Resident Terry Johnston, Windsor employee Jessica Valentine and Mary Ann Peragus, of Family Home Health, judged the furry participants and their owners.

Residents cheered as their favorites strutted on the carpet in front of the rows of seats.

Twice a week throughout the month Windsor residents have decorated dog-themed paper crafts, baked homemade dog treats and puppy chow, a chocolate-covered snack for the dogs' human companions. 

The event launched not only to break up the resident's summer with a fun event, but also to foster a bond between dogs and the Windsor residents, Patel added.

The Windsor partners with local home health agencies to offer residents playtime with dogs while inside the facility.

The playdates help the residents improve their communication skills and memory, among other benefits, said Julie Gartside, sales director at Windsor.

"There's a special bond between animals and our residents," Gartside. "They enjoy each other's company, and the dog show highlights that."

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].