— Cancer Survivor Savannah Colquitt To Be Honored Guest at Planet’s Greatest Dog Show —
The American Kennel Club® and Eukanuba will host eight-year-old Savannah Colquitt of Georgia as a VIP guest at the 2007 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. Savannah is traveling to the show courtesy of Dreams Come True, an organization that grants dreams for children with life-threatening illnesses.
In August 2006 Savannah was diagnosed with a malignant mixed germ brain cell tumor; she went through six cycles of chemotherapy, then underwent brain surgery on December 14, 2006 and began receiving cranio-spinal radiation immediately afterward. Since then she has been cancer free.
Savannah chose the internationally-renowned dog event as her one true “dream” because of her ardent love and appreciation of all things canine. She says “I can’t wait to go to the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship because I really want to see all the different kinds of dogs — there are so many! I always look forward to watching the show on TV with my parents and being able to see it in person would definitely be my dream come true!”
Taking place on December 1 and 2, the seventh AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is held in conjunction with the AKC Agility Invitational and the AKC National Obedience Invitational and is one of the most exciting dog shows in the world. With over 3,000 canines competing for the “top dog” status (and a total of $225,000 in prize money) plus the ever-popular AKC Meet the Breeds® display, where visitors can see the unique characteristics of over 160 AKC recognized breeds face to face in uniquely decorated booths, Savannah will be endlessly entertained. This year’s show, airing on February 2, 2008 on Animal Planet, also includes the inaugural AKC World Challenge, featuring the top dogs from 40 countries.
During two days of special treatment at the show, Savannah and her parents will be treated to dinner with AKC executives, receive a special “behind the scenes” tour of the event, attend the Best in Show after party, help judge the winners of the AKC Meet the Breeds® competition and of course be treated to front-row seating in the black-tie section of the audience.
Savannah says she is especially looking forward to watching the agility competition, because she wants to pick up some new tricks to teach her dog, Kimo, and to the junior handlers competition, because “it is so cool to watch kids who are just a little older than me have so much fun with their dogs!”
Amy Pye, Dream Coordinator for Dreams Come True, said “we are ecstatic about making this dream come true for Savannah. The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is such a massive and exciting event — it’s a one of a kind opportunity for a dog lover such as Savannah, and we can think of no one who will appreciate the chance to meet the world’s top dogs more than this inspiring young lady.”