belquest brag book
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Belquest Kennels Receives 2010 Best of Mt. Airy Award
U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement
NEW YORK, NY, May 22, 2010 -- For the second consecutive year, Belquest Kennels has been selected for the 2010 Best of Mt. Airy Award in the Boarding & Kennels category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).
The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
Nationwide, only 1 in 70 (1.4%) 2010 Award recipients qualified as two-time Award Winners. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2010 USCA Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.
About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)
U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a New York City based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.
The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.
SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association
CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@us-ca.org
URL: http://www.us-ca.org
Marian is now a Veterinary Assistant!!!
GORDY'S KIDS GIVING OUR TROOPS SOME LOVE AND MORALE!
Canine reports for duty at Kane'ohe base
Service dog lifting spirits of Marines recovering at Wounded Warrior barracks
KANE'OHE — Marine Corps Base Hawaii's latest recruit breaks the mold with his laid-back attitude and nonregulation hairstyle. But he's highly trained and devoted to his unit.
Pressed into service about a month ago, Finn, a yellow Labrador retriever, is stationed at the Wounded Warrior Battalion at the Kane'ohe base. His duty is simple — bring joy to the people around him — but his ability to carry it out took two years of rigorous training that's expected of any Marine.
A highly trained service dog, Finn spends his days in a comfortable air conditioned lounge filled with brown leather sofas, computers, a television and game table. The people there are recuperating and Finn brings a touch of home and a sense of calm to a sometimes alien or depressing situation.
Upon arrival people are greeted by Finn with his tail wagging and eager to grab your gear and carry it for you. Newcomers get a special sniff or two and familiar faces bring a sparkle to his eyes, and a feeling of homecoming.
Everyone likes Finn, said Pfc. James Burns, from Louisiana. Finn is beautiful, smart, big and impresses people with his abilities, Burns said.
"Everybody asks if he can grab a beer from the refrigerator," Burns said, adding that he's pretty sure Finn could learn to do that.
The men in the lounge all agree Finn boosts the morale there.
"He's a lap dog too," said Burns, 22. "He likes to jump up in your lap. He's easy to love."
Cpl. Masato Takaki, 21, said the atmosphere in the barracks has changed since Finn arrived. The dog means more responsibilities for the soldiers but they all love it, Takaki said.
"Everybody is more relaxed with him around," he said. "Everybody plays with him. He loves the attention."
He'll play if the men are playful or he'll remain quiet, if the men are quiet, said Sgt. Karlo Salgado, in charge of the Wounded Warrior barracks.
The Wounded Warrior barracks was designed to aid in the recovery of war or other injuries or illnesses. It's a place for rehabilitation, recuperation and transition back into the force or civilian life, said Salgado, who takes Finn home at night and on weekends.
"(Finn) has contributed significantly," he said. "He's here more for morale. He's very consistent with his attitude. As you can see, he's always playful so he definitely breaks up the monotony here."
Finn is the first service dog to be placed in a barracks in Hawai'i, said Susan Luehrs, executive director for Hawaii Fi-Do, a nonprofit group that obtained, trained and donated Finn for this particular duty...
CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL ARTICLE ABOUT FINN!
2009 Best of Mt. Airy Award in the Boarding & Kennels category
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Belquest Kennels Receives 2009 Best of Mt. Airy Award
U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement
WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 -- Belquest Kennels has been selected for the 2009 Best of Mt. Airy Award in the Boarding & Kennels category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).
The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.
About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)
U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.
The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.
SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association
CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@us-ca.org
URL: http://www.us-ca.org
The "Champ" Aaron
Always searching to improve the quality of dogs
she breeds, raises, and trains, Vicky noticed her World Champion
lab "Aaron" at a dog show. Sensing he was "something special" she
purchased him in 1996 as a two year old, and sent him to handler Joy Quallenberg
in New York to continue his show career. [Vicky was too busy running Belquest
Kennels to compete Aaron herself.] Aaron's career skyrocketed, as evidenced
by the prefix to his registered name: American, Bermudian, Puerto Rican,
and 1997 World Champion Tabatha's Rollick at Carowby. As his name proclaims,
Aaron was America's top winning Labrador retriever for 1997, 1998 and 1999,
having accumulated the most points in American Kennel Club (AKC) competitions.
In fact, Aaron made history by achieving more AKC points than any
other Labrador retriever in history. He was also a World Champion, having
won the world title in June, 1997, in Puerto Rico. To-date, Aaron has racked
up hundreds of Best of Breed and Specialty wins, and numerous Group wins
and placings. He was consistently the 'breeders choice, meaning judges
who are also breeders of Labrador retrievers recognize Aaron for his excellent
quality in conformation and temperament - the kind of dog they would like
to produce themselves. Aaron's legacy and other current and Champions
stand at stud at Belquest.
Amy #1!
In
1975, Vicky got her first Labrador retriever, Amy (Millgrove's Special
Amie), which she trained to become the #1 obedience dog in the country
- the first, and to-date the only, Labrador retriever to achieve such honors,
and also the first Obedience Title champion to be awarded a Working Certificate.
"Buck's Debut "
Belquest Buckcherry Sundaze "Buck" makes his debut on WBAL 11 tv!
7/09- While his family was vacationing in Ocean City, MD. Buck was staying at the kennel in Falls Road Animal Hospital. Dr. Kim Hammond has a regular feature on WBAL Channel 11 News at Noon on Thursdays. His guest this week? Well - who else but a 12 week old chocolate lab? Yay for Buck!
Belquest Kennels celebrates 25th anniversary
(Mt. Airy Messenger article)
By KEIR KNIGHT, Special to the Messenger
As published July 15, 2009
From the band of puppies romping furiously under a tree out front, to the array of trophies and awards inside, a visitor to the Belquest Kennel & Cattery in Mt. Airy can see immediately just what 25 years of success looks like.
The Creamer family – husband and wife Mike and Vicky, with eldest daughter Kristen – are celebrating Belquest’s 25th anniversary this year. For a quarter century they have provided boarding, grooming and training services to pet owners throughout central Maryland – while at the same time breeding and showing Labrador and Golden Retrievers that have been recognized and celebrated across the nation and the world.
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Photo by Keir Knight
(left to right) Kristen, Vicky and Mike Creamer of Belquest Kennel & Cattery. |
The 18-acre facility tucked away on the Penn Shop Road that runs east from Rt. 27 (what Vicky calls “the other Penn Shop”) is spacious and quiet – close enough to the center of town, but away from the noise and traffic of major roads. There’s a large meadow, a pond, an enclosed training area, plus the main boarding and grooming building and the Creamer’s own home right next door.
“We’re here seven days a week, we don’t really have holidays – we’re here,” says Vicky, sitting in the main reception area with her husband and daughter a couple of days after a typically busy July 4th weekend. “We live here, we work here,” says Mike, who then gestures over his shoulder to their house. “But we sleep there”.
“This is their life. I mean, their whole life revolves around this kennel,” says Kristen, the eldest of three daughters, who is expecting Vicky and Mike’s fourth grandchild, and is soon to move to Colorado where her husband will be posted with the U.S. Army. “This property is never vacant, there’s somebody here 24/7 – and if they do go somewhere I’ll be here, or one of my sisters.”
Kristen is a professional groomer at Belquest and has little doubt that she will return at some point after her husband’s tour. Her seven-year-old daughter Kayla is already looking f orward to showing dogs at AKC shows (she has to wait two more years) and if the Creamers breed their dogs to have good genetic make-up, the family’s own genes are clearly pretty strong when it comes to their love of animals.
“Kayla loves animals – I definitely see my Mom in her,” says Kristen. “Anything and everything – she wants to keep it, save it, bring it home. Just like my Mom.”
Vicky Creamer first began training and breeding dogs in 1975, quickly finding success with her first Labrador Retriever who became the number one obedience dog in the country. By the time Belquest opened its doors in 1984 Vicky was well on her way to becoming one of America’s most successful and respected breeders.
“Belquest has created quite a name for itself across the country, among other breeders, and with clients who buy our dogs,” says Kristen. “And they come back for second, third, and more dogs from us. Being among the top breeders in the country, it means people come to us knowing that we do everything possible to make sure that we’re producing a healthy dog that is going to live a long, happy life with its owners. A dog that’s going to be beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.”
“We primarily breed for personality and the beauty of having Labradors is that they’re versatile dogs, they’re happy-go-lucky – and they’re the number one breed in the country for a reason. They’re easy to get along with. They get along with everyone and everything and, for the most part, they’re pretty easy to train.”
Kim Meissner of Mt. Airy is one of many local families who have a Belquest dog as a part of their family. “Hershey is a Belquest dog and we use them for boarding and grooming,” she says. “When Hershey goes to Belquest, he is treated like a king. They are always so excited to see one of their own!”
According to Vicky Creamer it’s not unusual for a family to have had two, three or even four Belquest dogs as pets over the years – wi th owners coming to them from up and down the east coast and from across the nation. Show dogs that have competed successfully in the US are often then sold internationally to go on to have new careers in other countries.
The internet, and the belquest.com website, has had a major impact on business – helping everything from sire services to other breeders in Europe and Japan, to local customers making reservations for boarding and grooming.
As well as training (Ethan Hall of Capital Dog Training is a big favorite) Belquest also offers health clinics including eye and heart scans, as well as identification tattoo services. The facility is used by numerous animal welfare and rescue groups, most notably the local Doberman rescue group, that is regularly given free use of the Belquest grounds for events and fundraisers.
It’s a typically generous approach from a family and a business that has always stayed close to its local roots, even while breeding dogs like “BIS AM CH Belquest Lovely Lady Lumps WC” – better known simply as “Fergie” – who in 2008 was the top Labrador Retriever in the USA and Best In Show Winner.
And when a visitor’s tour of Belquest comes to end – while the puppies may now be dozing in a big fluffy pile of ears and tails – it’s not hard to imagine seeing Belquest continue its success for at least another 25 years to come.
For more information, visit Belquest Kennel and Cattery at18745 Penn Shop Rd, Mt Airy; call 301-831-7507 or 410-795-8395; or on the web at belquest.com.
Belquest dogs are blood donors for the:
| Awarded by: Next Day Pets | ||
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