March 22, 2012

General Meeting: April 24, 2012, at 10 a.m.


Speakers: Libby Bagby and Lucky

Did you know that North Carolina has a state dog? We didn't! (And if you did know, do you know what the breed is? We didn't either. Answer at the end*.)

On April 27, prepare for a fun and touching story of how retired teacher Libby Bagby, originally from Hickory, discovered and adopted Lucky--and how this dog changed her life. Since becoming Lucky's owner, Libby has made it her mission to be an ambassador for the breed throughout North Carolina and beyond. Libby travels extensively with Lucky to schools and community functions to spread the word about this remarkable dog and its heritage in our State. She writes articles about the breed to educate others about its history, which she discovered through interviewing owners in other states as well as NC, and researching everything she could find on the subject.  As a result, she has written and self-published a children's book, "Lucky's Plott." And in 2009, she wrote and self-published a nonfiction book and a teaching guide. Libby travels with a collection of memorabilia that includes the skull of a boar--which the breed likes to hunt--and a horn, which was used to call the dogs back from a hunt. Libby says that the dogs originally belonged to North Carolina's pioneers, the rugged folk of the mountains who survived on their instincts, hunted for food, and depended on a breed seen as the "Daniel Boone of the dog world." 
                         
*Plott Hound, a little-known breed of hunting dog! You'll love him.