On a chilly October afternoon in the closed food building of the Clark County Fairgrounds, a group of Beagle enthusiasts met after the Beagles had shown that day, to discuss the formation of a new Beagle club. This was the beginning of the Columbia-Willamette Beagle Club, Inc. which was founded in 1992 by 12 charter members. In March 1993 the club adopted their first constitution and by-laws and was well on the road to earning official AKC club status, ultimately obtained in January 1997. CWBC members are mostly located in Oregon and Washington.
From the beginning CWBC has been an active and successful club. Show events progressed from the first fun match in April 1993 to the Inaugural Specialty in January 1998. In 2003 and 2010 CWBC hosted the National Beagle Club Specialty Show in Portland and Vancouver.
In 2002 CWBC began actively pursuing AKC license to hold Small Pack Option Field Trials. After two successful match trials, the license was granted in 2004 and the club held its first field trial in January 2005. Unfortunately, there was not enough support from local field trialers and trials have been discontinued.
CWBC actively supports health and welfare issues in Beagles. In 1997, club members initiated a study to locate a genetic marker for chondrodystrophy headed by Dr. Mark Neff who was then at U.C. Berkeley. The club routinely contributes to funds for health research like epilepsy in Beagles, and to assist dogs in disasters including September 11 and Hurricane Katrina.
Our members are strongly committed to supporting young people who are interested in showing and participating in performance events with Beagles. For several years, when funds have been available, we have sponsored a Junior Handler scholarship open to Juniors handling a Beagle anywhere in the United States.
Other club activities include sponsoring public educational seminars like Pat Hastings’ “Tricks of the Trade,” Pat Trotter’s “Born to Win,” and handling workshops by George Alston, Tom Lams, and Eric and Nancy Liebes. We also have held club members workshops on grooming, first-aid, and reproduction management. In addition, the club hosts several social events each year, including the annual summer picnic, potluck, and Beagle Bash, and the annual Christmas party and white elephant gift exchange.
The club publishes a monthly newsletter entitled the “Beagle Bugler” for members, and has a Facebook page to keep the public up-to-date with what the Club is doing. In this and all its other activities, CWBC seeks to promote the welfare of the Beagle, a merry little hound that has captured a special place in the hearts of its members.