Pooch centre has pulling power

By Alison Noonan
DOG lovers will be in pooch heaven at Cranbourne’s Canine Museum.
One of only two in the world, the little known museum is jam packed with anything and everything pertaining to man’s best friend.
Museum committee member, dog breeder and former show judge Keith Prior said the bid to establish the museum began 20 years ago following the death of two champion breeders.
He said the pair had accumulated a wealth of dog memorabilia that their children were planning to throw away at the local tip.
“We are all dog lovers so we decided that something had to be done to save all their stuff.
“We formed a committee and began organising various fundraisers and two years ago we saved enough money to build the museum,” he said.
Mr Prior said museum items ranged from regular books, paintings, trophies and porcelain figurines to the more unusual door handles, tambourines, tea sets and umbrellas.
“Anything to do with dogs we have it. The only other dog museum in the world is in St Louis in the USA.
“But there are no dead dogs here. Papiermache figures are the closest things to stuffed dogs we have,” he said.
Mr Prior said almost every item in the museum had been donated, with dog enthusiasts coming from all over Australia to add to the landmark.
“At the rate we are going with donations we are going to have to expand soon.
“Every time we are open someone brings something in.
“A man flew down from Darwin recently to donate a series of 14 pictures drawn by a Japanese artist and we were even sent a genuine English medallion,” he said.
Mr Prior said the museum was completely selffunded, relying on fundraising events to survive.
“We don’t receive any grants. We are run and supported by unpaid volunteers and rely 100 per cent on fundraising.
“We hold a championship dog show once a year and hold regular dinners and raffles.
“We recently applied for a community grant for the purchase of picture rails and a colour copying machine but were unsuccessful. But hopefully we’ll have more luck next year,” he said.
He said most of the centre’s visitors popped in from the neighbouring world class dog show complex, KCC Park.
“Most people find the museum very interesting but are also quite surprised. They don’t expect it to be as professional.
“It is actually a very successful centre that provides a unique opportunity for anyone interested in studying canine or for those who just love dogs,” Mr Prior said.
“I hope it will be going long after my time.”