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After Nearly A Century, Detroit Dog Show Cancelled

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - The Detroit Kennel Club has cancelled its annual dog show after nearly a century because there aren't enough sponsors to support the event.

The club, which has held dog shows since 1916, said they struggled to find new sponsors after pet food maker Purina withdrew three years ago. Officials said the event costs more than $100,000 annually, with the main sponsor covering a majority of the expenses.

"We did everything humanly possible to come up with sponsorships," said Detroit Kennel Club spokeswoman Kirsten Borgstrom. "People are upset. We've had generations of families who have shown their dogs - grandparents, parents and now the kids."

The club plans to continue raising money and hopes to later revive the show, possibly at a different venue.

"As of now, if we would go at it alone, we would have tapped ourselves out completely," said Richard Ford, the chairman of the dog show. "The last couple of years we tried to talk to other sponsors. We're going to still pursue sponsors for 2015."

The March event at downtown Detroit's Cobo Center typically draws 2,000 to 3,000 dogs and 25,000 spectators. In addition to popular dog competitions, the show featured herding and police dog demonstrations.

TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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