West Hollywood Park will be awash in a sea of schnauzers, shelties and Scottish terriers after the city council approved its sponsorship on Monday of the West Hollywood Dog Show.

West Hollywood residents do love their four-legged friends. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

The show, which is tentatively scheduled for April 12, will be the first of its kind in West Hollywood. It is being organized by residents Bob Drapeau and Maureen Steinberg, longtime animal lovers who wanted to create a venue for fellow dog owners to showcase their “best friends.” Drapeau, who organized a similar event in the early 1980s in the Castro District in San Francisco, said West Hollywood is a perfect place for dog show because it is known as a pet-friendly city.

“I have canvassed the neighborhood over the years, and it seems like an enormous number of people have dogs,” Drapeau said. “We wanted to do something for them, and it came from that.”

Drapeau said the dog show will be open to the public, both for spectators and dog owners, and will likely have several categories of informal competition based on breeds and dog size. There will also be a pet look-a-like contest, best trick competition and more. He said booths will be set up for animal organizations and vendors. The show will be a fundraising benefit, with proceeds going to a yet to be determined local animal welfare organization.

“We wanted to do something fun that benefits the community,” Drapeau added. “We are shooting for around five hundred people [participating].”

The West Hollywood City Council agreed Monday to waive the fees for using the park, and will reimburse organizers approximately $1,000 in associated fees. City Councilman John Duran, who spearheaded the effort to have the city co-sponsor the show, said it promises to be a fun event.

“As the proud papa of two Jack Russell terriers, it was something I thought would be fun, and I’m sure everybody feels the same way,” Duran said. “We have a lot of families who love their four-legged friends. It is something that brings all of us together. This is a great opportunity for the community to gather together and have fun. I envision it as the kind of thing we would do every year.”

Drapeau said a lot of the details — such as times, categories, registration costs, prizes and beneficiaries — still need to be worked out. He has started a website at www.wehodogshow.com, which will soon have additional information.  He also encouraged people to email him at bobrebroker@gmail.com.

“We are trying to bring in a lot of people with a lot of expertise,” Drapeau added. “I have a sense that it is gong to be a very popular event.”