The Mowgli Dog Show returned this weekend in aid of Claire House Children’s Hospice, with JMU Journalism students on hand to cover the event.
Undergraduates Sophie Brooks and Stephen Hornby reported on the spectacle. LJMU was the the main sponsor for the show as both charity partner to the hospice and in support of its Chancellor, the event founder, Nisha Katona.
This year the show was celebrating its seventh year at Claremont Farm in Bebington, with the founder of restaurant business Mowgli, Ms Katona MBE, saying: “It’s one of the best ways to bring people together, to gather around the love of dogs in the region.
“I also have a real passion for Claire House Children’s Hospice, and those incredible families, and that incredible organisation that is there for us in this region. I built the Mowgli Dog Show with every penny of profit going to Claire House.”
She explained the inspiration for the dog show came from when her whippet, David, won grand champion at a local dog show. Now the Mowgli Dog Show brings local dog-lovers together to compete in a series of events such as agility, fancy dress, waggiest tail and even sausage catching, alongside a host of local food, drink and entertainment all weekend long, raising funds for Claire House in support of their work with seriously and terminally ill babies, children and young people.
It was LJMU’s first time at the event, showcasing its research and study options with a host of student-led activities and canine-themed bespoke branding designed by Graphic Design student Charlotte Wood who also sketched attendees’ pet pooches as event takeaways.
Experts from the School of Computer Science and Mathematics brought along two robot dogs to showcase the university’s knowledge in technology and engineering, while the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences used microscopes to offer insights into research that the university undertakes in areas such as climate change and the environment.
LJMU Chancellor Katona said: “It makes me incredibly proud that LJMU are involved with this dog show. As Chancellor, I’ve spent a lot of time going around the university and getting to know the departments, and that’s my other family. To then bring that family here, to support this dog show which is at the heart of Mowgli, and the heart of all that I do, it’s such a gorgeous synergy – it really is moving.”
LJMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Power, who also attended the event, said: “For me this is incredibly important, it showcases the university, but also really ensures that we have that community engagement. We recognise we are not an isolated institution, we are very much part of the community of the wider Liverpool City Region.”
Professor Power added: “Claire House is one of our university corporate charities, so again it’s really important that we provide financial support through events like this.
“Having students volunteering at events the way they have done this weekend, it really just broadens their experience, and adds to their CV. It allows them to engage with the community in a way that’s really important.”
Mowgli Dog Show – what an incredible day bringing four legged families together for the love of our communities @clairehouse.Every year I fall in love with 1 dog today it was Ralph the lurcher-Roll on tomorrow- jump online and book your tickets now and see you there pic.twitter.com/bq1eNTZKXb
— Nisha Katona (@NishaKatona) June 7, 2025