Shrewsbury – More than 50 residents watched dogs perform jumps, twists and flips while chasing flying disks at the Flying High Frisbee Dog show at Oak Middle School's football field June 20.
The event, sponsored by Shrewsbury Parks and Recreation, featured canine Frisbee champion Mike Piazza and his three border collies, ages 2, 5 and 10. Piazza has been a professional canine disc Frisbee competitor for more than 15 years, has been a world finalist multiple times, and formerly held the long distance world record. Mike has performed for the NFL, the NBA, Major League Soccer, Minor League Baseball, ESPN, Animal Planet, NESN, college halftime sporting events, fairs, TV commercials, and numerous private and public events.
About five minutes into the show, Piazza was slightly injured during a trick. One of his dogs ran up his back to grab a Frisbee and cut his ear with its nail. Since his assistant was not at the show, several mothers in the crowd stepped forward and helped bandage his cut and the show was able to continue. Piazza assured the audience that it had never happened before.
Piazza provided a short presentation on training dogs to catch a Frisbee and invited crowd participation.
Photos/Fallon Keenan
