The Beginning
At age 16, Vicky Creamer (nee Manyette) had saved up enough money to purchase
a car, or a dog. She purchased the dog: a black Great Dane, Sir Worthington
Black Jack, which she trained to achieve his U.D [Utility Dog] obedience
title. In fact, Black Jack became the #1 Obedience Great Dane in the country
for three years.
In 1975, Vicky got her first Labrador retriever, Amy (Millgrove's Special
Amie), which she trained to become the #1 obedience dog in the country - the first, and to-date the only, Labrador retriever to achieve such honors,
and also the first Obedience Title champion to be awarded a Working Certificate.
Not to be outdone, husband Mike was raising and showing champion Burmese
cats, establishing a specialized breeding program to minimize genetic flaws.
The Kennel
A few years later, with a couple of kids, and a couple of dogs, Vicky
and Mike decided they needed more room for their expanding family of children,
dogs, cats, and horses, so they purchased what is now Belquest Kennels and
Cattery and began a full-service boarding, grooming and training facility.
In addition to her success as an obedience trainer and handler, and as
a breeder and handler of champion Labrador retrievers, Vicky is also a
Master Groomer, a Companion Animal Hygienist, and a National Dog Registry
(NDR) registered tattoo specialist, has completed seminars at Cornell University.
In the spirit of "giving back to the community," Vicky arranges
a variety of health clinics at Belquest, providing eye, heart, and tattoo
services by area specialists at "HMO" prices. Vicky also volunteers
her kennel facility to the Labrador retriever rescue, Doberman rescue (DARE),
and the Frederick County Humane Society, boarding dogs for these organizations
at her own expense until they are adopted. Belquest training classes are always open to Howard and Frederick County 4-Hers as well as those
who adopt Dobermans from DARE and Lab Rescue. Belquest Kennels is proud
to have donated dogs to be used as Assistance, Mobility, Hearing, Guide
Dogs, and Drug Detection to K9 Partners for Life, Paws for a Cause,
Leader Dogs, Fidos for Freedom and the Baltimore City Detention Center.
Vicky Creamer nee Manyette qualifications and awards:
• Master Groomer - 1974 National School of Dog Grooming
• WWPSA Certified The Grooming of Cats
1997
• Canine Nutrition -
1992 Cornell University
• CPR Canine Certified
2000
• WWPSA Certified Companion Animal Hygienist (CAH)
1996
• ABKA Certified Pet care Technician 1995
• AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator
• Top Obedience Dog In The Country 1979
• Top Breed Winning Labrador Retriever '97, '98, '99, '01, '07 and '08
• AKC Top Labrador Retriever Breeder 2007 & 2008
• AKC Top Labrador Retriever Stud Dog 2007 & 2008 & 2009