PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Joy Carr, the owner of a show dog, is dedicated to winning “Best In Show,” and is also passionate about rescuing animals in South Florida.

Carr, who grew up in Miami and lives in Palm Beach, started showing off dogs and winning blue ribbons as a teenage girl.

“By the time I was 10 years old, I got a miniature schnauzer and that began my love of schnauzers,” said Carr, a former Miami-Dade Assistant State Attorney to Miami-Dade State Attorney Janet Reno.

Her 6-year-old world-famous giant schnauzer “Dino” has many trophies and awards. Carr’s dining room table was covered in blue ribbons.

“He has made every dream come true,” Carr said. “His first best in show was a night I’ll never forget ... His winning the national specialty meant everything to me ... When he won the National Dog Show in Philadelphia, the working group, that was an incredible win that night.”

There was also the Westminster Best Giant Schnauzer victory earlier this year. Esteban Farias is Dino’s handler.

“The most important to show a dog is to become a team with the dog, you know, this took 3 years the way he is showing right now. It doesn’t happen overnight,” Farias said.

It’s a family affair. Marjorie Carr also loves dogs.

“Our house had more animals than I could count and giant schnauzers were always a part of that,” Marjorie Carr said. “I came at a time in her life where we rescued cats, birds, dogs, anything.”

Marjorie Carr said she learned this at a young age.

“I just have this conscience of anytime I see a dog or an animal that needs help, I feel like I need to do something because she has taught me, who else is going to do it if you don’t do it?”

The family includes a Miami pioneer and many generations of Conch settlers in Key West.

“Do you think you’ll see all your animals up there? Is that heaven for you? Well I hope so! They better be there,” Joy Carr said. “That’s the only thing that’s going to get me up to heaven is them pulling me up because it’s not going to be my law practice!”

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