The BIG Match Show is the biggest annual charity dog show in the Baltic States. It is designed to draw attention to the problem of stray animals and possible ways of solving it. The initiative also seeks to draw attention to the responsibilities that people take together with a pet.
The project was initially inspired by the launch in October 2005 of special commemorative postage stamps in both Estonia and Kazakhstan, with an image of a Kazakh Greyhound and Estonian hound. The first public event was held on 30th October in Tallinn, where all Estonians were invited – whether they already had a dog or not.
In 2006 the BIG match show, in partnership with a dog training organization was held at Tallinn's Song Festival Grounds, with all proceed donated to the Tartu animal shelter for the construction of an exercise yard. The organizers succeeding in their aim of drawing attention to the problem of homeless and stray dogs.
2007 show was donated to the Võru and Haapsalu homeless animal shelters to improve the animals' living conditions.
The BIG Match Show was held again in 2008 in partnership with the Association of Estonian Dog Owners. On the same year the "BIG Match show" was held in Latvia sport complex Keizarmežs", for the first time.
In 2009, the charity dog-show took place already for the fifth year. The jubleum event took place on 11 October at the Kristiine Sports Hall (Forelli 12). That year the dog show raised a record amount of 38,819 Estonian kroons for the support of the Valga and Viljandi animal shelters. The 'dog-friendly deed of the year' contest was also organized for the first time at the event, won by Oskar Sisas.
On October 17, Vilnius, at the PC Panorama (Saltoniškių Str. 9), for the first time in Lithuania was held a charity dog show BIG Match Show, during which collected funds was allocated to animal care organization NGO "Lesė". Participants of the charity dog show BIG Match Show donated more than 4000 litas to support one of the biggest animal care organization NGO "Lesė". The money was used to renovate premises of the shelter also to prevent all possible threat of any infections. The title of the Most Dog-Friendly Deed of the Year was given to Algimantas Bakas from Kaunas.
On the 16th of October (Sunday), in Vilnius for the second time in Lithuania a charity dog show "BIG Match Show" was held. The title of the Most dog friendly deed of the year was given to Darius Starkevičius. BIGBANK at the same time will be held in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.
Additional information http://www.bigmatchshow.lt
