Maria Padovan’s life is all about dogs.

“It’s animal control by day and agility at night,” said the Bell Vernon Kennel Association president, who also happens to be the Anacortes animal control officer.

For the last decade, the association has wow-ed and bow-wowed spectators at Oak Harbor’s Windjammer Park during its annual agility contest, said Renee Elliott, the club’s vice president and agility chairwoman.

“Our members come from Whidbey, Mount Vernon, Stanwood and Alger,” she said. “We’re pretty widely spread.”

About 30 people and their many different breeds are club regulars, she said.

The three-day event caters to all canine agility levels, from novice to excellent.

On Saturday, 8-year-old Olivia Estes of Mount Vernon ran her first trial with 6-year-old Juno, an Australian Shepherd.

Estes’ grandmother, Judy Peterson, beamed from the sidelines.

“She’s the teacher and I’m the student, now,” she said after Olivia and Juno’s run. “I just sit back and keep my mouth shut. It’s a real different perspective.”

Club president Padovan said the trials are a great way for dogs and their people to build relationships.

“The dog and handler become a team out there,” she said.

High-drive dogs get the chance to burn off their extra energy, and couch-potato dogs continually surprise their owners with previously untapped vigor, she said.

For more information about the club, email ClubRelations@akc.org.