The Gossip Column: March 29, 2024

Ripped from the headlines, as if from an episode of LAW & ORDER, is the shocking, grotesque news that an individual from our purebred-dog community could be accused of such deviant behavior that has shaken us to the core. We have lived through unsolved disappearances, murders, suicides and fatal accidents that have taken some of our friends, but this stands alone. In another criminal case, former handler and American Kennel Club field representative JOHN MCARTHY has received a life sentence from a Florida judge stemming from charges brought against him years ago. ...

In happier news, the members of the KENNEL CLUB OF PHILADELPHIA have exhibited what the City of Brotherly Love is really all about. They have donated more than $330,500 to 14 national and local dog-related organizations. This is thanks to the success of the club’s Thanksgiving Day network-television airing, which follows the MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE. Among the top recipients is the AKC HUMANE FUND to establish five scholarships of $10,000 each for two years for students at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School. The AKC CANINE HEALTH FOUNDATION will receive $100,000, as will TAKE THE LEAD. ...

We were sorry to hear that longtime Dachshund breeder and Hound Group judge HOWARD ATLEE has passed away. He was a founding member and president of the Knickerbocker Dachshund Club, which also had on its board of directors MATTHEW STANDER, who also served as co-show chairman with BILL BLAIR. HOWARD had a career as an actor and theatrical press agent. Howard was part of the team responsible for the first production of the play WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? He was predeceased by his wife BARBARA. ...

Some belated Birthday greetings … MARJORIE DOANE, MATTHEW PERCHICK, ALEX WHEELER, TOM DIGIACOMO, JANET YORK, DIEGO GARCIA, DAVID BOLUS, TAYLOR JOHNSON, TARA MARTIN ROWELL, LEONARDO GARCINI, LUKE BAGGENSTOS, PETER KUBACZ, TUNI CONTI, LOIS DEMERS, LETISHA DE LA TORRE, LESLEY ANNE POTTS and MARIA ARECHAEDERRA. ...

Celebrating Birthdays… JENNIFER STEVENS, GERARD HUGHES, ROBERTA DAVIES, MARLENE DEPALMA, BARBARA BEISSEL, GINGER SCOTT, RAY SCOTT, JOHN RAMIREZ, MICHELE FEDERMAN, POLLY SMITH, BRIAN LIVINGSTON, BRIAN STILL, AMANDA POUGH, WENDY PAQUETTE, TIFFANY SKINNER, NINA FETTER, IVONNE RANGEL, LINDA LOW, DENISE PETILLO, DEBBIE BUTT, NANCY PINCUS, TONY DINARDO, KATHY MINES and JOAN SCOTT.