The Gossip Column: August 8, 2025

Dogs are at the mercy of their owners when to comes to feeding and diet. There are carnivore, vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, frozen, fresh frozen, home-cooked and home-delivered gourmet meals. Now we can add to the mix dog food high in protein that replaces meat with insects like dried crickets and grubs. Just think of the insects you can collect in your garden. JIMINY’S (cricket, get it?) is one such company making treats and food for dogs out of insects. I guess anything is better than fleas and ticks. Another company, MEATY in Great Britain, makes dog treats from lab-grown chickens, and in Austria a company is experimenting with turning mouse stem cells into food. Here in the United States a more palatable alternative is dog food made from fermenting yeast. Decisions, decisions … Fortunately for you, and maybe unfortunately for your dog, he has no say in the matter. ...

Don’t forget that the venerable PROGRESSIVE TOY CLUB specialty has moved up to coincide with the WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB. It will be held on January 30 and 31 at the Hotel New Yorker. Entries close January 14. ...

All of us at DOG NEWS were saddened to hear that the patriarch of the KIPP FAMILY, FRED KIPP, has passed away. Wisconsin farmers, the KIPP FAMILY was synonymous with the Waukesha Kennel Club. From Airedale Terrier breeder MARETH to their children, who include son SCOTT and his two daughters DYLAN & DEVON, the KIPPS are a multi-generational dog family. We send our deepest sympathies to MARETH and the entire KIPP FAMILY. ...

Today, August 8, is a special day in the FLYNN household because KEVIN and LINDA FLYNN are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Fifty years and they never had a fight — that’s probably not true, but how wonderful to be able to celebrate such a special anniversary. All of us at DOG NEWS send our very best wishes. ...

Inching up in the number of married years are TOMMY & MERRY JEANNE MILLNER. A couple of other upcoming wedding anniversaries — not quite 50 years but impressive numbers nonetheless: ANDREW & AMY GREEN, SAM & KAREN MAMMANO, and GREG & JANE MYERS. All are current or former professional handlers. August must have been a slow show month.