The Gossip Column: March 25, 2022

One of the great ladies of our sport, JACKIE GOTTLIEB, has passed away. In failing health for some time, in typical JACKIE spirit she held on as long as possible, because nothing was impossible to this remarkable lady. With all the style and grace of royalty, she helped raise the popularity and show success of her chosen breed, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. With her daughter CINDY VOGELS they became one of the most acclaimed mother/daughter partnerships this sport has ever seen. Their Andover prefix is dominant in most pedigrees in this country and has bragging rights to many top-winning dogs, including their Westminster Kennel Club Terrier Group winner. JACKIE also had a more-than-passing interest in Welsh Terriers and enjoyed success with them. Unlike CINDY, who became a multiple group judge, JACKIE was content driving from her home in Arizona across the desert to show her own dogs. I confess, I loved her like a mother, and I fondly remember the times I spent with her and her beloved husband GENE. I do hold the GOTTLIEB/VOGEL families very close to my heart, and I’m deeply saddened by JACKIE’S passing for me and the entire sport of purebred dogs. An amazing lady. I’ll miss her. ...

Delegates at the American Kennel Club’s March annual meeting held their election for the Class of 2026. The three seated directors, CHRISTOPHER SWEETWATER, delegate from the Trapp Falls Kennel Club; HAROLD TATRO III, delegate from the Fort Worth Kennel Club, and ANN WALLIN, delegate from the Atlanta Kennel Club, were nominated by the nominating committee, ran and were re-elected unopposed. The last unopposed election was following TOM DAVIES’ defeat in running for re-election to the board, he was chosen by the board to replace RON MENAKER, who had retired with a little over a year left in his term. So, the following March, they nominated TOM DAVIES unopposed to fill the remaining year of RON’S term. Also re-elected: Chairman DAVIES and Vice Chairman DOMINIC CAROTA. ...

Big news at the DOG MUSEUM: DEBORAH KASINDORF has been hired as the new executive director and CEO. Former executive director ALAN FAUSEL will remain as adjunct curator. ...

The American Kennel Club has announced the 10 most popular breeds for 2021 in the nation. In order, they are: LABRADOR RETRIEVERS, FRENCH BULLDOGS, GOLDEN RETRIEVERS, GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS, POODLES, BULLDOGS, BEAGLES, ROTTWEILERS, GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTERS and DACHSHUNDS. Other breeds mentioned are FLAT COATED RETRIEVERS, CANE CORSOS, WIREHAIRED POINTING GRIFFONS, GIANT SCHNAUZERS, XOLOITZCUITI, BEAUCERONS and SEALYHAM TERRIERS, which all gained in popularity. ...

A letter to the board of directors of the MORRIS & ESSEX KENNEL CLUB from president WAYNE FERGUSON asked the board members their opinion on sending monies to help the animals affected by the Ukrainian invasion. With unanimous approval the MORRIS & ESSEX KENNEL CLUB will be making a $5,000 donation to HAPPY PAW, a long-standing Ukrainian animal organization, and a $5,000 donation to FOUR PAWS, a global animal-welfare organization.