The Gossip Column: July 14, 2023

Call it whatever you like, climate change or just plain ole weather, but the truth be told, storms are stronger and last longer than ever before. One such was this weekend with the cancellation of the dog shows in Vermont. Lots of disappointed people, as it is always a favorite destination this time of year. But the extreme rain fall of the last few days has flooded the venue. ...

The recent implosion of the seacraft that was descending to view the remains of the TITANIC had me question some of the lesser-known facts and figures of that fateful sailing. We all have heard the fate of the passengers, but what of the pets on board that were traveling with their owners? There were 12 dogs on board, including Pomeranians, Pekingese, Fox Terriers, Chows, Cavaliers and JOHN JACOB ASTOR’S Airedale. Another dog was a champion French Bulldog, CAMIN DE PYCOMBE. None of the dogs who were housed in the kennels survived. The information about those dogs is not known. However, three toy dogs were saved, as they were staying in the staterooms of their owners and taken on the lifeboats: a Pomeranian owned by MARGARET BECHSTEIN HAYS, a Pekingese owned by MYRA & HENRY HARPER and a Pomeranian owned by MARTIN & ELIZABETH JANE ROTHCHILD. There were enough dogs to have had an informal dog show scheduled during the voyage that never took place. Also on board: a passenger named SAMUEL GOLDENBERG, who was scheduled to judge the French Bulldog national specialty the following week in New York. Another passenger, ANN ELIZABETH ISHAM, one of the four first-class women to have died, refused to abandon ship without her Great Dane, who was not allowed to get on a lifeboat. ...

Submissions for the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB’S annual EDDY AWARD are now open. It is given to parent clubs that provide extensive breeder education to anyone interested in breeding. Three winners will be selected each year by a committee of three that consists of ASHLEY JACOT, the director of education; MARI-BETH O’NEILL, vice president of sport services, and ALAN KALTER, former chairman of the board of directors. Parent clubs can submit a description of their educational activities by the deadline of September 1. ...

Two recent passings: Multiple group judge JAMES HAM has passed away. Starting with Dalmatians in 1970, he exhibited in all disciplines of the sport: conformation, obedience, tracking, agility and rally. Our sympathies to his wife HELEN and family. Working group judge E.A. SKIP THIELEN has passed away. He was the former president of the Doberman Pinscher Club of Greater Ohio.