Fri, 02/27/2026 - 10:58am
The Gossip Column: February 27, 2026
By
Eugene Zaphiris
The good works of the AKC HUMANE FUND continues with a $25,000 donation to these three charities: BANFIELD FOUNDATION, BLUEPEARL CARES and VCA CHARITIES to help with low income families covering the expenses of their dog’s emergency life-threatening health issues. Helping to pay the huge expenses associated with these medical emergencies benefits both owner and animal. An interesting recap of the make-up of the membership of the MORRIS & ESSEX KENNEL CLUB. There are 527 members from 421 households. Counted among the membership are 135 AKC judges and 71 AKC delegates. The club boasts members from 47 states and 10 countries that include, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Croatia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Norway and the United Kingdom. In the last year we have 22 new members and the numbers keep growing. I am the membership chairman who was to give this information to the members but in fact it was the mastermind of this club’s President and Chief Bottle Washer WAYNE FERGUSON who gave the report. Amazing that one of the first kennel clubs that started using THE BIG E (EASTERN STATES EXPOSITION) fairgrounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts, the Springfield Kennel Club and South Windsor Kennel Clubs, have lost the venue for their shows. The fairgrounds leased all suitable buildings that could be used for a dog show previously leased for that weekend. How could such a long standing relationship with these clubs that spans decades be disrupted? We are told with no suitable replacement the clubs will not hold their events April 18th and 19th, 2026. Strange from a venue that courts shows from as far away as New York City can’t host its own local events. Could this be the start of a break up with a venue that is over-used and over-reached in the Northeast area of the country? All of us at DOG NEWS were saddened to hear of the passing of MELINDA LYON, well known judge and lifetime member of the Louisville Kennel Club. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 7th at the Newcomer Funeral Home, 235 Juneau Drive, Louisville, Kentucky. Sad to hear, also, that retired handler and group judge ANNA MARIE MOORE has passed away at the age of 100. A no-nonsense lady who took to wearing headphones long before it was fashionable, she could be seen at the dog shows, whether at the Great Lakes Terrier Association of which she founded or later on at the Fort Worth Kennel Club, of which she was a longtime member.
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Fri, 02/27/2026 - 10:58am