Fri, 02/20/2026 - 11:51am
The Gossip Column: February 20, 2026
By
Eugene Z. Zaphiris
Forget Disney World, ANDY LINTON opted for the tropical breezes of Costa Rica for a week’s holiday following his big Westminster best in show win. It was wonderful to have two big stars, honoree PETER GREEN and former American Kennel Club President DENNIS SPRUNG returning to the dog show scene after a year of reflection at my table at the PURINA PRO PLAN SHOW DOGS OF THE YEAR AWARDS DINNER partnered with DOG NEWS. Both men received well-deserved standing ovations in recognition of their contributions to the sport. For those interested in viewing the photographs from the dinner can go to www.dognews.com. DENNIS also was reinstated as a judge and is sure to be a hot invitee on many panels. With CRUFTS just a few weeks away, an anonymous survey in the United Kingdom is asking people to give their views on dog ownership and licensing. It is asking for responses from dog and non-dog owners. The introduction of licensing would be a change in the last forty years. The ROYAL KENNEL CLUB, which is not commissioning or operating the research suggests that everyone answer the questionnaire, whether they believe in licensing or not. The survey was developed by the YORK HEALTH ECONOMICS CONSORTIUM in collaboration with the RSPCA and DOGS TRUST. A little closer to home the CORNELL RINEY CANINE HEALTH CENTER is celebrating the bond between man and dogs with BARK IN THE PARK, a non-competitive 5K run on March 29th in Manhattan’s Central Park. GOLDENS IN GOLDEN (Colorado) has grown dramatically since its inception less than a decade ago, and this year's event set a new record with an estimate of over 5,000 dogs and thousands of humans in attendance. The University of California-Davis has received $120 million from philanthropists Joan and Sanford I. Weill for its veterinary school, the largest gift ever made to a veterinary college, the university announced recently. Celebrating Birthdays…DENNIS SPRUNG, TERRY STACY, ALLISON SUNDERMAN, SUSAN SPRUNG, NANCY RUSSELL, JOY BREWSTER, TERRY MILLER, TRACY POTTS, CHARLOTTE PATTERSON, EDD BIVIN, JACKIE BEAUDION, KRISTA DROOP, RINDI CAUDET, ANGIE DIEHL. LYNN BRADY and MICHAEL DOUGHERTY.
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Fri, 02/20/2026 - 11:51am