The Gossip Column: August 15, 2025

Last weekend’s WORLD DOG SHOW held in Helsinki, Finland, was according to all who attended a great success. Anyone who has gone to a dog show in Finland knows how efficient and organized they are. ...

A good number of Americans attended the World Show, and some even exhibited, like handler DYLAN KIPP KEITH, whose Xolo won Reserve Best in Show to the Best in Show-winning Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen from Croatia. Among other Americans were CHRIS MANELOPOULOS, RACHEL CORBIN, DESI MURPHY, BRUCE SCHWARTZ, ADRIAN AGARD, DOUG JOHNSON, JAMIE HUBBARD, SCOTT PFEIL, JAMES DONAHUE, LINDA CLARK, AKC president GINA DINARDO, LISA CROFT-ELLIOTT, RAMON PODESTA (he’s stateside enough to be an honorary American) and WILLIE SANTIAGO. ...

Next year’s WORLD DOG SHOW will be held in Bologna, Italy. From experience I would say the food will be better with a more exciting vibe, but you can’t beat the Finns on organizational skills. So if you attend, just go with the flow. ...

In 1974, the year of the second Iditarod, the 1,000-mile sled race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, MARY SHIELDS was the first woman to finish the race. She was fueled to finish when she learned that the men along the route were taking bets that she wouldn't. She did finish it, in 28 days,18 hours, 56 minutes and 30 seconds. MARY passed away at the age of 80 last month. She was an ardent dog lover, so much so that the bumper sticker on her car read, “So many cats, so few recipes.” ...

We congratulate CAROLYN & GARY KOCH on celebrating a special wedding anniversary after meeting many years ago at the University of North Carolina. ...

Celebrating 20 glorious years of marriage are AMY & ANDREW GREEN. ...

Happy Anniversary to LUKE & TAMMY SEIDLITZ (a couple we sadly don't see too often), KAREN & SAM MAMMANO, and GREG & JANE MYERS. Celebrating birthdays are the Eveready-battery-charged BOBBY FISHER, TIM TERRELL, SANTIAGO PINTO, KAY PEISER, ELLEN ROBERTS, LUKE SEIDLITZ, SANDY FREI, RENEE POPKEY and TRAVIS LUIJTEN.