The Gossip Column: August 22, 2025

The AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB has announced its promotion of ASHLEY JACOT to vice president of education. A Chesapeake Bay Retriever owner and member of the Raleigh Kennel Club, she previously held the position of director of education. ...

The overpopulation of stray dogs is nothing new to the city of New Delhi, India. Now the supreme court of India has ruled that because the city has been unable to control its stray-dog population, it now has eight weeks to round up the 1 million dogs that roam its streets. They are to be placed permanently in shelters. Previously, strays were to be picked up, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and then returned to the neighborhood where they were caught. ...

Where has the summer gone? Entries for the WESTCHESTER KENNEL CLUB closed this week. Next up: the limited-entry MORRIS & ESSEX KENNEL CLUB and the all-terrier MONTGOMERY COUNTY KENNEL CLUB, host of multiple nationals and supported specialties. Can PHILADELPHIA and the weeklong, end-of-the-year AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP shows in Orlando be far behind? ...

Now that WESTMINSTER has returned to its rightful home, we have to once again keep abreast of Manhattan hotels. The HOTEL PENNSYLVANIA is now nothing more than rubble that’s been carted away, with a skyscraper full of office space planned. The AFFINIA, AKA the STEWART HOTEL, once offering popular one- and two-bedroom accommodations complete with kitchens, has become a migrant hotel, pushing us out of a favored locale. Now the STEWART is being mentioned as refurbished affordable housing with 535 units. There are several smaller hotels in the neighborhood, but the NEW YORKER with all its age-old issues is still the closest and most convenient. Both venues — the JAVITS CENTER and MADISON SQUARE GARDEN — are just short cab rides away, but leave a few extra travel minutes, as the city streets now have more and more bicycle lanes that have encroached on those for automobiles. ...

It was nice to spend time with my old friend CAROL REISMAN on her birthday. It was nice to reminisce about the past with an old friend, so old that we have to stay friends: Other than a mutual love, we just know too much about each other. Many returns of the day, my friend. I won’t tell if you don’t.