The Gossip Column: October 11, 2024

This past week at the board of directors meeting of the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB the full board got to meet their new chief operating officer, GORDON COMFORT. Recently hired, he fills a position that has been vacant for 10 years. …

Meanwhile, over in England, MARK BEAZLEY, the chief executive of the ROYAL KENNEL CLUB, has left the position he held following a prolonged leave. That is the least of the ROYAL KENNEL CLUB’S problems: Some sleaze has taken to the internet to make terrible unfounded accusations about people associated with the kennel club. The timing of these attacks seems to coincide with the recent dismissal of a general-committee member. I do believe that these actions would never be untaken by the member that was removed from the committee — that would be unthinkable. Like a few others on the internet, this anonymous person hides behind a screen name to write and insinuate awful things about people. I intentionally did not name the site. If these statements and innuendo have any truth, then why not just step up to the plate and put your money where your mouth is! Dog News prides itself on not publishing anything that doesn't have the author’s name attached to whatever is written. …

Back to the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB: Entries for the AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY ROYAL CANIN dog show on December 14 and 15 and the AKC/ROYAL CANIN NATIONAL ALL BREED PUPPY AND JUNIOR STAKES in Orlando are now open. …

Club president BRUCE SCHWARTZ left behind his MONTGOMERY COUNTY red ski hat and traded it for a fez, flying off to Istanbul, Turkey, for a holiday. …

In the midst of a war with Russia, citizens of Kyiv, Ukraine, celebrated PESDAY; “pes” is the Ukrainian word for dog. The celebration drew an amazing 13,000 dogs, who entertained themselves in sandboxes and wading pools. The number of dog owners has grown exponentially in the last two years, as dog ownership has a soothing effect on the war-weary citizens, combined with empathy for the number of abandoned and lost pets. …

In the aftermath of the devastation that has claimed so many lives in the southern part of our country — especially in North Carolina, where electricity and other essentials are lacking — our friends across the state of Florida are bracing for a second Category 4 hurricane. On Monday the wait to rent a car in the Ocala area was three hours as residents and visitors tried to leave the area before the storm arrived. As our Florida friends prepare to face another horrific hurricane, once again our thoughts are with you and your families.