The Gossip Column: April 3, 2026

This past weekend friends of JEFF & REBECCA  ARCH organized a 25/75 raffle to benefit the LAUREN ARCH MEMORIAL FUND, a scholarship that helps support art students at the high school attended by their late beloved daughter, LAUREN. Thanks to the contributions of friends, they raised enough money for the raffle winner to receive four thousand dollars. The raffle winner, DAVID STOUT, donated the winnings back to the memorial fund. A wonderful and kind generous act, that once again proves that when one of us needs support, we rise to the occasion. Kudos to DAVID for his generosity. Another example of the noose tightening around the necks of pure bred dog breeders is the proposal to amend the SAN FRANCISCO HEALTH CODE to require almost every dog in San Francisco to be spayed, neutered or chemically sterilized. For those few dogs that are exempted from this proposed new law, a yearly licensing fee of $188 will be imposed on the owner. It is daunting that a progressive and sophisticated city like San Francisco would impose such restrictions on pet owners. The innovative members of the WOOFSTOCK CLUSTER will celebrate the legendary PATRICIA CRAIGE TROTTER of Vin-Melca Norwegian Elkhound fame with a roast in her honor. To be held following the best in show judging on Friday evening, June 5th. Any honor bestowed on PAT is not enough for not only her personal success but for the example she sets for sportsmanship, the knowledge she shares unselfishly and her eagerness to right the wrongs she believed in for the sport of pure bred dogs. I’m so proud to be her longtime friend and as a contributor to DOG NEWS. I know that those unable to attend join me in congratulating her and wishes her well. The big question is, will she bake the cookies for dessert? Oh? what a night! One of the finest gentlemen in the sport of pure bred dogs, RALPH DELDEO, has passed away at the age 101. A New Jersey attorney who served as a delegate and was on the trial board of the American Kennel Club. He was a popular judge whose name appeared on many prestigious judging panels. He served as the first treasurer of the revived Morris & Essex Kennel Club. RALPH and his lovely wife BLANCHE retired to Palm Beach where they were members of the Palm Beach Dog Fanciers Association. All of us at DOG NEWS send our deepest sympathies to his family. JOY THOMS who bred Pekingese under the Windermere prefix has passed way. A well-known breeder of numerous champions since the 1960’s, our deepest sympathies to her family and friends. Celebrating Birthdays… BETH SWEIGART, TIM THOMAS, BJ WHITLOW, SUSIE OLIVERA, CR BOYES, CHRIS JONES, KEN MURRAY, KEVIN CHESTNUT, SALLY GEORGE, CARLA SANCHEZ, DAVE FREI, WILL ALEXANDER, SHEA SKINNER, SARAH PERCHICK, ANDREW PEEL, KATHERINE SUTTLE, AARON WILKERSON, KEN WALL, ALAN WATERMAN, PEGGY MCGILL, EDNA MARTIN, SHELBY ROBERTS, BARBARA OHLMANN, JODI LONGMIRE, CAROLINE CLEGG and her Dad, BRIAN CLEGG.