The Gossip Column: June 6, 2026

RATS… in a recent edition of the NEW YORK TIMES there was a feature article not about beauty contest dog shows or fastest agility dog or an outstanding obedience dog. No, this time it was about the NORTHEAST BARN HUNT REGIONAL where over 150 dogs and their owners gathered at the Butler Farm Show Grounds in Butler, Pennsylvania to compete in a rat race for time. The sport where owners send their dogs into stacks of hay to find a rat. Rat lovers, relax. The rats are in wire cages with carriers that keep them safe and alive. All the participants are vying for a place in the national event to be held in October in Springfield, Missouri. The latest health care for your dog is acupuncture. Of the estimated 127,000 veterinarians in the United States only 4 percent of them are certified to use acupuncture. It isn't cheap to stick your dog with pins, it can cost upwards of 300 to 500 dollars. I’m sure your dog would rather you spend that money elsewhere, like chew bones or biscuits. There was a recent article in the WALL STREET JOURNAL titled DESIGN GOES TO THE DOGS. Obviously, the writer never visited any of us in the sport, who have redesigned our homes years ago to accommodate the dogs and our comfort. A grooming room with a raised bathtub and outlets for stand dryers and cabinets for towels and equipment before you even moved into your new home. Decades ago, we had a section of the lower kitchen cabinets converted into built-in crates that matched the regular kitchen cabinet to house the dogs. It made feeding easier and another upside was when you went out, the dogs got a time out, and when you returned you found your kitchen how you left it. All of us at DOG NEWS were saddened to hear that NANNETTE CAVANAGH HERRICK has passed away. A native New Yorker whose father was the New York City Fire Commissioner and deputy major under ROBERT WAGNER. One of the brightest, entertaining and charming ladies to be involved in pure bred dogs. It brought to my mind the equally charming lady, the late KAY JEFFORDS, of Pekingese fame as well as several other breeds and horse fame, whose father GEORGE MCLAUGHLIN who was also a New York City official, served as Police Commissioner under Mayor JIMMY WALKER. Two fabulous ladies who shared similar upbringing. My only regret was that she came to the sport late in her life. In a brief career in a long life, she did have the top winning terrier handled by RC CARUSI for two consecutive years winning two PURINA SHOW DOG OF THE YEAR AWARDS. Our deepest condolences to her three children and their families.