The Gossip Column: December 8, 2023

The annual TAKE THE LEAD CHRISTMAS PARTY held every year with the EASTERN DOG CLUB will celebrate again at the show grounds during group judging on Saturday, giving everyone an opportunity to attend. The monies raised will be donated to TAKE THE LEAD. As has been the custom, there is a large selection of raffle items, and ANDREA ASHBEY will donate her services to take your photograph with SANTA CLAUS. ...

Moving further south, to Orlando, on Thursday evening, December 14, the hugely popular CANINES & COCKTAILS will take place from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the ROSEN CENTRE HOTEL. The evening, which is full of drinks, food and dance, will feature a reflection of the late TINA TURNER. Tickets are $150 per person benefiting the AKC CANINE HEALTH FOUNDATION. Hosted once again by longtime supporters TINA & BILL TRUESDALE and PURINA, this year longtime supporter and board member SUSAN HAMILL will be given the President’s Award for her invaluable dedication to the organization. She and her husband JOHN have also been longtime supporters of the organization. Also being honored is the UNITED STATES RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK CHARITABLE FOUNDATION. This award is given to clubs or organizations for ongoing and outstanding commitment to supporting canine health research. It’s a fun-filled night, and you should try to get a ticket if you already haven't done so. ...

Following a long and successful career of professional handling, TAMMY WILCOX has made her last down and back in that capacity. She retires no doubt to join the judging ranks. With her many years of experience, she is sure to be as successful in this career as her last. ...

Last weekend at the Arizona dog shows, a sight for sore eyes was the presence of LINDA LOW. LINDA and her late husband MICKEY had many top-winning Giant Schnauzers and several Terriers handled skillfully by GABRIEL RANGEL. We don't see enough of LINDA and hopefully that prolonged absence will change. ...

We were very saddened to hear that DON DAVIS, the undisputed king of concessionaires, has passed away. DON and his wife and business partner BOBBI were fixtures at California dog shows, and great friends of DOG NEWS. I remember with great warmth my visits to their dog-show booth. It was always my first in the morning. What better place to get the latest gossip and news? It was where folks could find the latest issue of DOG NEWS. Splitting their time between homes in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, they retired but stayed active in several dog clubs. All of us at DOG NEWS join their friends across the country in sending our deepest condolences. ...

Multiple group judge RALPH AMBROSIO has passed away. Our deepest sympathies to his family. ...

Former delegate to the Newfoundland Club of America, MARY PRICE has passed away at the age of 91. I remember MARY and her two daughters would fly in from Minnesota to attend the Westminster Theatre benefit every year. All of us at DOG NEWS send our deepest sympathies to her entire family. ...

Celebrating Birthdays … DESI MURPHY, JOHNNY SHOEMAKER, MARGARET POINDEXTER, ROXANNE SUTTON, JESSY SUTTON, EVAN THRELFALL, PAULA SPECTOR, PATTIE PROCTOR, REMI SMITH-LEWIS, CLINT LIVINGSTON, CLAIRE NEWCOMBE, EVELYN RECHLER, BILL RECHLER, CATHI DIGIACOMO, JANE DOTY, GWEN MEYER, ED THOMASON, HEATHER REKOW, ASHLEY CUZZOLINO, MARCELO SANTIAGO, KIMBERLIE STEELE and BEVERLY VICS.