Fri, 01/24/2025 - 1:17am

The Gossip Column: January 24, 2025

Palm Springs plus, freezing Florida, Poodle party

As the firefighters gain control of the historic and horrific fires in the Los Angeles area, the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB and AKC REUNITE have sent another Reunite trailer to Lancaster, California, to assist in helping the pets of those affected by the fires. ...

The AKC HUMANE FUND has opened its new and expanded categories for its ACE AWARDS. The revamped categories will now include six areas. They are Uniformed Service K-9, Exemplary Companion, Search and Rescue, Therapy Dog, Service Dog and Teams. Winners in each category will receive $1,000 to be donated to a pet-related charity of their choice. Nomination are open until July 1, 2025, and the winners will be announced later in the year. ...

Four talented ladies from the United States just returned from a trip to Manila, where REBECCA CROSS, ROBIN NOVACK and LAURA KING were exhibiting their talents as handlers and LINDA HURLEBAUS was exhibiting her judging skills. ...

Arguably one of the most beautiful dog shows in the country, the KENNEL CLUB OF PALM SPRINGS will be adding a third day to its all-breed dog shows starting in 2026. This extends it to a four-day weekend, with group shows and specialties to be had on Thursday, followed by three KENNEL CLUB OF PALM SPRINGS all-breed events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I’m not sure why they need a third all-breed event, especially when the weekend will start on January 1. ...

Meanwhile in Florida, the shows in Brooksville, not known for great weather in the Florida tradition, were a lot better than the frigid weather that swept across the country. The two sets of five shows each, with one day off between the two sets, have ended, and those hearty and hardy are now in Ocala for yet another set of shows. Florida in January is the land of plenty when it comes to having dog shows. ...

As the WESTMINSTER WEEKEND approaches, the weekend is filling up people, places and things to do. Friday evening the AKC MUSEUM OF THE DOG will have its party of art lovers and supporters, while a little bit farther uptown those four ladies of everything French, from Poodles to Franchise, KAREN LEFRAK, PATRICIA HEARST, MISSY GALLOWAY and ELLEN CHARLES, will cohost their annual cocktail party; sorry, invited guests only. ...

The following evening the annual black-tie PURINA PRO PLAN SHOW DOGS OF THE YEAR AWARDS DINNER partnered with DOG NEWS will take place. Then on Sunday evening, while the owners, handlers and dogs rest for the Monday-morning start of judging, the WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB will host its judges dinner. There might be a couple of overworked cell phones that evening, as it’s the same time as the SUPER BOWL. ...

Monday evening, TAKE THE LEAD will host its after-show cocktail party held at Madison Square Garden. There are some tickets still available for purchase; visit the TAKE THE LEAD website at www.takethelead.org. Tuesday you are on your own, unless a friend of yours wins Best in Show. Then it’s “Party Time.”

 

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