I went to the Westminster Kennel Club dog show on Monday February 15 , 2010. I started my day in New York City at 7:15am, which I consider rather early. Only a day full of dogs would get me up at 4:45 in the morning. No that’s not morning. That’s dark.
But it was worth it. My mission was to cover the show for Greenwich Time,The Stamford Advocate, Danbury News Time, and the Connecticut Post. My reward: dogs everywhere!
Here are some of the pictures from the show.
Madison Square Garden welcomed the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Pam Lambie, had tears in her eyes, as the judge, Dr. Richard Meen picked her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Ikaika, Best in Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Lambie, is co-owner and handler, with owners Tom and Barbara Peach, who live in Hawaii and Ian and Sonnet McKinnon, who live in Greenwich, CT
Pam Lambie, handler and part owner, gave Ikaika some love and support, as he goes through his paces.
Ikaika checked out Brick Sellers, the year-old-grandson of one of the owners, with a kiss.
The competition.
Pam Lambie ran with Ikaika.
Ikaika:The Best of his Breed.
Afrikka Evie, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, belonging to Dr. Christina Wistrom and Greenwich resident Sonnet KcKinnon did not advance, but what a wonderful face!
Hayley Hendrick, 13, a owner and handler, with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Micah, waited their turn in the ring.
Donna Gilbert, from Stamford, CT, celebrated her Welsh Corgi, Reggie.
Tony Cirincione, from Danbury, CT received a kiss from his dog, The Gladiator (Marcus), a Wirehaired Dachshund, after their time in the ring.
Pomeranian U Wish U Were Mia, Mia for short, took a breather with his handler, Chris Lewis.
Pretty hair. An Australian Shepherd.
Maggie Fisher, from Niagara Falls, NY with Micah, her Chihuahua at the benching section.
A dog with his picture at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.
Tiger, 4, an Irish Wolfhound, belonging to Alan MacLeod, from Prince Edward Island.
Scott Smith shows off his Scottish Terrier hat.
Arvind De Braganca, grooms a Polish Lowland Sheepdog named Emily.
For still more pictures from our Greenwich Time web site, click: DOGS.
Pam Campbell of Greenwich, a fitness director at the Greenwich Water Club holds Marlo, a female terrier mix, 3-months-old who is going to be up for adoption at the club.
The SPCA of Westchester will return to Greenwich CT with more puppies and dogs up for adoption. The first adoption was held at Flowers by George which was also in Greenwich. ( I wrote a blog about it. Scroll down and there it is.) This time the adoptions will be at the Greenwich Water Club at on Saturday, January 23, 2010. The event will be from 10:00 am until 4:00pm. The GWC is at 49 River Road in Cos Cob CT.
The puppies are rescued from euthanasia in shelters in North and South Carolina. Those looking to adopt a pet are encouraged to get pre-approved by completing an adoption application available at www.spca914.org. Adoption will also be accepted at the event.
I met one of these puppies this afternoon. Her name is Marlo and I would take her home if I didn’t already have 3 dogs waiting for me at home. Everyone at the Greenwich Water Club wanted to play with her. Here are some more pictures of Marlo.
Lisa Wysocki, from Greenwich on the Board of Directors of the SPCA of Westchester cuddles Marlo. Marlo was getting a bit cold.
Marlo played with people at the Greenwich Water Club, and then took a break under the small table.
A Chihuahua rescued dog named "Giganton," the Big Giant in Spanish, looks out from his cage at the Northeast Valley Animal Care Center, in Mission Hills, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 18, 2009. The dog is part of the "Project Flying Chihuahuas,'' a new initiative that transports Chihuahuas to the East Coast for adoption. The program was created in response to the overabundance of the breed in the Los Angeles area and the scarcity of the dog in the Northeast. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
California has a overload of Chihuahuas, and the shelters there are sending the little dogs across the country looking for homes. The good news is that the Chihuahuas are coming East! First, here is a story from Denver AP.
Unwanted Chihuahuas coming to Colorado
Denver (AP) – More unwanted Chihuahuas from California are coming to Colorado.
Hollywood has helped popularize the dogs through movies like “Legally Blonde,” but so many are being left in shelters in California.
Dermatologist Leslie Capin is sponsoring three flights to bring dozens of Chihuahuas from California to Colorado. The first shipment of 32 dogs arrived Saturday, and nearly three dozen more are expected to arrive Thursday at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield.
Capin, the owner of a Chihuahua, recently won a $1 million cutest dog contest. She’s donating the money to the Dumb Friends League and MaxFund.
Pet Airways is flying the dogs at discount.
An adopted Chihuahua, James Bond, rests his head at the Animal Control and Care center in San Francisco, Wednesday Dec. 9, 2009. California has more Chihuahuas than it can handle. It's gotten so bad in Oakland, they have started shipping them out of state, said Megan Webb, director of Oakland Animal Services. They have sent about 100 to Washington, Oregon and Arizona, she said, "and as soon as they get them, they are ready for new ones." Chihuahuas make up 30 percent, 40 percent and even more of the dog populations at many California shelters. (AP Photo/Russel A. Daniels)
California Chihuahuas have also been sent recently to shelters in New Hampshire and New York City.
Dog owners and animal control workers show off Chihuahuas that have deluged the Bay Area's animal shelters at the Animal Control and Care center in San Francisco, Wednesday Dec. 9, 2009.
The good news for the people in NY, CT, NJ is that New York City’s ASPCA is welcoming approximately 10 California Chihuahuas on January 6. The ASPCA said that the dogs will be available for viewing at the ASPCA Adoption Center on Wednesday, January 13, between the hours of noon and 7 pm.
For more on the Chihuahuas, here is a video from MSNBC.
I once had a wonderful friend who had a fox terrier named Slugger. Slugger was a feisty guy, well named. Cloie, Slugger’s owner was also feisty, and like Slugger, she had a heart of gold. Every year Cloie put a picture of her beloved Slugger on every Christmas card she mailed. When we became friends, and I had just moved to CT, having working in New York City in fashion and advertising photography, I offered to make the Christmas cards for her. I brought all my lights and backdrops, costumes, and fake snow and set them up in her home. We worked well together, because she taught dog obedience, and I managed the set. Slugger was a great actor, would do anything, or wear anything that Cloie asked, but only once a year.
When Slugger died, I made a compilation of all the Christmas cards we created together, my last gift for Cloie. She was delighted. It wasn’t long until Cloie passed too. I think of her often, Slugger always by her side, wondering what Slugger would be for Christmas.
I wish to share with you Slugger’s cards. So here they are – with happy holidays to all and all your animal friends.
Slugger's Christmas cards
I know that there are a lot of holiday cards staring the family dog or cat. Please email the photo to me at helen.neafsey@scni.com and I will post them here at Woof.
The puppies followed Brian Gordisky, the Adopt-A-Dog kennel manager.
A wiggle of puppies, mostly black lab mixes and 2 chow adorable mixes, arrived at Adopt-A-Dog, this week. Brian Gordisky, Adopt-A-Dog’s kennel manager drove a 16 hour round trip to pick up the puppies who came from For The Love of Dogs Shelter in North Carolina.
“We are working with For the Love of Dogs in particular, said Allyson Halm, the president of Adopt-A-Dog, Greenwich’s private shelter. ” We all have driven down there, met the proprietor and we’ve spent time at the shelter. We’re comfortable with their ethics and morals, so we’ve chosen to stick with them. A lot of other groups come up here with a truck full of dogs, and we’re not comfortable with that. We go down to hand-select and spend a little time with the animals – so it’s not a cash and carry, it’s a more intimate relationship.”
One of the chow mix puppies looking for attention.
Looking for fun.
Adopt-a-Dog, as an organization, decided that now would be a good time to bring down the puppies. They knew that a lot of people are looking for puppies around Christmas. The shelter also wanted to encourage people to stay out of pet stores, and not to purchase a puppy mill puppy. “All puppies in pet stores come from puppy mills, no matter what the store tells you,” warned Halm. She hopes that people will research puppy mills to see what horrors these poor animals come from.
“You walk into a pet store,” she added, ” and you see that cute little puppy, chances are good that it is younger than the paperwork is going to say. The puppy mills people, worried about the shelf life of the puppies, want dogs that will last longer in the pet shop, so they give it a younger age. So then we know that these puppies have taken too soon from their mothers. They don’t get the social interaction,and discipline that the mother and their litter mates will teach them.”
“And even worse, many of the puppy mills puppies have both emotional and health issues”, she added. “We are hoping that with bringing these puppies from the South now, we can encourage people to adopt, not shop.”
A quiet little puppy.
Halm said that the puppies will be available the day after Christmas. She feels that the week before Christmas is the absolute worst time to adopt a puppy. “The weeks before Christmas are a stressful time,” she explained. “Puppies should be adopted in a stable environment, and pre-Christmas is not stable, at least not in my home! There are dangers of the poisonous plants, electric extension chords, tinsel, glass balls, all the decorations that are out- and the fact that you are out shopping, and you’re not at home. You are not there for the brand new animal who needs you!”
It would be difficult to chose a puppy.
She suggested that prospective puppy owners can come to the shelter, fill out the paperwork now. Then get all the items that you will need for a puppy, and put them under the tree. The children can unwrap the lead, the collar, the bowls, the dog cookies, whatever it is that you need. Then the following week, when most children are of from school, and everything has settled down, and you are home, bring home your puppy.
Have you ever had an emergency with your pet, and felt awful because you didn’t know what to do? It can be very scary. So when I heard about the Pet First Aid and CPR class at the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service headquarters, I signed up immediately.
Betty Bernstein teaches CPR on a dummy dog.
The class was the brainchild of Betty Bernstein, a GEMS instructor at both the American Heart Association and the American Safety and Health Institute. Because she had at one time boarded kittens, she understood the importance of first aid and CPR for animals. Wanting to teach a class that would cover pet first aid and CPR, she found one written by the American Safety and Health Institute. It included text books and a video.
Charlee Tufts, the GEMS director, felt it would be even better if they teamed with another non-profit organization. Immediately they thought of Adopt-A-Dog, Greenwich’s private animal shelter. Allyson Halm, Adopt-A-Dog’s president and former Greenwich Animal Control officer, agreed at once. Their goal is to teach a class once a month at the GEMS headquarters in Greenwich. In addition they offer to do a class if 4 or more people can get together, such as organizations, dog walkers/sitters, boy and girl scouts, clubs etc.
Allyson Halm, the president of Adopt-A-Dog, right and Betty Bernstein, instructor, at GEMS teaching Pet First Aid and CPR.
“Young kids who do both pet and children sitting should definitely know about this class,” said Halm, “especially if the people who own the animal are away.” During her time at the Greenwich Animal Control, she said, they had many unfortunate calls that the sitter had lost the pet.
Kate Uhry, a dog walker from Old Greenwich, practices CPR with a dummy dog .
The class, taught by Bernstein and Halm, covers such subjects as CPR, choking, bleeding control, approaching an ill or injured animal, rescue breathing, injury to muscles and bones, soft tissue injuries, burns, eye injuries, medical emergencies, such as poisoning, electric shock, environmental emergencies such as animal bites, porcupine quills, skunk encounters and others, and common pet illnesses or conditions. And that is just the beginning. There is plenty of hands on experience: 2 dummy animals to work on and a video which is very informative.
Ellie Gerli, a dog walker from Old Greenwich, practicing the "Heimlich" maneuver at the Pet First Aid and CPR.
The Pet First Aid and CPR class is 2 hours long. It is held at the GEMS headquarters, 1111East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich CT. The next dates are Sunday January 10th, 2010, or Sunday February 6th, 2010, or Sunday March 7, 2010, all from 1:00-3:00pm. To enroll in one of the classes or for more information, go to the Adopt-A-Dog website. Or call GEMS at 203-637-7505, ext 1074.
“Whether it is a human or a pet, it gets blurred while you are going though an emergency”, said Halm. ” If you have this information in your head, it can help you get through it, and get the best for your pet. You will know what to do even before you get to the vet. And that may save his life.”
Kate Uhry practices CPR through the noes with a sterile plastic cloth.
Imagine 100 Bernese Mountain Dogs and their owners parading down Main Street on a beautiful autum day in a quinessential New England town? For 15 years this parade has become a beloved tradition in Ridgefield CT for Bernese Mountain Dogs and their owners.
The parade of Bernese Mountain Dogs in Ridgefield
The organizer of the parade, Patti Ballard, of Ridgefield, filled me in on the story of how this amazing parade came about.
“The parade was founded by Cathy and Geof Smith 15 years ago,” she told me. “They lived at 94 Main Street (in Ridgefield) in a lovely old home with their beloved Bernese Mountain Dog Scoop. The Smiths walked to town every day with Scoop and thought it would be fun to create an informal event to get together with other owners of Bernese Mountain dogs. They contacted two breeders and sent out invitations to about 20 Berner owners (that’s what they call Bernese Mountain Dogs) and thus the event began.”
“Over the years,” she continued,” the parade has grown to include Berners and their owners from VT (3 came this year). Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut.”
When the Smiths left Ridgefield, a new couple took over, having bought the Smith’s home, Giancarlo Esposito and Joy McManigal who also had a Berner named Satchmo. When they resigned, Patti and her husband Charlie took over the production of the parade. They had owned Berners for 27 years, first in Greenwich CT and then in Ridgefield. She felt that they couldn’t let this wonderful event end. She and her husband are parishioners of St. Stephen’s Church, in Ridgefield and they approached Rev. Mark Delcuze, the rector, with the idea of using the church for a base for the event. Rev. Delcuze agreed, and offered to provide a blessing of the animals.
Upon arrival, the dogs and their families gathered under a tent behind the church.
The Bernese Mountain Dogs mingled near the tent.
A few puppies came too.
When all the guests and dogs arrived, Rev. Mark Delcuze blessed the dogs.
The Rev. Mark S. Delcuze, the rector of Saint Stephen's
Then, with tails wagging, the dogs and their owners took a leisurely walk up and down Main Street.
Sue Beagley, a trainer from Norwalk, with Sophie, 5, and Cubby 6, and Lynn Rakos, from Wilton, with Maddie, 6 in the parade of Bernese Mountain Dogs.
All ages of children, families, and friends enjoyed the walk.
Some dogs were more enthusiastic than others.
Dogs met other dogs.
Lisa Gardner with her 11-month-old daughter Ottilie, played with their Bernese Mountain Dog Bruce, 2, during the parade.
At the end of the parade, some were glad to lie down.
Ilo Milstein, from Pond Ridge NY with Theodora, left and Teufel, 8 take a break after the parade of Bernese Mountain Dogs. Teufel means devil in German. When Teufel was a puppy, he was playing with her husband, who is German, when Tuefel nipped his noes. Her husband cried out, "Teufel!! and that's how he got his name. He is actually a mush, she says, and, of course, he is really very good.
Nice to sit down.
If you want more information about Bernese Mountain dogs, click on Berner for their
Totally adorable.
website. It has all kind of good information, including where to find a Bernese Mountain puppy.
If you want to come to the parade, the next one is on October 9, 2010 from 1:00-3:00. If anyone is interested in being added to their invitation list, contact patti@neumannrealestate.com.
Andrea Fallaque, 10, was blessed with kisses from Sienna, a 4-month-old King Charles cavelier spaniel at St. Mary Church, Greenwich CT.
Animal blessings are always wonderful. The animals seem to like the attention from the priests, and the people at the service are happy having their best friends there. This is all a celebration of St. Francis, the saint who loved all things great and small. His day is October 6th, and more and more churches are holding services for the four legged and winged. Recently I went to the blessing at St. Mary Church, Greenwich CT.
Rev. Rolando Torres blesses Baby Pelussa, held and loved by owner Laura Gill, 11.
Rev. Rolando Torres about to bless Boomer, who is held by Margaret Casey
St. Francis Episcopal Church in Stamford CT even has monthly pet blessings on the third Sunday of the week at 4:00 pm. My dog Tango has had so many blessings there that she must be up for sainthood!
In spite of the little horns, Tango is very good.
And speaking of saints, Greenwich churches have some really beautiful stained glass windows of dogs.
St. Roch Church, Byram CT, has a window of St. Roch’s dog. The story goes that St. Roch, before he was a saint, was a soldier in France. During the war he was badly wounded. A stray dog came to his aid, licking his wounds and bringing him bread to eat. St.Roch left the soldiering life, feeling that God had saved his life – with some help from the dog, I imagine. The dog should have been sainted too, don’t you think? Well, at least he is honored with a window and some nice statues.
St. Roch and his faithful dog at St.Roch Church, Byram, CT
St. Roch and his dog.
St. Michael Church, Greenwich CT, has a beautiful window with a golden retriever with Jesus. Historically this would not have happened. The golden retriever breed came later than that, in the 1800’s. However, I have to meet a golden retriever who was not a saint.
The golden retriever with the frightened apostles and Jesus.
