The Gossip Column: August 18, 2023

The sport of purebred dogs has been good to all-breed judges LIZ MUTHARD and CHARLIE OVIS. They in turn have given back to the sport with their generous and unwavering support of TAKE THE LEAD. This was their 13th year organizing and running events at the KEYSTONE CLUSTER, of which their club, the PENN RIDGE KENNEL CLUB, is a member. This year’s theme was HOMECOMING as the cluster returned to the state of Pennsylvania after holding its last two years of shows in Doswell, Virginia, because of Covid. This past Saturday, while seeing to the popular chuck-a-duck event, CHARLIE suffered what seemed to be a minor stroke. As of this writing, CHARLIE is in a local hospital resting comfortably as they await test results. All of us at DOG NEWS send CHARLIE our very best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery. And we also take this opportunity to thank CHARLIE & LIZ on behalf of the entire dog-show community for all the time, effort and monies they have raised to help those in our community who have fallen on hard times. ...

The draw of the ole sod has Welsh native PETER GREEN traveling this weekend, along with BETH SWEIGART and ERNEST LARA, to the Welsh Championship dog show in Builth Wells, Wales, where there is a major entry in the GREEN FAMILY. ...

We were saddened to hear that TOM O’NEAL, the surviving half of the world-famous Dream Ridge Kennels, has passed. TOM and his late partner RON FABIS were known for American Cocker Spaniels and English Toy Spaniels, and the “Charlie” nationals were held at their spacious Illinois home. After RON passed away, TOM and Dream Ridge were honored as the American Kennel Club Toy Breeder of the Year. We were the proud owners of a Dream Ridge Charlie, and she, Maggie, ruled the house. When Dream Ridge was sold, TOM purchased the former home of RUTHIE COOPER from LUC BOILEAU, where he spent the rest of his life. There he housed his unbelievable collection of dog art, which included paintings, bronzes and porcelain statues of almost every breed and size. At the family’s request, the English Toy Spaniel Club of America is one of several suggestions for those wishing to make a donation in TOM’S memory, which would be appreciated. ...

While the breed has lost one of its best-known breeders, another Charlie fancier, TOM KILCULLEN, who judged all Toy, Hound and Working groups, has retired from judging. ...

Another fatal blow to the Vin-Melca Norwegian Elkhound family of PAT TROTTER: Her beloved friend JEN READ passed away on August 9. JEN was awaiting a scheduled transplant surgery when she was stricken by a blood infection, which turned into the sepsis that claimed her life. All of us in the DOG NEWS family send our deepest condolences to her many friends and family, and especially to PAT, who has lost a dear and special friend.