Two of the most beautiful show venues anywhere to be found in all of these United States are the Planting Fields in Oyster Bay, Long Island, and the Nassau County Museum site in nearby Roslyn. The Planting Fields are the old Coe Estate, now designated as both an historical landmark and a major holder of music festivals in the summertime. Earlier on, of course, when this was a private home/manor, this is where the Duke of Windsor, after his abdication of his title to the throne, went with Mrs. Simpson to take seclusion. Need I say more about these grounds which have basically been kept intact through the years? The plantings are merely breathtaking and just walking the grounds and visiting the buildings is an education in itself about how people used to live on the so-called Gold Coast of Long Island. (Just as an aside about dogs and the Duke, the person in charge of telling him that he had to abdicate was a well known dogman in the U.K. who with his wife, as I recall, was in boxers. He died two or three years ago. Sir Dudley Forward was his name, and whom I had the pleasure of meeting on several occasions. He frequently asked about the Coe Estate and the grounds itself. Sir Dudley was, of course, the Prince's equerry, but that's a fact about which I'm certain you were all familiar!) While the Planing Fields are somewhat remote to find in that they are on a country-type road off of 25A-Northern Boulevard, the venue for the show is one of the best grounds imaginable for a dog show. Flat with large rings, there is ample parking. This is not a spectator-type show but is an example of a smaller dog show in the great tradition of “the way we were” at shows years ago. Entries are only in the 900 area-the first night, the lovely Belgian Tervuren owned by the Mascuch's and shown by Jane Hobson was awarded Best, while the next night the Airedale ranked number three all-Terrier so far this year was adjudicated Best. She is owned by S. Ingram, F. Lindner and Terrydale Kennels.
The next day is the steeped in tradition Long Island Kennel Club. This is where, FYI, the show where I was awarded with a dog I owned my first five point major—a bloodhound named the Ring's Zorro, bred by the Noerrs and handled by Harry Manning. So if you don't think Long Island has a very special place in my heart, you are sadly mistaken. Long Island dog show clubs are faced, as are many of the suburban geographically created shows in America, with the severe problem of finding adequate show grounds. Long Island has found a home at the Nassau County Museum, which was, of course, the summer home of the entrepreneur Frick. It truly is not a super friendly show grounds for the exhibitor in that parking is difficult at best, but due to the efforts of the show committee and its President, Barbara Miller, they have been minimalized. Solved, no, but attempts made, for sure. This can be, depending on the weather, a great spectator show, and one which shows off the advantages of owning a dog and partaking in dog shows to their fullest extent. But when the weather is less than perfect, as it was this year, the show suffers. This year was anything but a washout, but it was not a great day either. The show grounds themselves, once you get there, are just lovely, while the atmosphere is charming and delightful. Practically, since there is truly no space for motor homes and minimal space for box trucks, the entry is limited. Also, both clubs suffer from the theory that the Island is too tough to get on and off of and the so-called expense of island motels. To my mind, these are over-exaggerations, what with creeping suburbia anyways, but that's me. Best in Show was the Labrador Retriever shown by Joy Quallenberg, with which she has had great success.
I was sent a book to review called Getting Lucky. It is written by Susan Marino, who is the founder of Angel's Gate Animal Hospice, with Denise Flaim's assistance. Royalties from the sale of the book benefit Angel's Gate. In case you don't know her, Denise is a staff writer and animal columnist for NEWSDAY. I make her a very talented, concerned and valuable member of the animal press and someone whom I admire greatly. Getting Lucky is published by Stewart, Tabon & Chang in New York City and can be bought for $18.50. Apparently, Ms. Marino is a woman with the self-appointed mission and belief that critically ill and challenged animals deserve to live out their days with dignity and respect. Amen to that thought, for sure. The hospice she runs on Long Island provides the care usually reserved for people! Most of the animals kept there are dying, and while no one can question her motives, Ms. Marino has indeed won numerous awards for her selfless work, though I'm not too sure she and I are on the same wavelength philosophically. Rescuing and helping the injured are one thing but prolonging lives of animals is another, particularly if she, as she seems to be doing, acknowledges “Most of our animals are dying.” I mean, just as with humans, there must be dignity in dying and knowing when to let go of life. The same theory, I believe, should be applied to animals. At least with humans we should have the choice notwithstanding the attitude of the Republican Right. Animals have no choice, and shouldn't we as their owners exercise that for them when all is lost? In any event, those of you who agree with Ms. Marino's thinking will enjoy both the book and want to support her cause. Unfortunately it is not my thing, but that's me! •
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