Bucks and Trenton KC photos by Matthew Stander
Before I tell you my reaction to the glorious weekend of shows in the Bucks-Trenton area, I want to share with you a letter I received on May 4 from a Pedigree representative. I presume this was in response to my letter of April 27 to their consultant, which I reported about in last week’s issue.
Please find below information regarding the 2007 Pedigree Adoption Drive and our fundraising efforts on behalf of shelters and breed rescue organizations.
Pedigree is proud to partner with the Westminster Kennel Club and American Humane Association to support the adoption of thousands of dogs nationwide this year.
As the brand that loves dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds, Pedigree created the Pedigree Adoption Drive to raise awareness and funding to support the cause of dog adoption by aiding shelters and breed rescue organizations in this noble endeavor.
As part of our adoption program this year, we wanted to specifically acknowledge the important efforts of the many wonderful rescue organizations that work tirelessly day-in and day-out to find good homes for the breeds they love. We have offered a $2,000 donation to the parent club of each breed rescue organization which was asked to join the American Humane Association simply so the group could maintain that it distributes donations only among its member organizations. Also, in keeping with its policy, AHA asked that the breed clubs indicate how the donation will be allocated.
Those donations, along with all of the money generated from this year's program will go to help find good homes for needy dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds. As a valued member of the pet community we appreciate all breeder groups do for the dogs they love.
Alice Nathanson,
Director, Public Affairs
Factually, Ms. Nathanson is, I believe, incorrect, since the letter to the club presidents from
Pedigree specifically stated that the check for rescue would be from the AHA, on behalf of Pedigree and Westminster, and that the monies to be donated were allocated out of the $1.6 million netted through donations. Furthermore, and this is more philosophical in nature, the relationship of AHA vis-à-vis the dog show community and breeders generally is less than sterling. This is primarily due to AHA's role in CA AB 1634. Nonetheless, I did receive some sort of reply which, to my mind, was both embarrassing and insulting in content. Forget about who’s giving the money and AHA for the time being. For one professional to write to another referring to itself as “the brand that loves dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds” raises my shackles. Are they the only one to so feel? Who’s kidding who? Nothing she wrote changed my mind one iota about the whole situation. It only made it more objectionable.
Onto a more pleasant subject. Nothing beats Bucks as a dog show. The venue is perfect, the rings well tended and perfectly sized. The floral displays of the past were missed, but the natural beauty of the environs and the drive on Route 32 so spectacular, who cared? Of course, it was Dr. Jo's ninetieth, and happily for all, not only was she in attendance, she was her old self, for sure. The dean of U. of P’s Veterinary School was there, as was the lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to help celebrate her birthday. This is a great show for the family of the dog show 
competitor. Never overwhelmed with spectators, it's a good opportunity to meet and talk with friends we don't get to see too often. Really, though, for the Mastiff sweepstakes judge to judge in jeans, boots, and no tie was inappropriate and unacceptable, for sure. Several female judges wore outfits that belied reason. Watching some of them bend over to examine an exhibit was hardly a pleasant experience. And, candidly, Trenton's female judges were not that much better dressed. Jeans on the part of the Airedale sweeps judge hardly reflected well for her—she knows better and certainly dressed the part of an exhibitor at Crufts this past year. When the British judges dress better than the Americans do in the ring, you know a directive is needed from on high about how to appropriately dress when judging. That's a total given!
The Toy poodle of Ron Scott's, who is just a little over three years old, keeps rolling along and swept to Best on Saturday, whilst Sunday's Best went to the Lange-Rechler GSD, and Monday the “Good” Sealy at Delaware Water Gap—which is held in Trenton—was the top dog.
Trenton, held in Mercer County Park, is every bit as important as Bucks but is a totally different-type show. Massively spread out with food courts and a spectator gate in the thousands, this kind of show affords a great exposure for the purebred dog. For the exhibitors, it is sort of a specialty show, since once at a ring one rarely ventures too far. There's just too much ground to cover. But the spectators seem to revel in the walking, as they ring hop from ring to ring enjoying themselves. Two great and different experiences on the same weekend for all us dog show junkies is how I add things 
up.
Last week I wrote in the “Editorial” there were no outside x-pens at Springfield. Well, I am now told that there were. The people who reported the opposite continue to say there were none. I believe both sets of people—they all have a common interest, which is to further the sport. If I was wrong, I apologize. If I was not in error, then hopefully it will all be settled in the future. •
