I would certainly be remiss not to add my personal comments about the passing of Gilbert Kahn. I was introduced to him over 40 years ago way before those big family trusts totally kicked in. He was then and remained throughout most of his life “just one of the guys” or as close to just one of the guys as a person with his kind of background could be.
While we were not close in the sense of being intimate friends, we visited each other’s home and had many mutual dog friends and acquaintances. At the Garden our box seats were directly across the aisle and this past Westminster we had many a lively conversation about the proceedings. When he was actively showing dogs and in New York City he frequently came up to the office to shoot the breeze with all of us – sometimes for an hour or two at a time. He was a caring and compassionate person for his dogs and those close to him. Obviously his interests took him far afield of dogs – the Opera was a consuming passion and the Metropolitan Opera House an object of personal and financial concern and benefit with a very special place in his heart for the Museum of the Dog as well. His activities were renaissance in nature while his devotion to the University of Pennsylvania well documented. His loss will be felt by all concerned for the dog and society in general.
The Board elections will probably be history by the time most of you read this column. I am hopeful that Charlie Garvin and Steve Gladstone are re-elected to the Board. Charlie because of the five he is probably the easiest to work with and the most level-headed person from whom to choose. My hopes for Steve may surprise many of you as I have been one of his severest critics but say what you want about him he is extremely intelligent. While he has the reputation of having been abrasive to fellow board members, he will not accept something just because the majority is behind it. He will question everything which this Board desperately needs as it seems to be over-reaching its constitutional powers in some areas and under-playing them in others. Steve is the legal mind absolutely missing from the Board who understands these kinds of problems which no one else on the Board or running for the Board has the ability to do! As for the third person for whom to vote I make it a toss-up between Pat Scully and Carmine Battaglia and I would lean towards Pat I guess. Female representation is important as is her involvement with obedience which makes her unique insofar as those running are concerned.
We are off to Crufts which has an entry of over 21,000 dogs. The American break down is in the area of 27 or so. Does that mean AKC will take out 27 pages of ads endorsing those entered the way they endorsed Sadie, who it turns out, we are told, was never entered at Crufts. Valerie Foss will be adjudicating Best with a number of ladies I presume doing Groups as well. Of one thing one can be certain which is that the attire for the Group judges in the U.K. will be understated compared to the ladies of Westminster – some of which were in need of the “fashion police” others of which were extremely tasteful.•
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While we were not close in the sense of being intimate friends, we visited each other’s home and had many mutual dog friends and acquaintances. At the Garden our box seats were directly across the aisle and this past Westminster we had many a lively conversation about the proceedings. When he was actively showing dogs and in New York City he frequently came up to the office to shoot the breeze with all of us – sometimes for an hour or two at a time. He was a caring and compassionate person for his dogs and those close to him. Obviously his interests took him far afield of dogs – the Opera was a consuming passion and the Metropolitan Opera House an object of personal and financial concern and benefit with a very special place in his heart for the Museum of the Dog as well. His activities were renaissance in nature while his devotion to the University of Pennsylvania well documented. His loss will be felt by all concerned for the dog and society in general.
The Board elections will probably be history by the time most of you read this column. I am hopeful that Charlie Garvin and Steve Gladstone are re-elected to the Board. Charlie because of the five he is probably the easiest to work with and the most level-headed person from whom to choose. My hopes for Steve may surprise many of you as I have been one of his severest critics but say what you want about him he is extremely intelligent. While he has the reputation of having been abrasive to fellow board members, he will not accept something just because the majority is behind it. He will question everything which this Board desperately needs as it seems to be over-reaching its constitutional powers in some areas and under-playing them in others. Steve is the legal mind absolutely missing from the Board who understands these kinds of problems which no one else on the Board or running for the Board has the ability to do! As for the third person for whom to vote I make it a toss-up between Pat Scully and Carmine Battaglia and I would lean towards Pat I guess. Female representation is important as is her involvement with obedience which makes her unique insofar as those running are concerned.
We are off to Crufts which has an entry of over 21,000 dogs. The American break down is in the area of 27 or so. Does that mean AKC will take out 27 pages of ads endorsing those entered the way they endorsed Sadie, who it turns out, we are told, was never entered at Crufts. Valerie Foss will be adjudicating Best with a number of ladies I presume doing Groups as well. Of one thing one can be certain which is that the attire for the Group judges in the U.K. will be understated compared to the ladies of Westminster – some of which were in need of the “fashion police” others of which were extremely tasteful.•