The Gossip Column, July 30, 2021

The WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB started a three-day roll-out of their 2022 judging panel. No doubt this three-day roll-out event coincides with their upcoming three days of dog shows Monday through Wednesday, January 24, 25 and 26, 2022. The first day’s roll-out of announcements was the judges of the Master Obedience Championship and the Master Agility Championship, plus the Junior Showmanship judges for the preliminaries and the finals. Thursday’s announcement was group judges for Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding. Finally on Friday the announcement of the Sporting, Working and Terrier Group judges, and the Best in Show judge. You can visit their website for the full panel of breed judges. ...

Sometimes the wheels of progress turn exceedingly slow. The AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB is moving ahead with the national tour of MEET THE BREEDS, a great opportunity for the general public to meet and acquaint themselves with purebred dogs that might interest them. Cities and tickets for the two-day events include San Diego, California, on August 14 and 15; Dallas, Texas, on August 21 and 22; Tampa, Florida, on September 18 and 19, Columbus, Ohio on November 13 and 14, and New Orleans, Louisiana, on November 20 and 21. Other cities on the schedule include Chicago, Illinois, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is a national project we all should support, and volunteer our time and dogs to these events. ...

A wonderful column in this week’s issue of DOG NEWS by PAT TROTTER about my dear friend the late LUC BOILEAU. Mentioned in her story was the arrival of LUC to our house on New Year’s Day morning in a 40-foot horse trailer with two miniature donkeys inside. He was trying to arrive for New Year’s Eve, but the officers at the George Washington Bridge wouldn’t let him cross in time. They didn't believe this huge truck only contained two little animals, and, until they inspected it, it was too late for LUC to arrive for the evening’s festivities. Thanks to EDDIE & LUC, MATT & I were proud breeders and owners of miniature donkeys for more than 20 years. ...

DENISE FLAIM is off to judge in France and then spend a week in Italy, while BLAKE HANSEN is off to Poland to visit with JUSTYNA SKROBISZEWSKA. ...

BETTY-ANNE STENMARK had to get on social media to announce she hadn’t died. While we are more than delighted that she is alive and well, we never for one moment through it to be true. We have never underestimated the power of Canadian women, especially BETTY-ANNE. ...

Glad to hear that the patriarch of the KUBACZ KLAN, RANDY KUBACZ, is recovering from heart surgery.  ...

All of us at DOG NEWS were saddened to hear of the deteriorating health of Golden Retriever fancier and all-around wonderful lady CONNIE GERSTNER MILLER. Our thoughts are with her and her family.