The Gossip Column: November 19, 2019

As the January WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB dog show nears, two judge changes have been announced. ELLIOTT WEISS will now be judging Basenjis, Basset Hounds, Cirnechi dell’Etna, Ibizan Hounds, Pharaoh Hounds and Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Mexican judge JUAN MIRANDA will add Pointers, German Shorthaired Pointers, German Wirehaired Pointers, English Setters, Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, and Irish Red and White Setters to his existing hound-breed assignment. Both ELLIOTT WEISS and JUAN MIRANDA will be replacing SUSAN ST. JOHN BROWN, who was listed as the original judge for those aforementioned breeds in the Hound and Sporting groups. ...

This weekend the KENNEL CLUB OF PHILADELPHIA will hold its event, dubbed THE NATIONAL DOG SHOW, which will be televised on Thanksgiving Day following the MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE on the NBC network. ...

KATHY HOCHUL, the new governor of New York and replacement for the disgraced ANDREW CUOMO, who resigned, has wasted no time signing into law two bills that were on her desk. Both bills benefit dog owners: The first prohibits insurers from refusing to issue or renew or charge or impose an increase in premium for certain policies based solely on the breed of dog owned. The second bill requires veterinarians to report suspected animal cruelty to appropriate authorities to investigate. This law protects the identity of the veterinarian and allows him or her to receive a copy of the investigation. GOVERNOR HOCHUL was quoted as saying: “To own a pet is a blessing, and we owe it to the animals of New York to keep them safe and healthy. Dogs of all breeds deserve loving homes, and no one should have to fear losing their insurance coverage based on the dog they own.” ...

JASON HOKE, who has more than a passing interest in food and its preparation, is vacationing in Sicily – talk about an eating frieze. ...

The invitations to the PURINA® PRO PLAN® SHOW DOGS OF THE YEAR AWARDS DINNER partnered with DOG NEWS have been mailed. There won’t be an extra ticket, as the upcoming event not only will honor those in the voting categories (Professional Handler, Breeder, Owner Handler, Judge) and the best Juniors handler, top-winning Obedience dog as well as the 2021 top-winning dogs one each variety group: Because no dinner was held last year due to Covid, the breeders, owners and handlers of the 2020 top-winning dogs have also been included in this year’s guest list. Even now with the October DOG NEWS TOP TEN LIST published, it’s a horse race in these last remaining weeks of the year. It adds some excitement for us on the sidelines, but is a nail biter for those in the mix. We wish them all the best of luck, and may the best dog win.