The Gossip Column, February 19, 2021

So here I am at my desk reviewing the 2021 judging panel of the AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DOG SHOW presented by ROYAL CANIN. The Saturday and Sunday show will be held on December 18th & 19th, 2021. Topping the panel is DANA CLINE. His seven group winners will be selected by the Sporting group judge BETH SWEIGART, the Hound group judge LUC BOILEAU, the Working group judge NORMAN KENNEY, the Terrier group judge EDD BIVIN, the Toy group judge JAMES MOSES, the Non-Sporting group judge SUSAN ST. JOHN BROWN and the Herding group judge CHARLES OLVIS. The Best Bred-By in Show will be judged by ELLIOTT WEISS. The seven dogs presented to him will be judged by the Sporting group judge DEBBIE MELGREEN, the Hound group judge PAMELA LAMBIE, the Working group judge TERRY STACY, the Terrier group judge LARRY CORNELIUS, the Toy group judge GARETH MORGAN-JONES, the Non-Sporting group judge TIMOTHY CATTERSON and the Herding group judge CATHY DAUGHERTY. The prelims in juniors will be judged by KIM LANGLANDS and JEFFREY HANLIN with the final being judged by DEBBIE MELGREEN. ...

If you ever have the opportunity, go and visit the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York, founded in 1896. There are 80,000 pets buried there. The most popular pet dog name among them is Princess. While mostly dogs and cats, there is a lone lion named Goldfeck owned by the late PRINCESS ELISABETH VILMA LWOFF-PARLAGHY, the former wife of a Russian prince. The princess and her pet lion lived lavishly in Manhattan’s Plaza Hotel until his death. ...

All of us at DOG NEWS were very saddened to hear that Terrier group judge THOMAS PARROTTI passed from Covid-19. In addition to his judging he was past delegate for the Susque-Nango Kennel Club in upstate New York. All of us at Dog News send our deepest sympathies to his partner BRETT MILLER. Sending thoughts for a speedy recovery for multiple group judge ERIC RINGLE, who is hospitalized in Florida recuperating from recent heart surgery. I’m sure while he is recuperating and having therapy he would like to hear from his many friends. His email is eringle@msn.com. Two recent passings of fanciers from the Non-Sporting group: Bulldogger JULIAN PRAGER has passed away. He was the delegate from the Central Florida Kennel Club. He was also a former board member and officer of the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA). Our sympathies to his family. Chow Chow breeder and exhibitor WAYNE EYSTER passed away from Covid-19. He and his wife LYNDA bred and owned some top winners under the Northwinds prefix. Our sympathies to LYNDA and their family. Celebrating Birthdays … DENNIS SPRUNG, SUSAN SPRUNG, ALLISON SUNDERMAN, TERRY STACY, JOY BREWSTER, TERRY MILLER, CHARLOTTE PATTERSON, EDD BIVIN, KRISTA DROOP, RINDI GAUDET, JACKIE BEAUDION and MICHAEL DOUGHERTY.