The Gossip Column: June 13, 2025

Following a years-long battle to best the cancer that ultimately took her life, JACKIE STACY passed away on June 10 with her husband TERRY at her side. Anyone who knew JACKIE was not surprised by how long she put up her best fight. That was one of her many characteristics — courage and fortitude. My relationship with JACKIE goes way back to when she started her professional handling career. She handled a Skye Terrier for the late CAROL ANDERSEN, a fellow Minnesotan. She went on to enjoy a successful handling career. Her marriage to TERRY STACY brought on a new career as judge. Typical of JACKIE, she went on to become an all-breed judge. All the while, she and TERRY bred many top-winning Affenpinschers. TERRY & JACKIE were a very popular judging couple until ill health brought that to an end. She was one of a kind. All of us, especially me, send our deepest sympathies and love to TERRY, her children and her sister, well-known veterinarian FRAN SMITH. ...

The big unwanted news around this part of Long Island are coyote sitings. Way too close to home for me, as there was one walking in my driveway. Slowly but surely, over the last few years these coyotes are making their way through the length of Long Island. Even before the sitings that confirmed their presence. the raccoon, rabbit and even deer population seemed to be less than in years past. ...

Some telling statistics for the first three months of 2025 from the American Kennel Club: Litter registration is 8 percent lower than budget and 14 percent lower than 2024. Dog registration is 14 percent lower than budget and 18 percent lower than 2024, but events were ahead of 2024 by 1 percent and entries were 9 percent lower than 2024. So with all the negative numbers in litter registrations, dog registrations and entries, we had an increase in events. Does this make any sense? Two recent passings of note: German Shorthaired Pointer breeder and exhibitor DOROTHEA VOORIS TIMBERLAND passed away. DOT was a well-known and successful breeder with the Fieldfine kennel prefix. Fieldfine boasted many top winners. A longtime friend from her roots in Long Island. She and her husband BILL moved to North Carolina some time ago. It was a family affair with Bill and daughter DOROTHEA VOORIS HAND and now onto a third generation with her granddaughter. DOT was bigger than life, and it will be hard to think of her not being ringside. All of us at DOG NEWS send our deepest sympathies to the entire family. Dog-show photographer and multiple-group judge LUIS SOSA has passed away. Together with his wife PATRICIA they bred and exhibited French Bulldogs and enjoyed their many co-judging assignments. All of us at DOG NEWS send our deepest sympathies to PATRICIA and family.