The Gossip Column: February 17, 2023

The ENGLISH KENNEL CLUB will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in ROYAL style. On May 24, members of THE KENNEL CLUB have been invited by the graciousness of his Royal Majesty KING CHARLES III to attend a GARDEN PARTY at BUCKINGHAM PALACE, where no doubt a royal or two will attend. BUCKINGHAM PALACE is world famous not only for the 775-room residence of the KING but also its 40-acre gardens, which include a 3½-acre lake that supports a large variety of wildlife right in the middle of London. Organizing this celebration has the fine hand of SIR JOHN SPURLING, OBE KCVO written all over it. No stranger to our shores, he brought pet insurance to the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB, was the first sponsor at the inaugural MEET THE BREEDS, and also underwrites a scholarship fund with the HUMANE FUND. So, gents, get your ties and jackets and, ladies, your best sundresses and hats. ...

While we are on that side of the pond, the list of countries and the dogs representing them at CRUFTS has been announced by the KENNEL CLUB. The United Kingdom leads the entry with 15,569, followed by France with 398, Italy with 389, Ireland with 333, Germany with 332, and the Netherlands with 307. There are 69 from the United States, and when all are totaled CRUFTS 2023 will have more than 19,000 dogs. (Not that creative way we have here with counting the one-day entry and adding it to the amount of days to create big numbers — i.e., 1,000 dogs entered over four days but added up to 4,000, when in reality it’s the same 1,000 dogs judged over the four days.) These are actually more than 19,000 different dogs entered over the four-day CRUFTS show. Certainly not pre-pandemic numbers, but it’s growing slowly back to those old entry numbers. ...

International jet-setter judge DENISE FLAIM will be judging on the other side of the world in New Zealand; the woman needs a social secretary. ...

A memorial service has been planned for the late BETTY LEININGER at the Stonebridge Community Church, 4801 Legendary Drive, Frisco, TX 75034, between the hours of 1 and 2 p.m. CST. ...

Celebrating birthdays: American Kennel Club chief cook and bottle washer DENNIS SPRUNG, EDD BIVIN, CHARLOTTE PATTERSON, SUSAN SPRUNG, ALLISON UNDERMAN, TERRY STACY, NANCY RUSSELL, leap year’s JOY BREWSTER, TERRY MILLER, RICKY JUSTICE, KRISTA DROOP, RINDI GAUDET, MICHAEL DOUGHERTY, HILLARY ZIMMER and JACKIE (where are you) BEAUDION. And to all a belated HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY.