Table Talk · January 1, 2020
Happy New Year!!!! I cannot believe that another year (decade, in fact) has passed! As we enter 2020, may your year be filled with pleasant dreams, goals achieved, new friendships made and old friendships rekindled. Many of my friends will be saying goodbye to canine friends that they have spent the past year or two with as they move on to life with their other families. New relationships will be forged with different four-legged teammates, while others will continue where they left off at the end of 2019. Whatever your 2020 journey may be, best wishes for the greatest year yet!
I am off to Palm Springs for what has become one of the largest, if not the second largest, all-breed shows in the country with an entry of 3,371 dogs on Saturday. As some all-breed clubs continue to be frustrated about a lack of active members and volunteers, there are other clubs that have succeeded in maintaining an active membership despite aging members and shrinking membership. I continue to be impressed by the volunteer leadership within the Kennel Club of Palm Springs. Members continue to work together, focusing on each individual’s strengths while putting on a very impressive cluster at a beautiful venue. The Specialties on Thursday and Friday continue to grow, and the cluster continues to attract top dogs from around the nation (and even the world).
The Fox Sports program “Crowned: Inside the Westminster Dog Show” re-aired the last several year’s programming on Christmas morning. I watched them all, and cried like a baby. In my opinion, this is by far the best-produced dog show programming out there! Each year gets a little better, if that is possible. I get emotional because I listen to my dear friends so articulately and passionately speak about their dreams, their lives, and their profession. Our sport is so positively portrayed in these shows: It should be something we recommend to those that ask about Westminster, or the sport of purebred dogs in general.
As I was driving with my sun-roof open the other day (yes, I still live in Chicago!), I felt so fortunate that I can finally say my weather was better than that which my friends were experiencing out on the West Coast! Gary Allison was building a snowman in the high desert, Pilar Kuhn’s Bouviers were out playing in the Southern California snow, and I was driving down the road with the wind blowing through my hair!
Congratulations to Amanda Giles and Daniel Martin who “tied the knot” over the holidays! May the two of you have a life of continued prosperity and love.
Patty Keenan has completed her move and begins the next chapter of her life in the Pacific Northwest. Glad you made it safely, my friend. May you enjoy and prosper on this new adventure.
David Haddock and Evelyn Gregory are ringing in the New Year in the Cayman Islands. Have a fabulous trip, my friends. Safe travels!
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Eugene Haupt on Christmas Day. Gene was a true icon; not only in our sport, but he was also a decorated veteran as a paratrooper in World War II. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Faye and his many friends and family. Gene will be sorely missed by those who knew him. This is the end of an era, indeed.
Our condolences to Dominic Carota, Pharaoh Hound Fancier and AKC Board member, on the sudden loss of his brother over the Christmas Holiday.
Best wishes to French Bulldog fancier and AKC Judge David Johnson as he recuperates from hip surgery. You will be as good as new in no time, my friend!
We wish a Happy Anniversary to Erin and Rob Hall. May the two of you have many more years, and many more grandbabies to enjoy!
Celebrating birthdays this week are: Tom Bradley, Kim Hansen, Lisa Arnett, Beth Gray Harper, Elaine Reisman, Joe Vergnetti, Deb Shindle, and John Constantine-Amodei. May each of you have the best of birthdays!
If you are going to be in New York for Westminster week and are interested in doing a breed priority segment with Table Talk Live! Please drop me a line at deb.cooper@caninechronicle.com.
I leave you with this week’s thought: If you are more fortunate than others, build a longer table, not a taller fence!
Let’s start out the year right, my friends: Take a “newbie” under your wing and show them the ropes. Go out of your way to thank a club volunteer, and be kind to all that you encounter. I’ll see you down the road. Until next time…
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