Stephen Huneck's Memorial Service will be May 30th

Stephen Huneck's Memorial Service is scheduled for May 30th in Vermont. Below is the statement that was released on February 18th from the Stephen Huneck Gallery:

We wanted you to know, that we have set the date for Stephen Huneck’s Memorial service. The memorial will be held Sunday, May 30 from 1pm-3pm Memorial Day Weekend. Before and after the service dogs and people are welcome to walk the trails on Dog Mountain, enjoy the breathtaking views, dogs can swim in the pond and all can visit The Dog Chapel. This may be one of the few Memorials full of wet and muddy dogs, but that is exactly what Stephen would have wanted.

Gray

Sadie a Scottish Terrier Wins Best in Show Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

A Scottish Terrier named Sadie took "Best in Show" at the 134th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. I love Terriers and part of me was thrilled to see a Scottie win Westminster. My in-laws have a Scottie. His name is Mr. Pip. Simply put: He's a sweet boy. But I must confess that every time I see a dog win Best in Show a part of me becomes sad and concerned for that breed. What often happens is that many people suddenly want "One of those dogs that won Best in Show". Unfortunately there are puppy mills and unscrupulous breeders who will try to keep up with the demand and often encourage and feed the demand.

A Scottie can be a wonderful dog and family pet but like any dog it may not be the right breed for you. I grew up with Irish Terriers and I have owned a Cairn Terrier for the past 10 years. I have know a number of Scotties over the years. I love Terriers. The reason I love Terriers is the same reason some people don't...I describe most Terriers this way: "There's a lot going on there". They are smart, intense, loyal, stubborn and often fearless. And it is fair to say a house with a Terrier is not always a "quiet house". I like that. But would you? I find it a bit charming that my 18lb Cairn Terrier would be happy to challenge a 120lb German Shepherd and 10 seconds later turn around and greet my daughter by wagging and shaking all over with a huge grin. I like that. But would you? Getting a dog is long term commitment. And it is important to learn about the breed and it's characteristics.

If you would like a Scottie...Please consider rescuing a Scottie.

Gray

Night Two Of The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Tonight at The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show the Sporting, Working and Terrier groups will be showing followed by Best in Show!

Coverage of Westminster begins at 8:00 EST on the USA Network. West Coast viewers your coverage is delayed for your time zone. You may not want to visit the Westminster website if you don't want to know the results ahead of broadcast time.

Gilkey wonders why there is no "Best in Barking" show...:)

Gray

3 New Dog Breeds Introduced at The 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

This year The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will introduce 3 new dog breeds.

These dogs have actually been around for a while. It may surprise some of you that these breeds  are just now making their premier at Westminster. Here is the list:

• Setter (Irish Red & White)
• Norwegian Buhund
• Pyrenean Shepherd

Here is a summary of each new dog breed at Westminster:

Catie Copley at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston was a Wonderful Hostess

Catie Copley is The Canine Ambassador for the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. Catie Copley is a Black Labrador Retriever who greets guests everyday in the lobby of the Fairmont Copley Plaza. I'm a week late thanking Catie and the staff at Copley Plaza for a wonderful stay last weekend. Persephone took me to Boston for my birthday.

Catie Copley has become a bit of a celebrity. She has published two books: Catie Copley and Catie Copley's Great Escape and any smart politician in Massachusetts knows to go to The Copley Plaza to get their photo taken with Catie. Catie looks sharp in all her photos wearing her Custom Dog Breed Collar from Agatha & Louise. Catie has been wearing a collar from Agatha & Louise for the past 3 years.

You can "friend" Catie on Facebook and if you have any doubt if Catie is really a celebrity watch her 8 Year Old Birthday Video.

Thanks Catie. You are a reminder of all that is good about dogs.

A Catie Fan...

Gray

The History of The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

The 134th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is beginning this Monday February 15th. The Westminster Dog Show has a rather rich history. If you are history buff or a fan of Westminster there are two great sources to learn about the history of the show. On the Westminster Kennel Club website there is a Historical Highlights page and there is a wonderful book (the perfect coffee table book) called The Dog Show 125 Years of Westminster.My favorite aspect of the book is that the first half is the history of the show and the second half is photos of all the winners.

Here are some "Highlights" of Westminster:

1876 (or earlier) - A group of sporting gentlemen meet regularly in the bar of a Manhattan hotel to trade stories about their shooting accomplishments and the talents of their dogs. Eventually they form a club and name it after their favorite hotel: The Westminster Breeding Association. Early on, the club owns a kennel and raises Pointers for hunting and field trials.

1876 - The Westminster Breeding Association helps stage a dog show in Philadelphia in celebration of America's centennial. The show is such a success that the members decide to hold their own dog show to allow them to compare their dogs in a setting away from the field. The members change the name of their organization to the Westminster Kennel Club.

1877 - The First Annual New York Bench Show of Dogs, given under the auspices of the Westminster Kennel Club, is held in the Hippodrome at Gilmore's Garden in New York City, drawing an entry of 1,201 dogs.

The club pays rent of $1,500 for three days, adding a fourth day during the show to accommodate the overwhelming public interest. The proceeds from that fourth day are donated to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Dogs are listed in the catalog as "not for sale" or for sale at prices which range from $50 to $10,000.

1878 - The entry fee is $2, which includes feed and care of the dog.

1890 - W.M. Bangs, M.D., writing in Cosmopolitan magazine: "These shows have been very popular and they have had great effect in forming and developing the taste of lovers of the dog; (Westminster Kennel Club) has had great effect in improving the quality of the dogs owned for use and companionship. Of this there can be no doubt ..." One of the entries at this year's show is a Russian Wolfhound with a listed owner of "The Emperor of Germany."

1892 - The entry fee for Westminster is raised from $3 to $5, where it will remain until 1947.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Begins Monday, February 15th

The 134th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in Madison Square Garden is this Monday and Tuesday. We are really looking forward to Westminster. Every year our family gathers in front of the TV to see who will be Best in Show. If you plan to watch the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on television it will be broadcast on two different networks. Here is the schedule:

NIGHT 1:
Monday, February 15
Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups
8-9 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network
9-11 p.m. (ET) live on CNBC

NIGHT 2:
Tuesday, February 16
Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups, Best In Show
8-11 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network

Breed judging highlight videos are available throughout the day on Monday and Tuesday on the Westminster web site. These highlights will be available after the show, as well.

To West Coast viewers: Please note that the West Coast telecast is delayed for your time zone. Since results are posted to our Web site as they occur live, if you want to enjoy the drama of the moment, please avoid the Westminster Web site after 5 p.m. Pacific Time on each evening.

Humane Society International is Helping Animals in Haiti

HELP ANIMALS IN HAITI: The Animal Welfare Society in West Kennebunk, Maine has set up a fund to help animals in Haiti...Funds collected will be sent, in total, to The Humane Society of The United States’ partner organization, Humane Society International.

You can CONTRIBUTE HERE (select Haiti Fund)

Please let us know if you know of other ways to contribute. Please share!!

Thank you!

Gray & Persephone

Stephen Huneck Dies at the Age of 60

Vermont based Artist and Author Stephen Huneck has died. Stephen Huneck, perhaps best know for his "Sally" series of books and the Dog Chapel (a non-denominational chapel on his property where the public could remember their dogs) was 60 years old and according to his wife, "had been despondent for some time now and was being treated for depression". He took his own life Thursday, January 7, 2010.

Mr. Huneck's work has been a favorite at Agatha & Louise since we opened in the Spring 2005. We literally couldn't keep his Sally Books in stock in our retail store. Each summer Sally Goes to the Beach is an all around favorite with both adults and children. One thing that has always struck me about Mr, Huneck's art work was how it appealed to both adults and children. Quite often adults would buy his books for themselves. It wasn't unusual for a customer to smile and say: "I'm getting the book for me. I like Sally." People followed Huneck's work and waited with anticipation for either a new book to be released or a new print of his art work to become available to purchase.

Persephone and I were fortunate to have met Mr. Huneck here in Portland, Maine last summer. He made a guest appearance at Planet Dog's celebration of Bring Your Dog to Work Day. He was very kind and gracious. It was a highlight of my career.

Our thoughts go out to the Huneck family.

Gray

 

South Portland Dog Owners Group Announces Beach Clean Up

The South Portland Dog Owners Group (SoPo DOG) will host a Healthy Howl-o-ween Beach Clean-Up andWillard Beach on Saturday, October 31.

Costume Party at  
Clean-up and “greening” of the beach by volunteers from throughout South Portland will take place from 8 until 10 a.m. Halloween morning.  SoPo DOG organizes regular clean-ups of Willard Beach several times per year, recruiting local residents to pick up trash and dispose of debris across the entire length of the city-owned beach.
 
The Healthy Howl-o-ween Clean-Up will wrap up with a costume party celebrating dogs and their owners who walk on Willard Beach with their families, friends, and neighbors. Judges from an array of pet-friendly local businesses will choose the best-costumed dogs and owners for a variety of awards. Local markets and businesses are also pitching in to donate food, refreshments, and prizes.
 

In the event of rain on Halloween morning, the Healthy Howl-o-ween event will be held on Sunday morning, November 1 during the same hours. For more information, interested volunteers should call Crystal Goodrich of SoPo DOG at 671-6393.

Gray & Persephone