Four-Legged Celebs Invade New York City For Westminster Dog Show
Yes, it’s that time of year again…one of the shows I look forward to every year at this time. No, it isn’t the Grammys or the Oscars, but the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Over 2500 contenders have descended upon NYC for the chance to win that coveted prize, Best In Show.
I first started watching this show way back in the day and have made it a yearly tradition since. And this year it’s a little beagle named Uno who is looking to become Top Dog:
Since 1915, beagles have been the only breed consistently ranked in the Top 10 among the American Kennel Club’s list of the most popular dogs. So why is the breed so admired by the general dog-loving public? “Because of good ol’ Snoopy,” says Uno’s handler Aaron Wilkerson. “You think of a beagle and you think of Snoopy, and how can you pass that up?”
The cuteness factor will also endear Uno to fans in an arena which has been home to a whole lot of ugly (see New York Knicks). “Uno has that soft, pleading look and when you see him you have to say. ‘Awww,’ because he’s so pretty,” says Wilkerson who lives with Uno in Columbia, S.C. “He’s just a great dog. He’s a fun, happy dog who makes you smile all the time.” [...]
Like any great champion, Uno has an ego. “He loves having his picture taken, he eats it up,” says Wilkerson. The more applause he receives in the ring, the more he woofs it up. “He loves to sit and bay at you and bark to let you know if you’re not paying attention to me, you need to be,” Wilkerson says. “He bays in the ring and has a good ol’ time and carries on.”
Terriers have Best in Show at Westminster 44 times, while Hounds have won only three times. So what are the chances of a humble hound finishing No. 1? “As good as any,” says Weichert. The Best in Show judge, J. Donald Jones, a former dean at Emory University, has awarded Uno top honor in another show and has named him No. 1 the group.
However, Uno faces formidable competition, including the nation’s No. 1 dog, a toy poodle named Vikki who was born in Japan and has a trash-talking (woofing?) music video of her own on YouTube, set to a U2 song. “More than 130,000 dogs defeated,” it declares at one point.
While a beagle has never won Best In Show, Uno is looking to make doggy history. Look at that face…doesn’t he look like a big sweetie?
But I would like to take this opportunity to say that while many breeders are ethical and upright about what they do, and who care deeply about their animals, there are those who treat their animals as little more than dirt, and this isn’t directed at them. The lives of the poor animals of those who are unethical about what they do, while being forced to breed and breed while living in squalid conditions, is truly heartbreaking. So when it comes time for you to pick a forever furry friend, why not visit your local animal shelter? So many animals in need of good homes there.
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show airs tonight on USA and CNBC tonight, USAÂ Tuesday night.
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Look at that little guy. Oooh, don’t you just want to chew him up?
Beagles are the cutest. Yeah Snoopy!
Comment by D — February 11, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
I’ve had the privilidge of actually attending Westminister (as a spectator) and it’s an amazing experience to see up close and personal and to be able to go in the back and see all the dogs.
Absolutely people should never, ever buy dogs from pet shops. Every time I see movie stars a pet store with a puppy I cringe. Just last week there was a place in the Mid-west called Hunts something that had 600 puppies die of Parvo. At first someone said that had to be a typo, no respectable breeder would have 600 puppies and then people started researching and they are a puppy mill specializing in puppies for pet shops.
IT is the puppy millers who sell to pet stores who sell to anyone and everyone, without investigating if the buyer understands the breed of dog they are getting and how to care for a dog that is causing the explosion of unwanted dogs in shelters around the country. Now the puppy millers have spread out to selling on the internet and the problem is growing.
Comment by Rappy — February 11, 2008 @ 9:38 pm
We just want to thank everyone for all the support for Uno. He is a great dog! We are very excited about tomorrow night!
**Support the ASPCA. Every little bit helps**
Comment by Uno's friends and family — February 12, 2008 @ 1:22 am
Yay! I saw him win tonight, and I’ll definitely be cheering for Uno tomorrow!
Thanks for the comment!
Comment by k — February 12, 2008 @ 1:37 am