PAWPRINTS

Archive for the ‘General’ Category

The National Dog Show Presented by Purina has crowned its winner, and the 2011 Best in Show title goes to Eira, a Wire Fox Terrier from Rialto, Calif., who is registered as Ch Steele Your Heart. She outperformed nearly 1,500 dogs, beating out the other group winners: the English Springer Spaniel, the Affenpinscher, the Australian Shepherd, the Dalmatian, the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Whippet.

At 4 years old, Eira already has quite a bit of experience in the ring. In fact, this marked her 17th Best in Show.

The Wire Fox shared a category with the Smooth Fox Terrier until 1984, and except for their coats, these terriers are essentially identical. Paintings suggest that both coat varieties have existed since the middle of the 18th century. Playful and friendly with tons of energy, the Wire Fox is eminently trainable (though she’s often an escape artist!) and great with kids.

The finalists from the other groups:

Toy Group: the Affenpinscher: GCH CH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari

Hound Group: the Whippet: GCH CH Starline’s Chanel

Herding Group: the Australian Shepherd: GCH CH Propwash Reckon

Non-Sporting Group: the Dalmatian: GCH CH Spotlight’s Ruffian

Sporting Group: the English Springer Spaniel: GCH CH Cerise Tender Is The Night

Working Group: the Bernese Mountain Dog: GCH CH Blumoon’s Tanzenite v Blackrock

ASPCA News Alert: May 13, 2011

The ASPCA recommends arranging a safe haven for yourself and your pets, and if you must evacuate your home due to a crisis, plan for the worst-case scenario. Most importantly, do not leave your pets behind. Remember, if it isn’t safe for you, it isn’t safe for your pets.

To minimize evacuation time, please follow these simple steps:

• Store an emergency kit—with items such as three to five days’ supply of pet food, bottled water, medical records, a blanket, a flashlight and leashes—as close to an exit as possible.
• Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification. Your pet’s ID tag should contain his name, your mobile telephone number and any urgent medical needs. Be sure to write your pet’s name, your name and contact information on your pet’s carrier.
• The ASPCA recommends microchipping your pet as a more permanent form of identification. A microchip is implanted in the animal’s shoulder area, and can be read by scanners at most animal shelters.
• Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. Pets can become disoriented and wander away from home during a crisis.
• Consider your evacuation route and call ahead to make arrangements for boarding your pet outside of the danger zone at the first sign of disaster.

For a complete list of disaster planning tips, or to receive a free “Animals Inside” window sticker, please visit ASPCA.org.