This in from the Hudson Valley Golden Retriever Club , which will hold its 30th Annual Specialty for Golden Retrievers Feb. 26 at the Rockland Community College Field House in Suffern NY.

This is a great opportunity to watch one of the nation’s most beloved breeds compete across three fascinating venues: Conformation, Obedience and Rally.

This is an event for the entire family. It is a rare opportunity to meet the breeders, some of whom have competed at Westminster, and to see their dogs up close. Many of these dogs are top winning champions and their talent and beauty will amaze you.
It is also a great day to see puppies – as young as six months old – and the veterans as they compete in the different venues. Nothing is quite as entertaining as watching a six month old puppy – all legs and happiness – trying to navigate the show ring. Or to watch the veterans get back in the ring one more time to show the world that age hasn’t diminished their talent or conformation.

Sweepstakes judging will begin at 8:00 am with regular Conformation Classes to follow. Breed judging will continue throughout most of the day ending with the Best of Breed competition in the early afternoon.

Be sure to check the Obedience and Rally competitions – running concurrently with Conformation – to see why a Golden Retriever is considered one of the smartest breeds. Obedience dogs will amaze you with their ability to flawlessly perform everything asked by their owner. And you thought teaching a dog to “sit” was an accomplishment!

Rally is a newer sport in the competitive canine world. Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler complete a pre-determined course. The judge tells the handler to begin, and the dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations (10 – 20, depending on the level). Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience and is a wonderful experience for a golden and his owner.

For info, click on the links about or e-mail overlookgoldens@gmail.com.

Got this sent on behalf of the Elmsford Animal Shelter at 100 Warehouse Lane in Elmsford, NY.

One of the largest no kill shelters in the country, Elmsford has had one policy at their shelter. “We never turn an animal away. “
While most shelters pick and choose the most adoptable, Elmsford became a refuge for those who would have ended up on the streets dying a slow painful death. Hungry and cold, animals with nowhere to go, Elmsford and its many volunteers treated them with the food , medicine and love they so deserve.
Home to five hundred dogs , five hundred cats, and 25 bunnies, the shelter houses animals that were abandoned by their owners.
Jake, a pit bull, with no home, has nothing but love and licks to offer, and does not know any better. He was formerly owned by a man who was getting married and his wife did not like dogs. He loves to play with his favorite Frisbee toy in the backyard of the shelter, still awaiting his forever home.
Sandy, a devoted beagle, was left here when his owner died. He wonders what he did to lose his home but still lives here safe and warm and fed.
Happily, they are unaware of the time that is running out for them.
If this shelter does not get funding in a few months, 1,000 of the most beautiful creatures who have been awaiting their forever home, will lose their chance. All but a few will be euthanized.
Elmsford, tucked away in an industrial area of Westchester, never had a public relations person or fancy advertising. The shelter depended on a few generous donors who kept these animals safe. The funding has begun to dry up. And volunteers were recently notified of this fact: they have only a few months for a miracle.
Lucy Vicidomini , shelter manager says, her “heart is breaking. She has known and loved these forgotten animals and wants to give them a chance. We have found homes for animals that others predicted would never get so lucky. Now they live on people’s beds being loved forever. We are desperate to hold fundraising events, and do whatever we can but we need people’s help. And we have just several months to make a difference.”
Those who love animals who can offer their time, fundraising expertise or donations can contact the shelter at www.elmsfordanimalshelter.com or call 914-592-7362.

An alert colleague directed me to this story from Newsday on Long Island. Firefighters rescued and revived this cat, Franklin, after a Huntington Station fire on Saturday. As Lt. John Damico says in the story, besides a sooty nose and some shock from the fire and being moved to a strange home, Franklin seems to be happy. “What high spirits he’s in,” Damico said. “He just needs a little bath.”

I love all animals, I do, but I admit…perhaps sacreligously…that some breeds of some animals don’t warm my heart the way others do. Well, Gretchen, bless her, sure changed my mind about dachshhunds…I’ve had the honor of spending time with Gretch and her amazing mom over several Christmases. She was the tiny girl in a house of border collies, but boy could she hold her own!
No matter how many people the table was set for, you could always count on Gretchen to join Here is a pic of her:

Well, this dear, beloved girl passed today. And her mom has allowed me to post the note she sent to friends and Gretch lovers here on P&C….this is the hardest thing for pet lovers. But, as Teri, mom to Bentley and Beryl says, despite this pain, “I’d rather have the dance…..”

Well said. Here’s Grecthen’s mom’s note… Read more of this entry »

Hopefully the coming winter storm won’t ruin the nuptials of this happy couple. Although, come to think of it, they’ll probably enjoy a post-ceremony romp outside
Pictured here in their engagement photo are Zappa Winnick-Baskin, the Standard Poodle, and Lulu Steinberg, the Australian shepard, who are to “exchange bow vows and tie the leash” Feb. 11 at Atria Darien, a senior living community in Darien, Conn. In lieu of gifts, well-wishers are asked to donate to their local ASPCA. The groom’s mother is Wendy Winnick-Baskin, Atria Darien’s executive director. Wendy, you have a lovely daughter-in-law

The Putnam Humane Soicety has established a fund to help support its efforts in trapping, neutering and returning feral cats to their colonies. This is hugely important because it helps control the feral cat population by preventing breeding. Here’s their plea:

Please support the Trap, Neuter, Return Fund to prevent the birth and suffering of kittens born outside. To donate, send a check to the Trap, Neuter, Return Fund c/o Putnam Humane Society, P.O. Box 1144, Carmel NY 10512. Write “TNR Fund” in the memo portion of the check. Thanks!

And thanks from me, too.

Sometimes you try to capture a cute moment in a picture, and it just doesn’t work out…Stanley was being particularly adorable last night while waiting for and chasing her treats, but it didn’t quite translate well in stills. However, I share anyway. Here she is waiting for a treat to be tossed:

Now we search (it’s there, to her left):

Now we ponder whether to eat or not (she did):

The American Red Cross in Westchester County will hold a course on first aid for cats and dogs Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its White Plains (NY) headquarters, 106 N. Broadway.
Learn basic pet first aid, how to recognize and provide care for signs of cardiac arrest and identify signals of breathing emergencies, including choking. Cost is $60. To register, 914-946-6500, Ext. 258.

I know I have a personal bias here, but I think these photos are some of the most adorable I’ve ever seen. Mom from P&C’s northern outpost sent these my way. Been too long since I’ve seen these big boys, but they sure seem to be doing fine…

Cuddles!

This beautiful, friendly tabby has been at a vet’s office in Elmsford (NY) for about a month, healing up from a bad injury after she was likely hit by a car. She was an outdoor cat whose owners never let her inside (?!) but she can no longer be outdoors so needs a nice, loving indoor home. She’s an older cat, probably about 10.

She was found in a backyard unable to walk by someone who has been feeding this cat over the years because it seems her owners didn’t care for her very wellis currently at the vets office in Elmsford, where she has been for a month. My sister thinks she was hit by a car and found her in her White Plains backyard unable to walk. Over the years, my sister has been feeding her because it seems her owners really didn’t care for her well. (I am getting so mad! Why did these people get a cat in the first place!)

Phew, anyway, there is no adoption fee, but a contribution to an animal group would be appreciated. This girl might be best as an only cat, but, the woman who helped her will talk to anyone who might be interested. The cat also might need to be on some maintenance medicines (steroids) to help with her injured leg.

Interested? Let me know or call 914-262-8929.

P.S. The kitty’s savior and her sister both have full pet houses, or they’d keep her.