Posted: February 13, 2009, 5 a.m. EST
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Photographs by Mary Bloom |
The 54th Annual Show Dogs of the Year Awards gala, held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, was a beautiful black-tie affair honoring seven of 2008’s top American Kennel Club show dogs as well as some of the top human participants in the sport and in the world of dogs. The event was sponsored again this year by Purina Pro Plan along with BowTie publications
Dogs in Review and
Dog World, with a cocktail hour sponsored by Petco preceding the dinner.
Cardinal Labs sponsored the Show Dog Groomer of the Year Award, this year presented to Rachel Corbin of Raleigh, N.C. Rachel and her husband Christian Manelopoulos, last year’s winner of the Show Dog Groomer of the Year Award, make up the very successful professional handling team that has piloted numerous Poodles to top rankings.
Our Hero Enhanced Dog Water, a product of Century Foods International, sponsored the 2008 Special Industry Award for Trainer of the Year, presented to Joel Silverman of Calif. In his acceptance speech Silverman related humorous stories of his work with animals in movies and television.
BowTie’s DOG FANCY magazine sponsored the Shelter of the Year Award, which recognized the North Shore Animal League, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization and home to the Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center, which provides 24-hour care for pets sheltered at the League. Veterinary Practice News, also a BowTie publication, honored Washington, D.C., veterinarian Lee W. Morgan, DVM, as Veterinarian of the Year.
The Show Dogs of the Year Awards were presented to Pointer Ch. Cookieland’s Seasyde Hollyberry in the Sporting Group; Basset Hound Ch. Topsfield Vision Silver Noodles in the Hound Group; Giant Schnauzer Ch. Galilee’s Pure of Spirit in the Working Group; Sealyham Terrier Ch. Efbe’s Hidalgo of Goodspice in the Terrier Group; Affenpinscher Ch. Tamarin Tug in the Toy Group; Standard Poodle Ch. Randenn Tristar Affirmation in the Non-Sporting Group; and Pembroke Welsh Corgi Ch. Coventry Vanity Fair in the Herding Group. “Holly” the Pointer was also recognized as the 2008 Best in Show Dog of the Year with 96 Best in Show wins. The Obedience Show Dog of the Year Award was presented to Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Ch. OTCH Hunts Point A Bit of Cash UDX9.
The Dogs in Review Winkies for Annual Achievement, sponsored by Cherrybrook Premium Dog Show Supplies, were awarded to Sandy D’Andrea of Lockport, N.Y., as Best Owner-Handler; Taffe McFadden of Acampo, Calif., as Best Professional Handler; Joseph Vergnetti of Medina, Ohio, as Outstanding Breeder; Jean Fournier of Calhoun, Ga., as Judge of the Year; and the Montgomery County Kennel Club all-Terrier show as Show of the Year.
Christi McDonald is the editor of Dogs in Review.