Rottweilers Ate My Laptop

Rottweilers. Computers. Cameras. World Domination. Not necessarily in that order.

Rottweilers.
Computers. Cameras.
World Domination.
Not necessarily in that order.

Update: Mary Wild – show dog heat stroke deaths

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Last June, dog handler Mary Wild left eight show dogs, including her teenaged assistant’s dog and the #1 Akita bitch in the country at that time, in a poorly ventilated cargo van overnight after returning home from a show. Seven of the dogs, including those two, died of heat stroke. This afternoon, Ms. Wild was convicted on eight counts of misdemeanor animal abuse. Sentencing will be in July. The maximum penalty for this type of offense is up to one year in jail and a fine up to $1,000. I sincerely hope that the maximum penalties are applied in this case.

Links to coverage from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Judge convicts dog handler on all counts – June 4, 2010
Trial opens in deaths of 7 show dogs – June 3, 2010
(this link also contains the original news story from June 24, 2009)

(NaBloPoMo | June ’10: 4 of 30)

Sports break but still with Rottweilers

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Tonight, instead of concentrating on blog writing, magazine editing, or website updating like I was supposed to be doing, I got distracted by the hockey game. While I am obviously disappointed by the Blackhawks’ loss in overtime, it does mean that the series comes back to Chicago and hopefully a Stanley Cup win can happen here at home at the United Center.

Speaking of the Blackhawks, and since we always speak of Rottweilers here, check out this article and video from CSNChicago.com:

Passion for Winning Runs in Bowman Family

Go Blackhawks! Go Rottweilers!

(NaBloPoMo | June ’10: 2 of 30)

Nothing BIG yet

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No April Fool here either, as I’m not creative enough today to think of a good Photoshoppable scam to try and mislead you all!

I don’t think I want to write about anything BIG today, even though that is the theme for April’s NaBloPoMo. I’ll wait until tomorrow, when no one would have even a small suspicion that it might be a joke or a scam.

I’ll just update you all on the mysterious fluid leak from the van. It was in fact refrigerant from the air conditioner, and it was also a no-charge warranty repair, and that’s no joke. It took only about an hour, so I was able to wait for it before work. We ended up breaking a record high temperature for this date with a high of 83° F, so I was glad they could get to it right away!

(NaBloPoMo | April ’10: 1 of 30)

A few more words about Westminster

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As mentioned earlier in the week, there are only a very few times over the long history of Westminster that Rottweilers have placed in group competition. Unfortunately, 2010 would not be one of those times. But it was still so exciting to see Julia and Patrone on TV, and what a wonderful team they made.

I’m not one who yells at the TV very often during sporting events. But last night, there was clapping and cheering (and barking) for Julia and Patrone, as if they, or the judge could hear us. And when they made the cut and got pulled into the line at the end, we got even louder. Alas, Patrone would not follow in his great-grandfather’s pawprints as one of the very few Rottweilers to place in the group. Still, a beautiful showing and very excited to see a friend in the spotlight at the Garden! Just a little disappointed that the commentators did not mention Julia by name, as they did with some of the other handlers.

I was pulling for the Whippet for Best In Show, but the Doberman should have had it. Sadie, the Scottish Terrier favored by many to win, did in fact prevail. But you all knew that, too!

I was a little surprised to find myself liking Tamron Hall as co-host. She spent quite a few years on the Chicago Fox affiliate’s morning news show, and I didn’t particularly care for her in that spot. Upon reflection, perhaps it was that I didn’t care for her teamed with David Novarro, or more likely, it’s David Novarro that I still don’t like in that morning spot. Anyway, good job, Tamron! Way better than last year’s co-host.

Oh, yes. I am sure you were hoping I’d forget, but guess what came in the mail recently, and that I finally got around to scanning? That’s right, Axel’s Canine Good Citizen certificate!

I know those of you who knew him as “Junior Gang Member” or “Junior Sex Offender” from puppy classes or as the unruly adolescent who tested me constantly are laughing at the idea of him being a good citizen. Well, there’s the proof. So there!

(NaBloPoMo | February ’10: 17 of 28)

More Westminster… getting personal

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I had just arrived at work this morning when I got the wonderful news that Julia had gone Best of Breed with Patrone at Westminster. Yes, that would be Axel’s beloved handler, Julia Foster, and Rottweiler CH Chancellor’s Gorgeous Patrone, TT!

I can only imagine how much more interested in the show Axel will be tonight, when he sees “his” Julia on television!

Obviously, Julia’s win today is a big part of Westminster getting personal for me. But there is more.

Axel has actually been in the ring with six of the Rottweilers who were shown today. They were all Champions competing in Best of Breed during the time he was out getting his Championship. As Winners Dog from the classes, he went back in the ring with the specials dogs, or more specifically, to be defeated for Best of Breed by the specials dogs (it’s okay, that’s usually what happens). One of the Award of Merit winners is the son of Freya’s half-brother. His handler owned Freya’s sire. His owner once owned Freya’s littermate.

So, yes, I watch with a bit more interest each year, because there are more and more personal connections.

I was surprised to see the number of searches on various Rottweiler-ly Westminster topics leading here to the blog today. Here are some answers to the questions posed in those searches.

  • A Rottweiler has never won Westminster. A Rottweiler has won the Working Group only once, in 2006: CH Carter’s Noble Shaka Zulu. I so hope to see that happen again tonight.
  • Rottweilers have placed in the Working Group only four other times.
  • All of the Rottweilers, and in fact all of the dogs entered at Westminster, are Champions. Westminster entry is limited to Champions and it is currently the only AKC show with this requirement.
  • The Westminster website and its associated Facebook page and Twitter stream are being updated lightning fast. The Rottweiler winners are here and the list of Rottweiler entrants is here. If you are not a Rottweiler person, the “2010 Show Results” link on the Westminster website will take you to information on how your own breed of choice is doing. The only thing that seems to be taking a little longer is the videos. I so want to see the Rottweiler breed video before the groups tonight!

(NaBloPoMo | February ’10: 16 of 28)