Gentle Readers,

In addition to the Olympics, the Westminster Dog Show is taking place! That’s an event that will never be hosted in Sochi, for very obvious reasons, including the fact that the Venn diagram of dog show people and Russian nationals is the null set, furthermore Sochi is not Russian for Westminster.

Dr. J. only has interest in the Cavalier division, he’s Terrierist, what can he say. But he’s not the only one. Paul Barret wrote this fine article on the politics of the Daytona 500 of dog shows and the haterade for his beloved Dachshund.

What’s going on? Rank bias, that’s what. Terriers are “feisty” and “energetic,” according to the AKC. To the Fancy Dog Establishment (aka “The Man”), that’s what you want. Read the fine print, though: “Terriers typically have little tolerance for other animals, including other dogs.” Is that the kind of message we want to communicate to our impressionable youth? (Spaniels, I’d agree with the official literature, are at least “eager to please.” But the term obsequious also comes to mind.)

He even has an infographic showing the bias:

It’s no worse with Olympic figure skating. It is very hard for someone who isn’t from the US, Russia (USSR), Canada, China and  maybe France to bring home some hardware. (You knew Dr. J.’d bring in the Olympics to this…). Irish need not apply.

That brings us to this warm email from the Retired Spook himself, the Retired Spook:

Dear Dr. J; 

Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your friend. It always hurts to lose one, especially when it comes suddenly and too soon. 

Although I had to smile about your pup signaling a need to go outdoors. We have a foundling pup (she’s still several months short of her first birthday) who has been with us a couple of months and has just recently decided that going outside to do her business is the best option, and let’s us know when she needs the outdoors. Ours was on her own for a while (if there isn’t a special place in hell for people who abandon puppies, there should be) and has decided that (a) I am the benevolent diety of her little universe, and (b) that hearth and home must be protected at all costs from the ravages of the neighbor’s chickens, who are the source of all the evil in the universe, as well as the depredations of the armadillo that lives under the barn. 

She only weighs about 15 lbs. and seems to be a Maltese/Yorkie mix, but she thinks that she’s one of the big dogs. It’s kinda funny, and somewhat touching to watch her challenge the horses that get too close to the fence at feeding time. I keep reminding her that the horses leave manure piles that weigh more than she does, but it hasn’t slowed her down much. 

Rub the puppies’ tummys, and send a prayer of thanks, for the friend that provided them to you. 

Best wishes, 

Retired Spook

Lady J. admiring the scenery.

Dear Retired Spook,

Thank you so much for your warm note. There probably is a special place in hell for those who are cruel to animals of all sorts, probably one involving hell-hounds and battery acid. Dr. J. has little sympathy for the puppy-millers as well, as he’s seen some rescues from puppy mills, and it breaks his heart for both for the dogs themselves, and for the breed that is affected by the propagation of bad genes. Indeed, The Czar is an ole softy with dogs as well.  He has a wonderful rescue dog that the Czarevich has done wonders with.

Hey dad, let me out…

We love our little buggers, and they love us. Somehow I have achieved benevolent deity status in J. Abbey. Mrs. Dr. J. is second, and the Lil Medstudent is third. The Lil Resident is sort of like a polite college roommate to them.  Indeed, Mrs. J. gets chaffed when Loki J. leaves her lap for Dr. J.’s when he comes to sit down in the living room.

Warmest Regards,

Dr. J.

Dr. J.