Some of my favorite pics of Zoey

I'll post more tomorrow, as my dial up is giving me the fits right now.

Atlanta - Saturday 4/11/09

Saturday came around and the Best of Breed dogs went in. It was a sight to behold, 142 Whippet champions in one ring. Judge Magnus Hagstedt split the dogs and bitches into several groups, and he proceeded to whittle down the entries. In the end he had 13 gorgeous whippets to choose from. Here is the final breakdown:

Best of Breed: Ch. Snow Hill Calliope, JC

Best of Winners: Festiva's Been There Done That

Best Opposite Sex: Ch. Sporting Fields Rock On, JC (from 7-10 Veteran class)

Select #1 - Ch. Starline's Chanel
#2 - Ch. Yorktown's Extra Vitamin C, JC
#3 - Ch. Sporting Fields Bahama Sands
#4 - Ch. Seaspell's Point Cabria, SC
#5 - Ch. Ableaim Just Not Anthr Pretty Face, SC
#6 - Ch. Kamada's Instant Millionaire
#7 - Ch. Shamasan Flame 'N Queen, RN, JC
#8 - Ch. Snow Hill Onyx at Stoneledge
#9 - Ch. Sunbeam Rembrandt of Endeavor, JC
#10 - Ch. Fleetwood Return to Sendr

All beautiful dogs for sure. My personal favorites, Calliope, Rock On, Bahama Sands & Onyx.

I'm glad I was able to attend this National. Thanks Gloria, Patti, Melissa, Shelbi, Dana and especially Jonathan & Zoey, as this is one National I will NEVER forget!!!

Atlanta - Friday 4/10/09

Friday morning we went downstairs to watch Shelbi in the Junior Showmanship class. She placed a respected 3rd, if I remember correctly, with Pebbles. This was the day Vanna was in the ring as there were so many bitches he couldn't judge them all on the same day. Vanna showed like the star she is, and even though she got dumped (that was my theme song for the week "Dumped Again"), she gained a lot of ringside fans and I had lots of nice compliments about her.

Friday night was the gala Top Twenty event. You must qualify for the Top Twenty throughout the previous year, and the dogs were a sight to behold. We had a great time dressing up and acting like some very important people, and Zoey sat ringside with us watching and taking it all in, I'm sure remembering the times when she was in the TT ring. The Top Twenty was won by the beautiful Luna. Congrats to Todd & all involved with her career.

Atlanta - Thursday 4/9/09

Thursday was the day for some of the girls. Rayne, Aurora & Gina were shown in the 6-9 puppy class. Gina & Aurora showed very well although not good enough to place, but Rayne decided she didn't like the judge and backed away from him on the table. I think it was all very strange for her, between the wild ass carpet, the fancy crystal lights, hundreds of people and a very tall, but handsome judge who wore dark rimmed glasses just freaked her out. Needless to say, we got the boot along with several others.
Jaycie was in the Bred-by Exhibitor class and proceeded to act the same way. She didn't like all this fancy stuff, they are good ole country dogs, not spoiled little princesses.

It was fun to watch Shelbi make it deep into the cut with our co-owned girl Pebbles in the Amateur-Owner Handler class. She looked really nice I thought she might get a placement, but it is a thrill to make the cut at a National just the same.

Thursday night I got to sleep with my ZoeZoe. I took her out for late night potty, and I figured I don't need a leash, she only has three legs and I can keep up with a three-legged dog. I did carry her downstairs, and when I put her down on the grass, she took off in her akward three-legged bunny hop that she does, and off I ran after her. It was kind of funny, me running after a "crippled" dog. She is anything but crippled, handicapped maybe, but not crippled. She proceeded to potty by herself, I scooped her up and inside we went to bed. My beautiful Zoey sure is a bed hog.

Atlanta - Wednesday 4/8/09

Wednesday saw the boys competing for the title of Winners Dog. It was a thrill to watch Debbie's boy Steven win the points from the 12-18 month class. Melissa also made it deep into the cut with her boy Hank. I applaud all the winners, they were all so handsome.

In the evening at around 5:00 Jonathan arrived with Zoey, she was here for the Parade of Honors. Zoey qualified by being a BISS, BIS winner and having a #1 Ranking. I always look forward to seeing my baby girl (my baby girl is 7), I love her so much. At 6:00 the Parade of Rescues started and as that was going on we got Zoey ready for her National debut since her tragic departure from the show ring. I took Zoey in to groom her up and make her look more beautiful than she already is. I called Amanda (Zoey's best friend and handler) to come down to the ballroom and to talk her into showing Zoey one last time. Amanda was so afraid that Zoey wouldn't remember her (they only spent 2 years 24/7 together when she was being shown), and I told her not to worry. We were all sitting around, and Amanda came and knelt down in front of Zoey. I gave Amanda some liver to feed Zoey and when Amanda said, "Hey Zoe Zoe" she couldn't wiggle into her lap fast enough. I thought she was gonna crawl right under her sjirt under her skin. The expression of pure joy on Zoey's face was one I will never forget. Amanda kind of lost it at that time, but I did manage to talk Amanda into taking Zoey in for the Parade of Honors.

Zoey was the last entrant in the Parade and we had her all fitted up in her wheels and her specially made drape and bling. As Zoey and Amanda made their way around the ring, the Parade chairman started reading her bio which read:
>>Zoey had to retire in the prime of her career in June 2006. Her US record: 18 Best In Show, 1 Best Puppy in Show, 3 Best In Specialty Show, 76 Group 1, 182 Best of Breeds (including BOB & Group 4 at Westminster), and many Group placements. She was in the Top 10 2004-2007. She was Hound of the Year 2003 in Canada. And in the US 2005's #1 Whippet, #3 Hound, #25 All Breed. Besides her amazing accomplishments, she has always had an amazing spirit and zest for life. She is a fighter, and her will to live is remarkable. Hugs to her major caregiver Jonathan. Words cannot express my thanks to you.<<

As the closing of her bio approached, the Parade of Honors chairman was in tears, I was in tears, Amanda was in tears, and I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. Zoey received a standing ovation from the very large crowd that gathered. I want to thank each and every one of you that supported our decision and made it a positive experience to have Zoey at the National. She truly enjoyed seeing her old friends and meeting lots of new ones.

Thanks Pat from Follow Your Lead for the beautiful bling and draping, (purple certainly is her color), and to Candace from Posh Paws (I think) for the gorgeous necklace you gave Zoey as a gift. It really sparkles, just like her personality.

I am so very proud of Zoey, not only for her wonderful show career, but for her unfaltering spirit, love of life, and the gift of determination she shows us every day. There ain't nothing Zoey can't do when she puts her mind to it. Keep on rollin' ZoeZoe!!!

If you'd like to see videos of Zoey in the Parade of Honors, click HERE.

If you'd like to see videos of Zoey after the National back home in Florida without her wheels, click HERE.

Atlanta - Tuesday 4/7/09

Tuesday proved to be another very cold and windy day here in Atlanta. I showed the Jaycie/Riggins puppy today in the futurity and for a puppy that has never seen a show ring and I was told he did lots of puppy things (leaping, bounding around), he made quite a nice showing. He made the cut in his class and was actually placed 5th out of about 15 puppies. Odeon was a star!!!

Tuesday night was the welcome party, costume contest, and karaoke. There are so many clever people out there making costumes for their dogs. The theme was of course Easter, so we had "whippeeps in a box", a little "lambppet", a "chicken-whippet" and even a Hugh Heffner Playboy whippet. It was great.

Then we had our karaoke. WHAT A BLAST!!! There are a lot of very talented whippet people out there. I was a backup singer for "Tina Turner" and I myself sang All Summer Long by Kid Rock. I had so much fun, I wanted to do it again tonight. Guess I gotta wait till another time.

Atlanta - Monday 4/6

Today we arrived in Atlanta at the Hilton which is just aside the Atlanta airport. We are here for the Whippet National Specialty. There are around 900 Whippets entered and everywhere you look there are whippets. Pretty awesome.

We have a great room, a suite actually, that has windows on two sides of the room. We have a nice view of the airport and can sit here and watch the sunrise. The dogs are comfortable in the room and having a good time. They get to go outside and romp around in the fenced in tennis courts.

Being we have a suite we have the priviledge of going up to the 17th floor to the executive suites to get breakfast, so I'm off to take a shower and then off to get breakfast.

The welcome party is tonight along with karaoke, that should be a riot. I just need to figure out how much I need to drink before I get up and attempt to sing my song...lol. I'll keep you all updated.