The 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show arrives at Madison Square Garden Monday. The two-day event has thousands of dogs undergo a winnowing process that culminates with the awarding of Best in Show. The American Kennel Club recognizes 157 disinct breeds that are eligible for competition, and four of those breeds are brand new entries to the field. They include the Tibetan mastiff (a working dog), the Beaucerand and Swedish vallhund (herding dogs), and the Plott (a hound).
The Daily News profiles one local contestant who calls Staten Island home. Charlie is a three-year-old bloodhound belonging to Dana Olivio. He looks like a big dog, weighing in at 117 lbs., and Olivio, who is an engineer with the City's Dept. of Environmental Protection, says she wishes she owned stock in the company that produces Bounty paper towels, because Charlie is a big slobberer. The bloodhound has already had a taste of the limelight, appearing in a campaign commercial for Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman.
Sports Illustrates handicaps the field and points out some early favorites. The magazine also admires a beagle named Uno, whose owner hopes to have him become the first Best in Show of that breed. If you can't make it to the Garden, ongoing results of the judging will be posted at the competition's site here. Televised coverage of the show will be on the USA Network, with extended coverage on CNBC. Or you may just to watch Christopher Guest's wonderful comedic film "Best in Show".
