Canine Hotline - April 2025
Board Meetings: 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m.
General Meeting: 2nd Tuesday of every month, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Church of the Nazarene, 913 E New York Ave, DeLand, FL 32724
President Terry Wagner
Vice President Dee Pounds
Secretary Ginny Merchant
Treasurer Maria Avelino
AKC Delegate Cathy Driggers
FAKC Delegate Cathy Driggers
Show Chair Susan Shephard
Board of Directors
Kati Boswell • Susan Graves • Bain Foster • Dee Pounds • Windie Rhodes • Susan Shephard • Bill Herr
📩 Meeting Minutes from the General Meeting are now available as a PDF download.
Second Reading
Deb Horner
I would like to thank Mark and Maria for hosting our Picnic. It was a great afternoon, good weather, good food, great people and fun for all.
We are coming into the summer months, so please remember to hydrate and start making plans in case of Hurricanes. We are all to help on another should the need arise so feel free to reach out.
Terry
📅 Save the Dates — 2025 WVKC All-Breed Dog Show!
Mark your calendars — our 2025 Annual All-Breed Dog Show is coming to the Volusia County Fairgrounds September 19–21, 2025!
It’s going to be three tail-wagging days of conformation, specialties, clinics, vendors, sports, and more. 🐶💥
Stay tuned for all the exciting details and plenty of ways to get involved — volunteers make the magic happen!
💸 Don’t Snooze on Your Dues!
Heads up, WVKC members — annual club dues are due by July 1st!
You’ve got options:
💻 Pay online anytime (small service fee applies)
💵 Bring cash to the May or June general meeting
Stay in good standing, keep your voting privileges, and help support all the great things we do together. Questions? Contact the club Treasurer!
Let’s keep the club strong — pay those dues and keep wagging forward! 🐾
Classes are open for registration!
2025 training session start dates:
Puppy Classes: August 11
Basic Obedience: August 13
Rally: October 15
Conformation Class: Wednesdays, May 14 - June 25th 7pm- Come get ring-ready!
🚫 Florida Anti-Breeder Bills Defeated — Again. Now What?
Dog fanciers across Florida can take a moment to exhale: Senate Bill 1830 and House Bill 1481, two troubling pieces of legislation targeting dog breeders, have been indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration. This marks the second time in recent years that similar bills have been introduced — and successfully opposed — thanks to swift action by the Florida dog community and allied organizations.
These bills, under the guise of regulating commercial breeding, included provisions that would have criminalized common, ethical practices and imposed vague and unrealistic standards that many responsible breeders — especially hobbyists and preservationists — simply could not meet. If passed, they would have made it nearly impossible for reputable breeders to continue their work, while doing little to stop irresponsible sources.
Why This Matters
While we celebrate this outcome, the message is clear: this fight isn’t over. With anti-breeder sentiment being fueled by misinformation, these kinds of legislative proposals are likely to keep returning, repackaged with slightly different language but with the same end goal — restricting or eliminating our ability to breed, raise, and show purebred dogs.
What Florida Dog Fanciers Can Do Going Forward
✔️ Stay Informed
Keep tabs on upcoming legislation. Subscribe to AKC’s Legislative Alerts (www.akc.org) and the Florida Association of Kennel Clubs (FAKC) for real-time updates.
✔️ Build Relationships
Get to know your local and state legislators before bills like this appear. A personal connection can go a long way when it’s time to explain our side of the story.
✔️ Speak Up Professionally
When legislation is introduced, respond quickly — but respectfully. Calls, emails, and written testimony from constituents who are articulate and fact-based carry tremendous weight.
✔️ Educate the Public
Misunderstandings about breeding often come from lack of information. One breeder responds to puppy inquiries by noting that future breeding plans depend on the defeat of specific anti-breeder bills, a subtle way to educate those interested in a well-bred dog. Share your responsible practices proudly: talk about health testing, early puppy socialization, placement screening, and your lifelong commitment to the dogs you breed.
✔️ Support Your Clubs
Your local kennel club, state federation, and national breed clubs are your best defense. Attend meetings. Volunteer. Help draft unified responses. When we work together, we win.
We are proud of Florida’s breeder and exhibitor community for standing strong once again — but let’s be clear: eternal vigilance is the price of preserving our breeds. Let’s stay informed, engaged, and united.
Upcoming Conformation Shows
Show | City | Date | Closes |
Heartland Dog Club | Fort Myers | May 15-18 | CLOSED |
Greater Venice | Tampa | June 11-15 | May 28 |
Citrus County KC | Ocala | July 4-6 | June 18 |
Jupiter-tequesta DC | West Palm Beach | July 11-13 | June 25 |
Sarasota KC | Tampa | August 8 | July 23 |
Big Wins!
Ginny Merchant had a fun-filled and successful weekend in Perry, Georgia, accompanied by a few good friends. Ginny brought along her Rhodesian Ridgeback girl Zorii Bliss and Frenchie Risa — along with young puppy Cadi, who tagged along for some valuable travel experience.
Zorii Bliss, who thought her show career was behind her, made a surprise return to the ring and proved she’s not done yet! She earned a 5-point major Select win over Specials on Thursday — a fantastic step toward her Grand Championship. Go, Zorii!
Meanwhile, Risa may not have found her stride in the conformation ring that weekend, but she made her mark in Barn Hunt. Even in season (and sporting her fashionable bloomers), Risa secured the second leg toward her Open Barn Hunt title — a great accomplishment under challenging conditions!
All in all, it was a weekend of ribbons, road trip fun, and good friends.
🌟 Congratulations Ginny and team!
🏆 A Red-Hot Weekend for Codee!
WVKC congratulates club member Jim Danhauer on an extraordinary weekend of wins with his young Irish Setter, Codee — now officially International Ch, UKC Ch, AKC Ch Kinloch’s All Things Considered!
At the IABCA International Shows in Brooksville, FL, just 17-month-old Codee made jaws drop by earning Best in Show at all FOUR shows, an impressive feat on its own — but he didn’t stop there. Codee was also awarded the prestigious Grand Sieger title, presented to the overall Best of the Best across the weekend's competition.
Jim’s dedication, handling skill, and love for his dog are clearly shining through in the ring. We’re incredibly proud to celebrate such success from one of our own — congratulations, Jim and Codee!
WVKC is proud to recognize our own Deb Clancy, long-time member and our dedicated Show Vendor Chairperson, on being named the 2025 Recipient of the Heart for Art Award by the Orlando Museum of Art’s Council of 101!
At this year’s Volunteer Reception, Deb was honored for her outstanding commitment, passion, and service as a nine-year volunteer with the Council of 101, where she plays a key role in supporting the arts community. The Council noted that Deb’s “dedication and support make a real difference,” and that she brings the same heart to her volunteer work as she does to her beautiful show dogs.
The award is a perfect reflection of Deb’s generous spirit and her devotion to every community she’s part of. Congratulations, Deb — your WVKC family is incredibly proud of you!
🐾The Driggers’ April to Remember!
WVKC is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Cathy and Mark Driggers and their beautiful Pomeranians, who had a phenomenal April in the ring!
Cathy’s star, CH Nottingham’s Heart Like A Truck “Lainey,” had a month filled with milestone moments. At the Moore County Kennel Club Show in Lumberton, Lainey finished her AKC Championship in style, going Best of Opposite Sex from the Puppy Bred By class under respected breeder-judge Sharon Masnick to secure her final major. Earlier in the month, Lainey turned heads at the Dixie Jubilee Cluster in Montgomery. There, she earned:
A 4-point major with Best of Breed from the Bred By class
A regular Group 4 placement
Two Bred-By Group 1s
A Best in Show Bred-By While they had to hit the road before Sunday’s Best Bred By competition, the weekend was already packed with success.
And the rest of the Nottingham crew wasn’t far behind:
Nottingham’s I’m A Survivor “Reba” was Select on two days in Montgomery
Nottingham’s Tribute to Margaritaville “Jimmy” went Best of Opposite Sex on Sunday
And the adorable puppy Nottingham’s Tribute to Yellowstone “Tate” made his BPUP debut in Lumberton, bringing home three BPUP Group 2s and one Group 4
Cathy summed it up perfectly: it was a great month full of victories, quality time with friends, and gratitude for the hard-working clubs and volunteers who make these shows possible.
Congratulations, Cathy, Mark, and Team Nottingham, on an incredible month of achievements — we can’t wait to see what’s next!
Comments