I had a great time judging in England and visiting friends. I was delighted to be able to bring home Harana Star Appeal, a young ruby girl, who really “appealed” to me. When I returned from England, I went to San Antonio to judge and then to Houston to put on a comparison seminar on English Toys and Cavaliers. Home then to celebrate my husband’s 75th birthday!!! and the arrival of my new and last horse who is a stunning two year old black Tennessee Walker. He and I are learning to adjust to each other; he is a dear, sweet horse and I look forward to wonderful rides with him. On the dog scene, my friends and I went up to the Canfield shows where we won classes and put two five point majors on our lovely black and tan girl, Rattlebridge Spring Song handled by Sunni Dunn who co owned and showed the now retired number 1 Cavalier, Ch. Rattlebridge Adagio. Spring Song, “Robin.” now needs only one point to finish her championship. Our lovely ruby boy, Ch. Rattlebridge Code Red, who is co owned with Bonnie Watts, finished his championship in June as did our tri girl, Ch. Rattlebridge Trick or Treat. Trick or Treat’s sister, Ch. Rattlebridge Costume Party has won Best of Breeds in California and a group placement, handled by her co owner Tami Doniere Byroads. We have exciting puppies coming along. Our young ruby boy, Rattlebridge Up In Lights! continues to look most promising as he grows up. We have a couple of lovely wholecolor puppies by our import Harana Spencer Tracy. Sherri Meyer now co owns and will show Rattlebridge Hit the Spot who is an absolutely delightful young blenheim girl, while Sunni Dunn is growing up Rattlebridge Shopping Spree, “Macy,” who is a young ruby girl. Rachel Stanton, who finished the championships on several of our dogs, has taken home a couple of promising black and tans as well as Rattlebridge In Wonderland, a young tricolor girl. While I stay home and take care of horses and puppies for awhile and recover from knee surgery, my friends will be out showing our dogs. We also have a couple of pet puppies who will be available in the near future. As always, we welcome visitors by appointment. Meredith

This past weekend Rattlebridge Dawn’s Early Light finished her championship with a huge five point major. She is the third Bombastic/Lola progeny to finish her championship. Shown by Julie Mullinax for her first major and finished by Jim Moses and his assistant Lenny Brown, “Spangle” is a lovely girl who will be bred in the future.

Today AB 1634 was passed and retained which means it is tabled until later in the week because evidently Levine, the bill’s sponsor, did not have enough votes to pass it. If it is not voted on by Friday, the bill will not appear again until next session. It is interesting to note that Levine was not available today. The battle is not won yet, but the opposition is finally being heard.

Now on another note, Ch. Rattlebridge Delta Dawn went to the World Show winning Best of Breed two of the four days. Delta was co bred with my great friend, Margaret Valentine, and is co owned by another great friend, Sherri Meyer. Delta was shown by Sherri’s lovely daughter Nicole Newkirk. Way to go! Judge is Mr. Norm Patton.

We just got back from our National. Clooney finished his championship a couple of weeks ago from the bred by exhibitor class despite my handling. Although, he was entered at the National, I did not show him as he is not quite ready for the Best of Breed or Champion class. He did take a fourth in stud dog with two of his barely six month old puppies. As the judge said, the Clooney puppies were too young to really evaluate in the class. Clooney’s mother, Ch. Emjo Arriere did win the brood bitch class and we retired our second brood bitch trophy which must be won three times for permanent possession. The trophies are different LLardo figurines of a young girl with a Cavalier. Beautiful. The girls who have won brood bitch are: Ch. and Can. Ch. Rattlebridge Make Believe, ROM (two times); Ch. Rattlebridge Dutch Treat (two times); and Ch. Emjo Arriere (two times). We are so proud of our girls and of all of our nine ROM titles.

The puppies, Rattlebridge True Spirit and her brother Rattlebridge Truth or Dare conducted themselves very well despite their young age. Truth or Dare took a fourth in Sweepstakes and a second in his regular class. We had a couple of other placements, but did not go this year with anything really ready.

My young friend, Melissa Charbonneau, went with me. We had fun meeting friends and socializing. Melissa lives in Florida and has been coming us to visit us since she was twelve. She is now sixteen, brilliant student, and very pretty with a great sense of humor. After waiting for the right puppy to come along, she now owns and is going to show Clooney’s adorable first daughter, R. True Spirit.

Ted Crawford and I addressed everybody before the Best of Breed competition. We reminded all about the danger of California Bill 1634 and how it could spread throughout the country. The animal rights and anti breeding activists are well organized and doing their fanatic best to push this bill through. Below are some interesting things for you to read and act upon to help us stem the spread of anti dog legislation which will really affect our civil right to own dogs. Read the Pet Data material in the Blue Dog State newsletter; it will frighten you to think that our rights can be taken away even in the United States:

http://bluedogstate.blogspot.com/

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PLEASE CHECK UPCOMING LEGISLATION IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS. PLEASE WRITE THE LEGISLATORS IN CALIFORNIA NOW TO REGISTER YOUR OPPOSITION TO AB1634. IF YOU GO TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WEBSITE, YOU WILL FIND LISTED ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

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AND MORE AND VERY IMPORTANT FROM THE AKC CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD:

Following, please find the May Chairman’s Report.

Regards,

AKC Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: May 8, 2007

Contact: Daisy Okas

Phone: 212-696-8343

MAY CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

New York, NY – Since February we have been waging a legislative battle
against California Assembly Bill 1634 which would require mandatory
spaying/neutering for all dogs over 4 months of age unless the owner
qualifies for and purchases an intact dog permit through the local
authorities.

This would mean that those wishing to keep their dogs intact would be at
the whim of municipalities, who, under the bill’s provisions, can set
the fees for such permits.

So, what appears as an “exception” for purebred dog owners and breeders,
will result in higher fees for responsible dog owners and breeders.
California state law already requires that dog licenses for intact
animals cost twice as much as those for spayed or neutered animals.

Immediately after this bill was introduced AKC began an aggressive,
pro-active grassroots effort to get the word out about our opposition to
this bill. We have continually posted updated legislative alerts on our
web site and provided resources such as fliers, sample letters and
talking points via our “CA Spay/Neuter Action Center” on the home page.
We have also rung the alarm far and wide by individually contacting
2,000 California club officers, legislative liaisons, judges, and
Delegates as well as alerting 90,000 AKC-registrants in addition to more
than 14,750 who recently registered a litter urging them to oppose this
bill.

AKC President and CEO Dennis Sprung and I each sent a letter to
Assemblyman Mike Eng, Chairman of the Business and Professions Committee
where the bill was scheduled for a hearing detailing our opposition. I
also sent a letter to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger,
reiterating the damage this bill could inflict on responsible dog owners
and breeders and the revenue that would be lost to the state should he
sign this bill into law.

Our early efforts helped to secure a postponement on a vote to move the
bill out of committee on April 10. I believe our unified voice of
opposition from the fancy directly affected this action.

Because we understood the importance of the bill and the far-reaching
effect it might have on other states, AKC sent staff member Sarah
Sprouse from AKC’s Canine Legislation department and AKC legislative
consultant Stephanie Lane to the April 24 hearing in Sacramento. In
addition, we hired a California lobbyist to help us navigate the
political waters.

Despite our efforts, the bill was kept alive and voted out of committee.
We did, however, retain support from lawmakers who understood our
position as was evidenced in the committee vote down party lines.
Immediately after the hearing, our staff members met with more than 200
dedicated fanciers, supplied them with materials and instructed them how
to approach their assembly members to voice continued opposition. I want
to thank the several hundred fanciers who turned out for the April 10th
and 24th hearings, and the thousands of dog owners who sent letters and
e-mails to legislators. Their collective voice and strong numbers
strengthened our opposition.

According to the sponsor of AB 1634, the bill is intended to reduce
shelter populations and costs. AKC opposition to the bill is predicated
on the reality that the bill wrongly targets responsible dog owners and
breeders while failing to address the real reasons animals are
surrendered. National research organizations have reported that the
majority of unwanted dogs in the United States come from owners who are
unable or unwilling to train, socialize and care for their dog.

While AKC opposes mandatory spaying and neutering of purebred dogs, we
have always encouraged pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs if they
do not want to participate in AKC conformation events or engage in
responsible breeding programs. In fact, the American Pet Products
Manufacturers Association 2005-2006 National Pet Owners Survey reports
that more than 70 percent of owned dogs are spayed or neutered. Seven
out of 10 dog owners chose spaying or neutering as the right decision
for their pet. This is an individual choice best made by pet owners in
consultation with their veterinarian.

Since the majority of owned dogs in this country are already spayed and
neutered, we need to address the reasons dogs are relinquished. I
believe educating the public about responsible dog ownership, coupled
with enforcement of existing leash laws, best addresses shelter
population issues.

AKC proactively developed several education programs, including AKC
Responsible Dog Ownership Day, dedicated to teaching the pet-buying
public how to make well-informed decisions when acquiring a pet. Such
programs help to ensure that pet purchasers find a puppy or dog that is
a good match for their lifestyle, thereby decreasing the chance that the
animal will be relinquished to a shelter. In addition, our AKC Canine
Good Citizen(r) program, AKC Obedience trials, and our nearly 5,000 AKC
affiliated clubs offer ongoing training opportunities for owners to curb
potential behavior problems through training. Our education programs are
in schools and libraries and at shows, club meetings and community
events nationwide.

AKC Clubs also routinely donate money raised at their events back into
the community in the form of scholarships, bullet proof vests for law
enforcement K-9s, and other civic minded endeavors. Club members and
breeders who engage in this high level of volunteerism are in no way
irresponsibly breeding dogs, in fact, if a dog they breed does need to
be re-homed they are the first to step up and take responsibility for
it, giving it a foster home until a new owner can be found.

We know education is the best way to influence responsible dog ownership
and since our programs have been implemented there has actually been a
decrease in shelter populations. What some lawmakers fail to realize is
that with our mission to promote responsible dog ownership through
public education, we are a significant part of the solution. We strive
to help dog owners have a successful and rewarding experience with their
pet, making it more likely the dog will remain a valued member of the
family for its entire lifetime. Lawmakers must end the debate of
mandatory spay and neuter and embrace the concept of public education.

Additionally, AKC breed parent clubs and local affiliates participate in
breed rescue which further reduces the number of dogs in municipal and
private shelters across the United States. More than 280 AKC affiliated
rescue organizations are committed to assisting shelters with adoption
and placement of purebred dogs identified within the shelter
populations. These organizations rehabilitate dogs in foster homes and
permanently place them with loving and responsible families.

We will continue to be vigilant in our opposition and keep you informed
of developments. It is imperative that all of you join us in defeating
California AB 1634. Please visit our website for sample letters, talking
points and contact information for California Assemblymembers. (Visit
the AKC website at:
http://www.akc.org/canine_legislation/CA_action_center.cfm
to learn
more.)

By staying involved we can make sure our right to decide what is best
for our animals is preserved.

We are actively investigating the possibility of establishing an AKC
Political Action Committee (PAC).

Sincerely,

Ron Menaker

AKC Communications

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AND MORE:

At this link http://agriculture.house.gov.hearings/index.html
you can read the testimony of Congressman Charles W. Stenholm to the House
Committee on Agriculture. This is a piece to read, print out, and save
for anyone who is trying to educate others about the AR movement.
This is a United States Congressman testifying before the Congress on
the agenda of the animal rights movement. FINALLY – they are beginning
to get it!

Just click on “witness opening statements,” then click on Stenholm’s
name. Don’t bother with the 52 pages of drivel from Wayne Pacelle of
HSUS…that’s the same old same old from him…….not what he said,
since the Committee apparently mounted an immediate attack against him!
One of the “good ole boys” even called Pacelle “son.” Bet that got his
dander up! The Members were not amused or interested in listening to
Pacelle! Hooray!

From Peggy…and permission to crosspost is given (various sources
provided the background here)

And More:

The Doberman Pinscher Club of America has a new flyer available for
>> distribution regarding Assembly Bill 1634. Since AB1634 will be heard
>> by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 16th, this flyer
>> addresses the fiscal side of the bill. Please print this flyer with the
>> Committee Members’ contact information on the back and distribute it far
>> and wide. The general public needs to be aware of the impact this bill
>> would have on their communities and businesses. Pass it out at the
>> malls, your church, your neighborhood center – anywhere and everywhere.
>> If each of us does this, the public will become aware of this unfair
>> and costly legislation and will contact the Appropriations Committee.
>> Many vets and most of the general public are not even aware of this
>> bill. We need public awareness of this attempt to govern our
>> relationship with our pets.
>>
>> This is the direct link to the flyer:
>> http://www.dpca.org/Legisltv/documents/Cost_to_CA.pdf
>>
>> It can also be accessed from this page:
>>
>> http://www.dpca.org/Legisltv/bills/CA1634.htmLook for the flashing
>> “NEW” sign.
>>
>> Thank you for your help in educating the public about AB 1634.
>> Dana Johnson
>> DPCA Legislative Committee

Hello from bitterly cold Ohio with more snow expected tomorrow. At least we are not in Michigan where my friend Roxy Hayes lives with feet of snow still on the ground with more falling often. Beside the cold weather we are doing well. Al and I celebrated our 24th anniversary last Saturday—so romantic! I was on puppy watch with visitors all day and Al was hiding out in his office trying to reconstruct all our financial data which was lost when his computer finally gave up the ghost (with Windows 98 yet!). He now has a new computer with Vista yet! I only hope Vista does not prove difficult for me as I now have to teach Al who does not take any instruction from me with a good attitude. We still have not celebrated our anniversary. Below is a picture of one of Clooney’s first sons, Rattlebridge Truth and Dare, who is co owned by our good friend Lu Ann Rogers who is going to show him should he turn out as nice as we think he is. Beside the picture of Tru is a picture of Clooney taken at eighteen months.

My trip to judge the Cook Inlet Kennel Club in Palmer, Alaska, was absolutely marvelous. Tbe show was very enjoyable; the venue was lovely with mountains towering over the show grounds. The club members saw to every need of the judging panel. Members fished and judges ate halibut and salmon for every lunch. Delicious! I enjoyed meeting the Cavalier exhibitors and renewing my acqaintance of Janet Klinger of Maryne Cavaliers. Most of the other exhibitors are new to Cavaliers but so eager to learn about the breed. After the shows, I took the Gold Star train from Wasilla to Denali Park. The scenery was magnificent along the train. What beautiful country! I stayed in Denali for two days, took my first CALM rafting trip down the river. Next day, Jim and Ann Sims took the following photos while we were on our bus tour into the heart of Denali Park while on our backcountry tour. We left from our hotel at 6:00 am and returned after 7:00 pm. I still have not developed the film for the pictures I took and have yet to figure out how to download the digital photos from the other camera that I borrowed. Thank you Jim and Ann for sharing. The bears pictured below came straight down the road toward our bus. Denali Park is so beautiful. I so enjoyed meeting some of the workers who come from all over the world to work at Denali during the summers. Denali closes during the winters when sunlight is limited to only a few hours and the park rangers get around by snowshoe and dog sleds.

From Denali Park, I took the train once again to Fairbanks–another lovely scenic train ride. While in Fairbanks, I took the paddle wheeler up the river. We visited the dog kennels of the Iditarod winning Susan Butcher who recently died. Her dogs were still at her place where her husband and daughter still live. To learn more about Susan Butcher: http://Iditarod.com One of the interesting facts about Alaskan sled dogs is that they are not pure bred Alaskan Malamute or Siberian Huskies which would be expected. Sled dogs are called Alaskan Huskies and are a mixture of breeds; they are not registered just chosen for their speed, stamina, and willingness to work as a team.

Our riverboat stopped at a replica of an Alaskan Native Village where we saw the early way of life reenacted. To be in Alaska in the early days of the Gold Rush would have been very hard living as hard living as the days of the building of the Alaskan oil pipe line.

In two days, I am off to Houston to visit my good friend Hazel Arnold of Red Oak Cavaliers. Hazel is suffering from ovarian cancer and is having a really tough time. I am going to attend the first specialty put on by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Houston. I come home on the August 29th and will stay home until I judge in California the end of the month with also a short visit to my friends Tami and Jeff Byroads in San Diego.

When I get back, I will be whelping a litter of wholecolors and talking to those interested in Rattlebridge puppies. Right now, we have a darling four month old black and tan boy and a lovely eight month old blenheim boy available.

Many thanks to my friend and webmaster, Roxy Hayes, for making my news page into a blog that even I can manage.

I would like to annouce that our Roses are Red who is doing so well in Europe just won the the bitch CC at the German Bundesseiger show, which is Germany’s biggest show. She is now Internationaler Champion FCI (BID ERF) Rattlebridge Roses Are Red with the following titles: Luxenburgischer Junior Ch. Europa Junior Winner German Champion ( VK) German Champion VDH Bundessieger Austria 2004 German Bundessieger 2004 We are proud!!! Congratulations to her owners Klaus and Markus from Bonitos Campaneros of Germany.

My knee surgery went well although I am still hobbling around. Between bad knees and a bad lower back, not to mention the bad shoulder courtesy of a diagreement with one of our horses, I am truly feeling elderly. However, good news always perks me up. German Ch. Rattlebridge Roses are Red just went Best in Show at the German Toy Dog Show! Rosie is on her way to being a European International Champion which will make two for us, the other being Am., Dutch, and International Ch. Rattlebridge Jacob. Not to be undone, Rattlebridge Harle-Quinn just completed his CD! His owner Lu Ann Rogers writes: “Quinn finished his CD yesterday at the Mahoning County trial! Do now it’s Rattlebridge Harle-Quinn Man NA NAJ CD. He spent 4-1/2 hours with me at the hospital today, starring in a program that we hold to introduce first year medical students to pet therapy. On Saturday we marched along with our (Love on a Leash) float in the Ravenna Balloon A-Fair parade. You would be very proud of him.” We am very proud of Quinn and of Lu Ann who is a marvelous trainer! LuAnn now has a black and tan puppy Rattlebridge Request the Best who hopefully will be shown in conformation. We are proud of all our dogs!

Meredith is going to be home for awhile for knee surgery and recuperation. She will also have to attend to a few lower back problems. She welcomes the time at home and the halt to a crazy schedule–time to recharge and enjoy the Cavaliers!!! She is working on revitalizing website section on health issues in the Cavalier with new information about mitral valve disease and syringomyelia or SM. We have several exciting puppies coming along as well as a few cuties who will need new homes. Congratulations to Bob and Judy Tschetter for finishing Ch. Rattlebridge Targee’ in good order. Congratulations to Penny Freberg for putting two back to back five point majors, first two times shown, on Rattlebridge Saranade. Congratulations to Tami Byroads for showing Rattlebridge Costume Party to several Bests of Breed and a group placement in very tough California competition. Way to go Tami and Party!! Congratulations to Lu Ann Rogers and her Quinn on his first two legs on his CD and agility titles! We welcome from England two new additions to Rattlebridge: the lovely ruby girl Harana Star Appeal and our own little Japinese Chin from the famous Homerbrent kennel. Yes, a Japanese Chin!! We are excited to show this little guy! Our friends Leanne Bertani and Sherri Meyer co own the Chin and Sherri will show him. Sherri is also co owning the very lovely blenheim girl, Rattlebridge Hit the Spot! (Pepsi)

I will be in England from June 10 through the 25th. I am judging Three Counties championship show. We are expecting puppies. If interested please contach me after June 25th. Meredith