The Dog Writers Association of America was appropriately born ina back room at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in 1935. Itstarted with 30 editors and publishers. Today, members also includebroadcasters and online columnists, and total over 500 who maketheir living reporting about ‘man’s best friend.’
Each year, the organization rewards their own, as colleagues giveawards in various categories – it’s like our Academy Awards.
I always believed our awards are important, ever since I won myfirst for Best Book, back in 1973. Actually, I shared the award,but I couldn’t have been happier for that ‘atta boy.’ It was betterthan getting a liver treat.
What’s surprising to some is how well done the work is. Thesemagazine and newspapers stories, and books can be exceedingly verywell written, sometimes there’s great wisdom. I remember the oneguy who wrote a book about a specific breed, and more than 20 yearslater I still recall the line, “In nature there are no punishments- only consequences.” Now that is profound. We can all learn fromit – not only as dog owners but as people.
Here are this year’s winners of the Dog Writer Association ofAmerica Awards, held on February 10, just before the start ofWestminster.
Category I: Newspapers
A. Newspaper Column
Joan Lowell Smith, The Star Ledger
B. Single Feature or News Story
Sophia Yin, DVM, “Holiday Follies”, The San FranciscoChronicle
C. Newspaper Editorial, Opinion Piece, Essay
Sherry Carpenter “Scottish Terrier”, Sunbury Daily Item
Category II: Magazines And Canine Newspapers
A. Single Breed Magazine
Celebrating Greyhounds, Marcia Herman, The Greyhound Project
B. All Breed Magazine
Dogs in Canada, Allan Reznik, Dogs in Canada
C. Special Interest Dog or Animal Magazine
Off Lead, Therese Backowski, Barkleigh Productions, Inc.
D-1. Individual Feature Article in Single Breed Magazine
Cheryl Giebel, “Leptospirosis”, Celebrating Greyhounds
D-2. Individual Feature Article in All Breed Magazine
” Ranny Green, “Overcoming Cancer”, Dog World
D-3. Individual Feature Article in Special Interest Dog-RelatedMagazine
Joan Hustace Walker, “Nature or Nurture?”, Training YourPuppy
D-4. Individual Feature Article in Canine Newspaper orNewsletter
Jackie Lindsay, “Married”, Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!
D-5. Individual Feature Article in Special InterestAll-Animal-Related Magazine
Betsy Sikora Siino, “Crossing the Line”, Animal Watch
D-6. Individual Feature Article in General InterestMagazine
Susan McCullough, “What Your Dog”, Family Circle
D-7. Individual feature article in a yearbook or specialpublication
Joan Hustace Walker, “Soulmate”, Puppies USA
E. Editorial/Opinion Piece/Essay
Leonard Reed, “First Betrayal”, Animal Watch
F. Subject-Related Series
Shawn Messonnier, DVM, “Alleviating Arthritis”, AKC Gazette
G-1. Regular Column in All Breed Magazine
Margaret Gibbs & Karen Pryor, “Behavior”, AKC Gazette
G-2. Regular Column in Special Interest Publication
Ed & Toni Eames, “Team Talk”, Off Lead
H. Yearbook/Educational Handbook/Manual/Special Volume
Greyhounds, Lisa Hanks, Popular Dogs
Category III: Club Publications
A-1. National Club Publication (Magazine Format)
The Courier, Terry Cardillino
A-2. National Club Publication (Newsletter Format)
The Fan Hitch, Sue Hamilton
B. Local Club Publication
Golden Tales, Rue Chagoll, editor, Golden Retriever Club ofCentral New York
C-1. Individual Article in National Club Publication
Kathryn Lanam, “Peak Performance” Dewclaw
C-2. Individual Article in Local Club Publication
Patti Conroy, “A Breeder’s Rescue”, Golden Tales
D. Subject Related Series or Regular Column
Tony Szczuka, “Funny Bone”, GSD Review
E. Yearbook, Educational Handbook, or Special Volume
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation Annual Report
Category IV: Books
A. Single Breed
Lee Livingood, Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies, HungryMinds
B. Care and Health
Caroline D. Levin, Dogs, Diet and Disease, LanternPublications
C. Training and Behavior
Cis Frankel, Urban Dog, Willow Creek Press
D. General Reference
Fred Grayson & Chris Kingsley, The Portable Petswelcome.com,Howell Book House
E. General Interest
Paul Glassner, Cinderella Dogs, Kinship Communications
F. Fiction
Gail MacMillan, Biography of a Beagle, Borealis Press
G. Short Book Under 100 Pages
Ed Camelli & Mike Singer, What Labs Love, Howell BookHouse
H. Single Breed Pet Guide
Audrey Pavia, The Labrador Retriever Handbook, Barron’s
I. Children’s
Marty Crisp, Private Captain, Philomel
Category V: Graphic Arts, Short Fiction, Pamphlets, Poetry
A-1. Photography: Color
Dogphoto.com, English Springer Spaniel, AKC Gazette
A-2. Photography: Black and White
Kent & Donna Dannen, Corgi, The Herdsman
B. Illustration
Chet Jezierski, Dogs Serving Mankind, AKC Gazette
C. Series/Essay of Photographs or Illustrations
Todd Buttenham, “Destination”, Dogs in Canada
D. Short Fiction
Carol Skolnick, “A Girl, Some Dogs”, AKC Gazette
E. Pamphlet
Barkleigh Productions GroomOgram
F. Poster/Calendar/Special Publication
American Kennel Club, Annual Report
G. Poetry
Lee Netzler, “The Sale”
Category VI: Non-Print Media
A. Videotape
American Kennel Club, “Safety Around Dogs”
B-1. Internet/Electronic Publishing (Individual FeatureArticle)
Caroline Coile, “Punish the Deed”
B-2. Internet/Electronic Publishing (Regular Column)
Jacque Lynn Schultz, “Breed ID”
C. Other: Including Radio, Television, Movies and More
Steve Dale, “Pet Central”
D. Online/Electronic Books
Ed Presnall, Component Training
Special Awards
The DWAA presented a special plaque in memory of Roger Caras tohis family.
The Elsworth S. Howell Award, sponsored by Howell Book House,for the best article on judging, exhibiting, dog-show reporting orany other aspect of conformation showing.
Capt. Arthur J. Haggerty, “Morris and Essex Redux”, GermanShepherd Review (April 2001)
The Eukanuba Canine Health Award, offered by the Iams Company,for the article or book that best promotes the health andwell-being of dogs.
Susan McCullough, “Putting a Leash on Health Care”, Dog World(April 2001)
The Akc Club Publication Excellence Award for the best articlein a national, regional or local club publication; magazine ornewsletter format.
Sandi Martin, “A Tribute to Olivia: My Forever Dog”
The Dwaa Junior Writer Award to writers under 18 years of age.The award recognizes and encourages young writers who exhibittalent, resourcefulness, dedication and integrity in their writingabout dogs and dog-related topics.
H. R. Hoerr, “My First Lure Trial”, in the Basenji Club ofAmerica, Inc. Bulletin (June 2001)
The Humane Issues Special Award, offered by the ASPCA, for thework which best illuminates one of the following aspects of theASPCA mission: pet overpopulation, humane education, shelteradoptions or the prevention of cruelty.
Paul Glassner, Cinderella Dogs
THe Veterinary Information Network Health Education Awardpresented to the single article entry that best educates andinforms the dog owning public about technical advances andinnovations in canine veterinary medicine.
Rhonda Hovan, “Perspectives: The Future of Dog Breeding”, GoldenRetriever News (May-June 2001)
The World Canine Freestyle Organization’s award for the bestprint, radio, television or internet coverage of caninefreestyle.
Jackie Loohauis, “Sit, Stay, Cha-cha-cha!”, The Milwaukee JournalSentinel (August 28, 2001)
The Merial Human-Animal Bond Award for the work which besthighlights the special bond between people and their treasuredpets.
Diane Jessup, The Dog Who Spoke to Gods, St. Martin’s Press,2001
The DogRead list award to the winner of the BEST BOOK.
Paul Glassner, Cinderella Dogs, Kinship Communications
Off Lead ‘s award to the author of the best trainingarticle.
Martin Delley, “Training Just an Ordinary Hunting Dog”, Off Lead(July/August 2001)
Newspaper Of The Year Award, offered by Heinz Nature’sRecipe.
Deborah Wood and The Oregonian
The Pedigree President’s Award for the best entry among theMaxwell winners.
Rue Chagoll, editor, Golden Tales, Golden Retriever Club ofCentral New York
The Communicator’s Award, offered by Wayne Cavanaugh, Presidentof the UKC, awarded to that individual who through excellence incommunication and conduct promotes the best interests of the sportof dogs.
Mary Bloom
© 2002 Dog Writers Association of AmericaInc. All rights reserved.
Mordecai Siegal is President Emeritus of the Dog WritersAssociation of America and the author of 32 published books aboutdogs and cats. His next book is “THE GOOD LIFE. Your Dog’s FirstYear.(Simon & Schuster)” He is available for speakingengagements. His web site address is