For the second consecutive year, proceeds from the sale of the poster for the club’s Annual All Breed Dog Show (February 13-14,2006 at Madison Square Garden) will go to support Angel On A Leash, Westminster’s therapy dog program at the hospital. Last year’s poster was sold out, as was the first poster, created in 2004.
Assisting with the unveiling honors was Carlee, the German Shorthaired Pointer that captured Best In Show at Westminster’s 2005 event. Ch. Kan-Point’s VJK Autumn Roses (Carlee’s registered name) traveled to New York from Castle Rock, Colorado with owners Richard and Linda Stark for the event. Also on hand was Westminster’s 2004 Best In Show winner, Josh (Ch. Darbydale’s All Rise Pouch Cove), the Newfoundland owned by Flemington, New Jersey residents David and Peggy Helming and Carol Bergmann.
This year’s poster, again entitled Westminster. There’s only one, is created from an oil painting by noted sports artist Bart Forbes. The painting depicts the defining moment of Carlee’s Best In Show performance last February in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden and millions of viewers on the live telecast on USA Network. The New York skyline is featured in the background, with the Empire State Building, lit in the Westminster colors of purple and gold, prominently displayed.
Mr. Forbes, who painted the 2005 Kentucky Derby official poster,is well-known for his work depicting famous sporting scenes. His countless commissions have included paintings for the Indianapolis 500, America’s Cup, the Olympics, the Professional Golf Association and the U.S. Postal Service. His work has appeared in many American magazines, including Sports Illustrated and TIME, to name but two.
In its first year of existence, Westminster’s Angel On A Leash program was a wonderful success in benefiting the young patients at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian. By integrating therapy dogs into patient care, Angel On A Leash enhanced the healing process for the Hospital’s pediatric patients. With organizations such as the Good Dog Foundation, Delta Society, Vancouver Therapy Dogs and the ASPCA providing the training for special dogs and their human partners, the program touched the lives of patients, their families, and staff at New York’s leading children’s hospital.
The dogs and people of the program, patients and families, and hospital staff, were introduced live at Westminster’s annual show at Madison Square Garden last February. They received a rousing,standing ovation from the capacity crowd, as well as exposure on the national telecast on USA Network. Those very special dogs included “Josh” (Ch. Darbydale’s All Rise Pouch Cove), there doubtable Newfoundland that captured Westminster’s coveted Best In Show award last February. Josh, retired from the show ring after his win, is now a certified therapy dog.
Being in a hospital can be a frightening time for children “away from the comforts of home and family, facing medical procedures and treatments. The use of therapy dogs has been shown to help reduce stress for pediatric patients and their families.Scientific studies are showing the many benefits, ranging from encouraging smiles and conversation, to motivating them during physical therapy.
“Therapy dogs connect patients, especially those who are suffering from chronic illness, to the outside world. The program brings unconditional love from an animal to the bedside, which greatly contributes to the emotional and physical healing process,”says Joan Bompane, Director of Child Life at the hospital.
The Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian www.childrensnyp.org officially opened in November 2003, a significant expansion and renewal of the hospital that, for more than a century, has provided some of the best pediatric care available anywhere. It is ranked among the top four pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S. Newsand World Report.
To order a poster or to learn more about The Westminster Kennel Club, log on to <ahref=”http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org”>www.westminsterkennelclub.org or call (212) 305-3155. For information about Angel On A Leash, call (212) 213-3212 or e-mail <ahref=”mailto:angelonaleash@wkcpr.org”>angelonaleash@wkcpr.org.
The Westminster Kennel Club (<ahref=”http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org”>www.westminsterkennelclub.org) is America’s oldest organization dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs. Established in 1877, Westminster’s influence has been felt for more than a century through its famous all breed, benched dogs how held every year at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The show is America’s second longest continuously held sporting event,behind only the Kentucky Derby. Westminster will stage its 130th consecutive show on February 13-14, 2006, nationally televised on USA Network.
New York-Presbyterian Hospital is home to one of the world’s leaders in pediatric care, the Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian (<ahref=”http://www.childrensnyp.org”>www.childrensnyp.org), which includes Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital affiliated with Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Weill Cornell Children’s Hospital affiliated with Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Together, as the largest provider of children’s health services in the tri-state area, they offer the best available care in every area of pediatrics-including the most complex neonatal and critical care, and all areas of pediatric surgery and surgical sub specialties.