CHATTERBOX WISHES ALL OUR
READERS THECOMPLMENTS OF
THE SEASON
BOY'S BEST FRIEND
A boy battling cancer in Philadelphia got a very special surprise. A new best friend with the help of local firefighters and Justice Rescue. Days don't get much better than this. Ben Buber and his big brother Nathan have just met the best friend they may ever have: a Cavalier puppy named Bentley.This "tail" began back when a man walked into the Medic 10 firestatio on in Mt. Airy, Pennsylvania carrying a stray dog who'd been roaming the streets. The firefighters quickly took a shine to the pooch, but knew they had to find a foster family while they looked for the dog’s rightful owners. Ben and his family took the dog and fell in love. Sadly, they were devastated to learn the rightful owners had indeed come forward. "That was a tough day because I had to go up to the Buber family and pick up the dog and take it away from them,” said Fire Captain John Linker. The firefighters were not about to let this story of puppy love end with a broken heart. They reached out to Justice Rescue and Russ Harper found them a replacement in need of a good home and a little boy to cuddle with. "Only 11 weeks old but he's already been rescued from abuse,” said Harper. “He was actually abandoned and dropped off. So we picked him for the temperament that they generally have and because of the similar story of need. That puppy is going to need love just like these boys are going to need love." So the firefighters organized a special surprise for Ben, Nathan and their little brother Joseph: a visit with Santa Claus himself. And right there in the kitchen of the Philly firehouse with family and firefighters crowded around a very sick little boy got a brand new best friend.Ben patted the little dog on the head and the pup returned the attention by licking everyone within reach. The firefighters presented Ben and his brothers with a mountain of toys as well. But before long, Ben and Nathan were back lavishing attention on their new friend. As for mom and dad? They hope a brain tumor is no match for strangers with big hearts. "I'm just overwhelmed,” said Jessica Gans, as she wiped away tears. "This means the world. It's everything." Ben’s brain tumor had been robbing him of his sight. But mom and dad say that situation has actually gotten a bit better. Now their son has a brand new “nurse” to help him through the rough times ahead. A nurse with four legs, big, floppy ears and a cold, wet nose.
HOW "ART" THOU?
This narrative painting entitled "BEFORE" by William Hogarth (English 1697 - 1764) describes the moments before a seduction. A young man in red breeches attempts to pull a young woman onto a bed. Struggling, she tries to push him away, dragging her dressing table down with her. Ironically, an open drawer reveals a book on the rules of courtship. Below, a small dog barks, alarmed by the commotion. Sent by Elsa Marie Kitching
A CUMBRIAN HOTEL CATERS
FOR CANINES
Sharrow Bay Hotel, in Ullswater in Cumbria has installed a new shower - specially designed for dogs. The hotel in the Lake District has launched the facility which includes new decor and a rain shower-head, which is at a lower height than normal so it can be used for dogs. It also features a selection of pampering products including argan oil shampoos and conditioners, hairdryer and soft towels. The hotel has described itself as "dog-friendly" and this shower is designed to make sure that any guests who take their dog into the countryside to climb a fell or paddle in a lake will be able to clean their pet thoroughly afterwards. A spokeswoman for the hotel said: "Pups arriving at Sharrow Bay are welcomed with a towel to use throughout their stay, treats to eat and can even have bespoke meals arranged for them." Earlier this month Sharrow Bay was one of five accommodation providers in the county to be awarded Cumbria Tourism’s Quality Cumbria ‘Superior’ status.
ON THE SHELF
a fun read! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-We-Love-Dogs-Personality/dp/0684839016
CLASSY CARDS....celebrating
the Cavalier
artist.....PAMELA HALL
click onhttp://www.laughingcavaliers.com/wp/note-cards/#buy-now
NEWS FROM CAVALIER CHAT NEW ZEALAND
Jan Eatock (Darilance Cavaliers) writes "When Kelly Toon, one of the Facebook Group 'Cavalier Chat NZ' members, lost her father Mike in heart-breaking circumstances the group displayed true compassion and generosity in donating well over NZ$1,500 dollars to buy flowers and gifts to show their support for a fellow Cavalier owner. Messages of sympathy and comfort flowed in and members living in the area rallied, taking care of Kelly’s dog Beau, talking with family and visiting Kelly in hospital. During an afternoon visit to her family, Kelly had gone with her father to walk their 2 dogs along a riverside where the dogs liked to swim, when her father's dog got into difficulty. Sadly the rescue of the dog ended in tragedy with the accidental drowning of Mike, after he had heroically saved his daughter Kelly from the fast flowing river. Kelly was taken to hospital in a serious condition due to hypothermia and near drowning.
Discharged after 5 days Kelly is home and making a full recovery. Mike was a very well respected police officer and member of the community in the Manawatu region of New Zealand and will be sadly missed. The Facebook group Cavalier Chat NZ was started just 2 years ago by Andrew & Jan Eatock and the membership has steadily risen to over 500 members across New Zealand. The group has brought owners and their Cavaliers support, information and friendship, and members hold regular play dates and walks in their own region.
SWEET SMELLING
Victorian silver and crystal perfume flacon .....available at www.hamsheregallery.co.uk
The Humberside Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club are very pleased to announce that they now have a new Website. Please visit at www.humbersidecavalier.co.uk and take a look. Full of Breed information and advice for owners of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in the Humberside region of the UK and information about Club activities and events.
Lorraine Crozier (Korraines) judged at their last Open show in September and made Toscam MckaylaBEST IN SHOW and Beaconsfylde CatchThe Kiss JWBEST OPPOSITE
WILMA WINS
BEST IN SHOW at the CKCS Club Open Show in August was Magic Charm's Witchy Woman To Delhaze. Judge Ruta Towse (Miletree). 'Wilma' is own and loved by Hazel & Eddie Edwards (Delhaze) and bred in Norway by Unni Olsen
HOORAY FOR HARRISBURG
At the CKCSC USA Elizabeth I Spalding Memorial Showin Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in October, Ginger Harrison (Bentwood) chose the following winners (thank you to Liz Keane for this photo)
PRETTY PIPPA
A six-month-old Cavalier in Tennessee will be featured on the cover of the Herald-Citizen’s 2017 Putnam County Pet Calendar."Pippa" is the beloved pet of the VanStratum family of Cookeville. She received 2,200 votes to secure her position on the cover of the inaugural calendar.
THE ICING ON THE CAKE
TOP CAVALIER ICELAND 2016
IS CH MAGIC CHARM's ARTIC (CH Miletree Melchoir x Magic Charm's Fawn)bred in Norway by Unni Olsen and owned by Maria Tomasdottir.
"Honey" the Cavalier starred in a musical at the Tivoli in Wimborne, Dorset earlier this month. The Wimborne Musical Theatre Society happily ignored the old adage ‘never work with children or animals’ and welcomed Honey on stage during a big party scene in their show, Sounds of the 50s and 60s. The society described 18-month-old Honey as “very affectionate and sociable” with a “lovely, calm temperament”. She is owned by a local family who allowed her to take part in the show.Chairwoman Sylvia Walpole said Honey seemed to enjoy her role. “At our recent rehearsals, Honey has been quietly sitting and patiently waiting for her cue. I must get all the members to do that,” she joked.
TAKASHI RETURNS......
He came all the way from Japan to judge the super entry of 99 Cavaliers at the Three Counties Peke and Cavalier Openshow on 29th October. His choices included
Arroline Infinity JW ShCM BEST OF BREEDwho also went Reserve Best in Show under Raye Parry
Narayden Diva Fever at Hansowens BEST OPPOSITE
CAVALIER CLASSICS
famous painting of a CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL by the worldwide acclaimed artist George Stubbs 1724-1806 (Liverpool)...sent by Bruno de Castro
A dog that used to eat whole Sunday roasts has become pet slimmer of the year after losing over a third of its body weight. 'Oscar' the Cavalier was morbidly obese just six months ago after weeks of comfort eating following the death of his owner. The 10-year-old hit a whopping 3st 6lb - 80% over his ideal weight - and as a consequence faced serious health problems and a shortened life span. His owner's daughter then enrolled Oscar on a pet slimming course where the pooch returned to a healthier 2st 1lb following weeks of training. And now he has won PDSA's pet slimmer of the year, beating off stiff competition from other dogs and a rabbit named Pebbles. Karren Allen told Good Morning Britain that her mother, Oscar's owner, started "comfort feeding" when she became a widower. But Ms Allen said the over-indulgence was a much longer-term problem, as one of Oscar's favourite meals was a traditional Sunday dinner - with all the trimmings. "Dad used to do all the cooking, including Sunday roasts just for Oscar"."You look at your pets. You love them to bits and they've only got to look at you with those eyes and it's like 'there you go'". When Oscar enrolled in PDSA's annual Pet Fit Club he was morbidly obese and could only manage 15 seconds a time in the swimming pool.After every paddle the trainer would have to grab on to Oscar to prevent him from going under. But having lost enormous amounts of weight, Oscar now "loves" jumping into the pool and can even manage a 10-minute swim without a break. PDSA vet Paul Manktelow warned that over-eating and leftovers were one of the biggest downfalls for dogs - leaving many dangerously overweight. He explained that a packet of crisps is equivalent to two big steak pies for a dog. A slice of toast is the same of a bag of chips; three pieces of cheese equivalent to two cheese burgers; and a tin of tuna the same as 35 chicken nuggets.
Ch Cobbets Cockney Rebel Imp UK (Cobbets Dizzy Rascal ex Cobbets Lula Tallulah) bred in the UK by Sue Shrimpton has had phenominal success in Australia for Sally and Ray Patersonof Cabrook Cavaliers in Adelaide. In the ring "Morse" has topped the bill at numerous Australian Cavalier specialties as well as making his mark as a stud dog. This year he enters retirement and Sally and Ray sends a photo of the celebration that took place at the Canberra Special where everyone enjoyed cake and bubbly and wished him well.
DOGS AID DEMENTIA
In a small corner room at The Ivey Memory Wellness Day Center in North Carolina, author Joan O. Wright sits with a group of the facility’s members, who all have memory loss issues. They all are focused on Duncan the Cavalier. One member cuddles and strokes his head, while others comment on how soft his fur is and ask about his age.They talk about dogs they’ve had, and Wright interjects a story about how when she got married, she told her husband that part of the deal was the dog got to sleep on the bed. That elicits laughter from this dog-loving group.Wright has found that Duncan makes this kind of free-flowing conversation possible with a group that might otherwise struggle to talk. Engaging people with memory loss in conversation is one way to help them maintain their cognitive level.“I think Duncan facilitates a higher level of conversation,” said Jen Sexton, program development coordinator at The Ivey, which offers daytime care for people with memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions. “To make that conversation come out, you must have something that stimulates that.“Duncan makes it very easy.”Wright’s work with Duncan was inspired by her own father, a successful business executive and community leader who suffered from dementia the last four years of his life.“The dementia really diminished his cognitive skills,” Wright, 60, said. “When I would go visit him, I would get really anxious about conversation.”Wright’s parents had a Cavalier named Oliver, and Wright noticed that when Oliver was around, her father would engage in conversation about the dog. Time seemed to pass much more quickly during their visits.“The dog would be a safe zone,” Wright said. “We could direct our conversation at, with or about the dog. It gave us a way to connect.”Wright had another experience with pet therapy when her young adult daughter, Emma, was diagnosed with cancer. Emma greatly enjoyed visits from a therapy dog when she was in the hospital.When Wright and her husband got Duncan, their second dog, Wright began considering training him as a therapy dog. Duncan passed the training, and Wright began looking for a place to volunteer.She met a staff member from The Ivey at a Christmas party, and Wright soon interviewed with Sexton to become a regular volunteer with Duncan. She usually schedules her visits in the late afternoon, which fits into her work schedule and is a good time of day for members of The Ivey.Sexton said that members can get anxious as the time gets closer for them to be picked up. Spending time with Duncan in a relaxed, quiet setting “is a chance for them to finish the day well.” Sexton said.Wright typically holds two, 30-minute sessions with Duncan. She comes prepared with conversation starters, including a book about dogs that she shows members and toys for Duncan to play with. In October, she brought her laptop and showed members pictures of dogs dressed up for Halloween in her townhouse community.Depending on the group, the conversation can be hopping. If members have suffered more significant memory loss, the room may be much quieter.“Sometimes just not talking is good too,” Wright said. Some members who don’t speak as much still enjoy petting Duncan and being around him.Marinell Marcus, a member of The Ivey, said that the session with Duncan was relaxing, and she described the dog as soft, gentle and well-mannered.“It just did something to my heart,” Marcus said. “He was just so lovable.”As she leaves The Ivey, she stops to let members who didn’t attend the session pet Duncan. The dog often sparks good memories for members about pets they have owned.“I just love coming here,” Joan said. “Obviously, Duncan does too.”
Good wishes to Diana Koster (Harana) who recently became unwell and had to spend some time in hospital. Get back to us soon....Others who are in our thoughts...Mervyn Hunter (Spennithorne),
Debra Cline (Forestcreek), Caroline Gatheral (Kershope), and Lauren Nikaci's (Truluv) husband Tom Nikaci.....all have been poorly........ look after yourselves
Meet Daisy Mai a little dog whose confidence was shattered after enduring two years of neglect has blossomed under the care of her new owner and has even won a show. Anyone who meets Daisy Mai could not help but fall in love with the adorable Cavalier.Although a little on the timid side at first, the smaller than average pooch is friendly and inquisitive with glossy fur and big dark eyes that melted the heart of her owner Cath Magee from Willington, County Durham. But just over a year ago she was a different dog altogether, having spent the first two years of her life starved of care, human affection and veterinary treatment. Her teeth were in such a terrible state she could barely eat, her ears were badly infected and her paws were stained suggesting she was frequently stepping in her own urine and faeces.But what alarmed Mrs Magee most was how terrified she was. “Anyone who knows Cavaliers knows how friendly they are,” she said. “They come running up to you, wagging their tails. She was sat on a leather chair facing the back of the chair and shaking. It was perfectly clear she’d been living in poor conditions.” Mrs Magee is a member of the Facebook group Saving Cavaliers UK, a nationwide network of dog lovers who monitor social media and classified websites for adverts of Cavaliers they fear are at risk. When they saw Daisy Mai’s advert, the wording rang alarm bells and they were concerned she was in danger. “The advert made her sound like a breeding dog but she is so small it would most likely kill her to have puppies,” said Mrs Magee. “We were frightened she would end up with a back yard breeder or at an illegal puppy breeding farm.” The Facebook group works alongside the registered charity West Yorkshire Dog Rescue and it was on behalf of both organisations that Mrs Magee responded to the advert and rescued Daisy Mai, a name she later gave to the dog. She immediately took the dog to the vets and initially planned to foster her until a permanent home could be found. However, having seen her own dogs’ reaction to Daisy Mai and witnessed the extent of her trauma, she knew she had to adopt her “I already had three Cavaliers and as soon as I brought her home they started to mother her,” said Mrs Magee, who runs her own dog walking business, Wag and Walks. “She was so frightened and I knew further change was the last thing she needed, plus by this point we had all fallen in love with her.” Daisy Mai’s recovery was a slow process but as her confidence grew she began to feel at home with her loving new family.
And last month, Mrs Magee took her to Hunwick Dog Parliament’s dog show, where she not only won Bonniest Bitch but was named Best in Show. “I cried at that point,” said her smitten owner. “You could tell she was loving all of the attention. She has gone from always having her eyes down and her tail between her legs, to a dog with a waggy tail and her head held high. It makes me very emotional when I think of what she has been through.”
From Lisa Lott in Canada...."In September, I made my first trip to Canada's East Coast to Halifax, Nova Scotia for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Canada's National Specialty. I took "Nell" Burbrook Wug Royal Shenaningansand "Huey" Grand Champion Burbrook Broduil FitzWug.
"Nell" was awarded Best Baby Puppy in Specialty by Frank Kane from the UK.
"Huey" was awarded Puppy of the Year 2016 by Mary Kendrick of Jasago Cavaliers, PEI, Canada. (Both are owned by Lisa Lott of Wug Cavaliers and co-bred with Peggy Wallace of Burbrook Cavaliers.) They share the same father, GCh Wug's Royal Oak CGN. I was also awarded my 25 Year Membership pin from the CKCSCC. The weather was wonderful and Frank Kane gave a great talk about structure & movement. Dr. Etienne Cote from the Atlantic Veterinary College spoke about the latest in MVD protocols detailing the success Denmark has had. The Atlantic Regional Club were great hosts we enjoyed the show and seeing all of the sites and can't wait to visit again.
JUNIOR JOY
Leogem Renaissance owned and bred by Tina and Dennis Homes has recently won his Junior Warrant. Nice win, guys
Saddened to be told of the passing of two Cavalier lovers. From Lancashire, Bernice Mair (Meadowpark) at the age of 83 years after a short illness and stay in hospital and Charlie Smith (Fenmist)from Penicuik in Midlothian, Scotland.
Our thoughts go to the families at this time.
2017 IS ALMOST HERE.......
If you haven't yet grabbed your copy of the all-new, award-winning "The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in Fine Art Calendar for 2017", now's your chance. Featuring artistic masterpieces extolling the Cavalier from the early Victorian era to contemporary, this extra-large (12"x 24") helpmate has been meticulously created with the highest quality materials and attention to detail. And, of course, these unique calendars make wonderful gifts for your Cavalier-loving friends, too! A must have!
www.laughingcavaliers.com/wp/calendars/#buy-now
THEFESTIVE SPIRIT
Paula Ayers(Brookhaven) came from Georgia in the USA to judge the Cavalier Club'sDecember Open show and the festive cheer was very apparent. Her top winners were...
Best In Show...LEOGEM RENAISSANCE JW
Best Puppy, Best Bitch and Reserve Best in Show....PENNYGOWN TICKET TO RIDE
plenty of bottles of bling bubbles for the winners
with thanks to contributors...hope you have enjoyed the editions throughout 2016.......SEE YOU ALL IN 2017 ......... Norma and Chatterbox
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