Getting the Nursery Ready

AKC/UKC Champion Sierra's Athena (pictured below) has been bred to Sierra's The West Wing (pictured above). While we never count puppies before they're born, it looks like the breeding took. Puppies are expected mid-June. This will be Athena's last litter and our only Eskie litter for 2009. We can't wait to see these little bundles of white fluff.

Animal Rights Activist on FBI most wanted list

In other animal rights news, the FBI today placed Daniel Andreas San Diego on its list of most-wanted terrorists. He is wanted in connection with summer 2003 explosions at a California biotechnology research laboratory, Chiron Life Sciences Centre and another facility. The FBI has offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

"Animal rights and environmental extremism pose a significant domestic terror threat," the FBI said in a press statement. It said that animal-rights extremists have caused more than $110m in damages.

Helmsley Trust Grants

Most of you know that billionaire Leona Helmsley left $12 million to her Maltese and directed the majority of her estate be directed towards "purposes related to the provision of care for dogs," along with other charities. However, in February judge, Troy K. Webber of Surrogate’s Court in Manhattan decided that he knew better what should be done with Mrs. Helmsley's estate. He reduced the Maltese's share to $2 million, gave $6 million to each of the two grandchildren she explicitly excluded and told the trustees they weren't limited to dog related charities and could divy up her monies as THEY saw fit.

So, out of the $136 million in grants today, only $1 million went to the dogs. The monies went to service dog organizations, seeing eye dog organizations and dogs for the deaf. The only good thing is that none of it went to the animal rights groups, PETA and HSUS.

American Shetland Sheepdog Association National Specialty Show

The American Shetland Sheepdog Association (ASSA) will be holding its National Specialty Show in Perry, GA April 18 - 26. Obedience, agility, junior showmanship, futurity and conformationwill be held at Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. Herding will be held at Woods End in Watkinsville, GA. Visitors are welcome


For more information see: http://www.sscgeorgia.org/national//welcome.html

Phoenix CABRA Microchip & Vaccine Clinic

The Coalition of All Breed Rescue Assoc. (CABRA) will be holding microchip and vaccine clinics Sunday May 17th, 2009 and Sunday July 19th, 2009 from 10 AM to 3 PM.

LOCATION: University of Arizona Maricopa Co. Cooperative Extension, 4341 E. Broadway in Phoenix.

HOW TO GET THERE: I-10 to 40th St., South to Broadway and then east on Broadway to 43rd Pl. Building is on the south side of Broadway at 43rd Place.

If you have less than 6 animals to chip or vaccinate, the cost for microchipping is $15 and vaccines will cost $15 for micrchipped pets and $20 for pets without microchips.

Ch. Voodoo Retires

Ch. Voodoo has officially retired from the show ring. Her new career will entail couch lizard and bed buddy to David & Yvonne Heron and their 5 year old daughter.

Sad but happy day

Clue and Stevie left today for their retirement home. The lovely couple with them are Gene & Diana Dieckhoner from Sedona. Gene is a gifted artist http://www.genedieckhoner.com/ and his wife is his manager. We know that Clue and Stevie will be spoiled by them.