Fur, Fins and Feathers Fur, Fins and Feathers By BRIAN LOWNEY
Blue terrier for sale at a local kennel in When I was a young boy,LOWNEY By BRIAN Swansea, The local my father’s friend anBlue terrier for sale Iatimmediately a local kennel called. in When I was a young boy, By Brian J. Lowney breeder ownedcalled. Kerries nounced that he I immediately Theand localWire-Fox termy father’s friend an-had a lit- Swansea, breederriers owned Kerries ternounced that he had litand had and oneWire-Fox Kerry puppy for sale. ter of puppies fora sale. There are few folks who don’t riers and had one Kerry puppy for sale. ter of puppies for sale. Needless to say, Connolly of Castletown The Basset-Beagle mixes own or at least enjoymixes a furry, Needless to say, Connolly of Castletown The Basset-Beagle arrived home that day and my life change cost five dollarscreature! and my finned, ordollars feathered arrived home that day and my life changed cost five and my father, mother, young forever.forever. father, mother, young brother, and visited the Westport, brother, and visited Westport, Mas- MasWhether it’s aI Icat, dog,the iguana, parakeet, Being aBeing terrier, aConnolly a bit ramterrier,was Connolly was a bit ramsachusetts farm thethe puppy was was sachusetts farmwhere where puppy Macaw, pot-bellied pig, and even a tarantula bunctious and needed training. I was handed our family. The The bunctious and needed training. I was handed to ourenthusiastic enthusiastic family. or exoticto lizard, our obsession with pets, both teaching in Westport at the time and one playful hound, named “Annie,” lived with teaching in Westport at the time and one playful hound, named “Annie,” large and small, continues to grow bylived leapswith of my student’s fathers also owned dogs us for more than 13 years and stole more my student’s fathers also owned dogs and bounds. us for more than 13 years and stole more and wasofactive in a local kennel club. I than her share of the neighbor’s rubbers, wasfor active in anever localthinkkennel club. I than share of the rubbers, broughtand my dog training, toys,her garden gloves, andneighbor’s anything else My cable television program, Fur, Fins and ing about brought my but dogjust forrather training, dog shows, to never thinktoys, garden gloves, and anything else sheown could grab. Feathers, broadcast on Swansea Cable Televihave a dog that would behave and settle ing about dog shows, but just rather to she could grab. sion atIJoseph Casefrom High college School in down. have a dog that would behave and settle When graduated in Swansea, the Mass., is now much oftoMaslate ‘70s, andcarried began throughout working, I sought down. When I graduated from college in the While Bartos enjoys many her I enrolled in a class taught byactivities Al Kirby, with a purchase aand purebred started readsachusetts also atdog. cableI stations in Verdogs, her passion is agility. is a growing late ‘70s, and began working, I sought to consummate dog trainer from Agility Westport, ing “Dog World” from cover to cover and mont, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Colorado, dog Isport in who the in United States, with 1 milenrolled a class taught by Al Kirby, a purchase a purebred dog. started read- Massachusetts, together with his over became bythroughout all theI fascinatand othermesmerized communities the United entries to the AKC’s program each Betty, owned Stonehouse Kennels, ing“Dog canine breeds. Remember thosetheand wifelion consummate dog Agility trainer from Westport, ing World” from cover to cover States. Now celebrating its 66ththat episode, year. Dogs race against a clock, as they navirenowned breeders of Great Danes and were themesmerized pre-Internet days, and I was Massachusetts, who together with his became all the fascinathalf-hour long broadcastby continues to attract Pembroke Corgis. Kirby invited intrigued by the late Louis Iacobucci’s gatewife anWelsh obstacle course with strongmy concentraBetty, owned Stonehouse Kennels, ing canine Remember that those viewers whobreeds. are interested in the program’s mother and I to join the Wampanoag KenSunday pet column that appeared in the tion and speed. livelythe format. renowned breeders of Great were pre-Internet days, and I was nel Club, an organization of which I am Danes and Sunday Providence Journal. Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Kirby invited my intrigued by the late Louis Iacobucci’s still Bartos a member. explains that agility competitions allow As the program expands and attracts new folmother and to I to join the Wampanoag After reading about the fabled Sealyham Sunday pet column that appeared in the breeds of all sizes work with their owners to Ken lowers across the country, I introduce animal The Kirbys invited me to attend dog shows terrier, I sought to purchase a puppy, anexercise. organization of which I am Sunday Providence Journal. havenel funClub, and get loving listeners to new breeds and activities. as a spectator, and once but I could not find that particular breed still a member.I attended my first “fun match” and won a ribbon, I was When I became available. I theninterested searched in forthe mysport sec-of dogs After reading abouthound, the fabled Sealyham soonThe busy woman, who is employed at Franklin hooked. ond choice, a were basset couldn’t in 1980, there just a few but canine-related ParkThe Zoo Kirbys in Boston, enjoysme training her dogs invited to attend dog show terrier, sought to purchase a more puppy, locate aI puppy in the area. I started activities to enjoy. Today, there are than in a as variety of canine-related pursuits, includ- my a spectator, once I attended but I could notdog find that such particular breed won a fewand champion local shows, as theand aattending dozen performance-related activities the While Connolly ing tracking and scent work, says her I was points, he never was a title holder. He truly events sponsored the Providence first “fun match” andand won a that ribbon, available. I then by searched for my secAKC now registers almost 200 breeds. activities keep her busy and constantly active was a beloved family companion, however, County Kennel Club andhound, became but fascinatsoon hooked. ond choice, a basset couldn’t andand spent hours every day sitting alonged by the various breeds and their unique learning. One recent episode Taunton, Massalocate a puppy in featured the area. I started side my father, who was suffering from histories. Every time I visited a show, I chusetts resident, Chrisshows, Bartos, who While Connolly won a few champion attending local dog suchfeatured as the Parkinson’s disease. wanted a different breed. Ocean State resident, Alexandra Rey, a native her two most recent breeds, an Irish Water points, he never was a title holder. He tru events sponsored by the Providence of Colombia and owner of Paw Prints Pet Arts, Spaniel and a Lowchen, a small my career in Kerries, I have exhibwas aobsession beloved family companion, Once I learned that there was acompanion Kerryfascinat- During County Kennel Club and became began her with animals as a small howeve breed developed in Germany, known as “a little and hours every her daypassion sittingasalonged by the various breeds and their unique child andspent continues to develop lion.” 70 Shop In RI side my father, who was suffering from histories. Every time I visited a show, I 72 Shop In RI 72 Shop In RI Parkinson’s disease. wanted a different breed.
