True Bliss
Gulfport King Charles Spaniel Takes on Westminster Dog Show By Abby Baker
Miss Bliss, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sporting a Mairlyn Monroe-esque beauty mark and a price tag of upwards of $4,500, can be found lounging, tongue-out, on her owner Michele True’s Gulfport front porch most days. On Saturday, June 12, at 1 p.m. on the dot, the local spaniel became canine royalty, brushed and blown out, prancing across the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’s stage in Tarrytown, New York and live streamed in prime time. Though Bliss left New York without any new ribbons, True couldn’t be more honored to compete. “We’re content and couldn’t be happier,” True said. “She showed her little heart out.” According to True, Miss Bliss made it with a handful of other spaniels to the “almost” final cut, and was the only dog in her breed that made it that far without the luxury of a pro-
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fessional handler. “We’re so proud of this girl and her spirited approach to life,” True said. “We didn’t win any awards, but we certainly won when she came into our lives.” Best in Show, Westminster Edition The Westminster Dog Show, an illustrious canine competition that compares The American Kennel Club (AKC) dog breeds on their conformity to the specific breed standards, was held outdoors on an estate in Tarrytown instead of Madison Square Garden for the first time in 145 years. There were no physical spectators or vendors this year, but the cameras continued to roll. “There’s no money, but there is a big stinkin’ trophy,” True said, with a tiny spaniel sleeping at her feet. “It’s not about the money; it’s about
dedication to the breed and for a lot of people, the validation of doing a spot-on job.” For Miss Bliss and the other 33 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels that competed in the race for perfection, the change of venue due to pandemic precautions made no difference to the intensity of the competition. “Of course I hope she wins, but I’m really rooting for the breed,” True said before the competition. “I’d be happy to see a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the top.” Still, the toy breed has never yet won Best in Show at Westminster, with Pomeranians and Pekingese frequenting the winner’s circle. It was True and Bliss’s first time entering the Westminster ring; furry contestants can only attend if they are champion dog show winners and are chosen in a lottery system, or if they get formally invited.
theGabber.com | June 17, 2021 - June 23, 2021
