Economy Takes Chomp Out of America's Top Dog Show

They're allowed to compete in 'skill-based' events, but not beauty contests

(NEWSER) - The purebred Labradors, spaniels and collies of the dog-show world have a new rival: mutts. The American Kennel Club has changed its rules after 125 years to allow mixed breeds to compete in some events for the first time ever. At a dog show in Virginia this weekend, Otis, the product of an "illicit tryst between a purebred husky and a rakish Lab-chow neighbor dog," took third place in a "Rally" obedience event, the Washington Post reports. More»

Whippet, bulldog, puli and poodle headed for finals tonight

(NEWSER) - The card for tonight’s Best in Show competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show isn’t even filled yet, but speculation is rampant. Sadie the Scottish terrier will compete against others from her group today, and is favored to win. Should that happen, her breed is an 8-to-1 Las Vegas favorite to take the whole show. “As Tom Hanks is a great movie star, Sadie is special,” a breeder tells Bloomberg . More»

(AP) - An old Sussex spaniel taught dogdom a new trick. At 10, Stump became the oldest best-in-show winner ever at the Westminster Kennel Club tonight. A nearly full crowd at Madison Square Garden cheered loudly when judge Sari Tietjen pointed to the new champion. Perhaps the fans knew Stump's back story—he almost died in 2004 from a medical condition, saved by the vets at Texas A&M. More»

Pills can't keep Maltese from attacking Chirac 'for no apparent reason'

(NEWSER) - Former French President Jacques Chirac is recovering after his depressed poodle mauled him, the Daily Mail reports. Sumo, a white Maltese, takes anti-depressants and is prone to making “vicious, unprovoked attacks,” said Bernadette Chirac, who wouldn’t say where her 76-year-old husband had been bitten. “The dog went for him for no apparent reason … but he is certain to make a full recovery.” More»

Campaign aims to find 3,000 animals a home

(NEWSER) - Pet shelters across the nation are urging Americans to get on the Obama bandwagon and adopt a pet; as an added incentive, they're dropping regular fee for the first 10 adoptions at each of 300 participating shelters Jan. 24, USA Today reports. Fees for the 3,000 pets will be picked up by Hill's Pet Nutrition, which organized the event. More»