BY ALEXIS TARRAZI – Straus News
NEW YORK CITY — Culminating weeks of training, dieting, running and trips to the salon for hair, nail and teeth treatments, these furry four-legged competitors are ready to strut their stuff at the Westminster Dog Show 2013 in New York City next Monday and Tuesday. Local canines from Hopatcong and Hewitt are among the contestants competing for a title.
Jasper of Hopatcong, NJ
Jasper
Marie and Rich Parisi of Hopatcong will be showing their Bullmastiff named Jasper, who is three. Jasper competed last year at Westminster but did not receive an award but did win the Philadelphia Kennel Club Show for Bullmastiff.
“Westminster is like a once in a lifetime thing,” said Marie. “He is competing to be in the top 20 this year.”
Being a short haired breed, Jasper requires less preparation for the show than other dogs.
“He doesn’t have to be groomed as much as say a Bichon Frise, so pretty much for him he just gets a bath and gets his nails cut and he is pretty much ready to go,” said Marie.
An interesting story about Jasper, the Parisi family ventured to Vermont where Madelyn, who was nine at the time, lost her shoe in the creek. Jasper jumped into the creek at the deepest part and got her daughter’s shoe for her.
“It was very ironic because not being a retriever at all and not being a water dog — for him to jump into the water knowing that it was her shoe and get it for her and bring it right to her was wonderful,” said Marie.
Chance of Hewitt, NJ
Chance
A little farther north in Hewitt, resides Leah Ramsey a 17-year-old West Milford High School senior, who will be showing her Doberman Pinscher named Chance. Although still a minor, this isn’t Leah’s first rodeo.
Leah competed in her first dog show at the age of eight and won Best Puppy in Show at the Gloucester County Kennel Club with a six-month-old Doberman Pincher.
Over the years, Leah has continued to compete on an average of two to three shows almost every weekend all over the United States, including New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, Maryland and soon to be California, accumulating tons of awards.
Leah attributes her love of dogs to her mother, who bought the family’s first show dog when she was four years old.
“Even though I am a first generation handler, my mom has always had a love for animals, dogs being number one,” said Leah in a statement to Westminster. “She, along with my father (Tim) and older brother (Luke), are there for me no matter what. Even though I bother them, I know I can always count on them whether it be for dropping me off at the local park to take a dog for a run, or taking me to training class once a week. They support me 100 percent and I can’t ask for a better family than that.”
Chance may actually have a chance to win the dog show as his mother, Ava, and father, Gunner, were both show dogs that won many awards. Chance included has racked up a number of awards and he is only 10 months old.
Turning her passion for Dobermans into a business, Leah started Hands Above Handling, LLC last year. She serves as a handler for her clients’s dogs – which include Boxers and Border Collies, Black Russian Terriers and Beagles. She has also won multiple titles for them.
“It is a hobby that I turned into a business,” said Leah.
After graduation, Leah plans to attend college, major in business and remain in the world of dog shows by becoming a professional handler and opening a small kennel.
Financing their daughter’s dream and supporting her along the way, Tim and Linda Ramsey are very proud of their daughter.
“She is a gifted handler and was born with the gift to communicate with dogs,” said her mom. “She took her gift and turned it into a talent… I think it’s really awesome she is competing — every parent wants to have their child do something they love. We are very lucky.”
As part of her business, Leah will also be showing a Boxer from West Milford for a client at Westminster this year. This will be her fifth trip to the city to compete.
“I plan on attending the Westminster Kennel Club for the rest of my life,” said Leah in a statement, “hoping that one day I can walk home with that purple and gold best in show ribbon.”
Alexis Tarrazi 