| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010 7:46 am |
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Local News 
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Lynnwood dog makes his Westminster debut LYNNWOOD -- He's a tiny dog with a royal pedigree.Champion Valcopy Kasey Kahne, a 2-year-old toy fox terrier named for the famous NASCAR driver from Enumclaw, is the son of the top-rated dog of his breed in 2003. Today, little Kasey gets his chance to be top dog. He's competing in the Super Bowl of dog shows -- the Westminster Kennel Club's 132nd annual Dog Show, held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. If successful in his first showing, scheduled for early today, Kasey will advance to the nationally televised evening competition to vie for best-of-show honors. "It's very prestigious, a fun place to be," said Dana Plonkey, one of Kasey's owners and operator of Valcopy Show Dogs, a private kennel. "All the important dog people are there." The football-sized canine lives with Plonkey and his longtime friend, Rick Davis, at the home they share in Lynnwood. Both are NASCAR fans, and they've named several dogs in honor of their racing heros. "We're looking forward to this, and we're keeping our fingers crossed," Davis said. "This would be a big win for Kasey." The petite pooch comes from a big-time pedigree. Kasey's pint-sized father, Champion Valcopy Butch Cassidy, won the Westminster title for his breed in 2003. That was the first year the Westminster Kennel Club began judging the toy fox terrier breed. Kasey's sister, Champion Valcopy Penelope Pit Stop, and his son, Champion Valcopy The Intimidator, named in tribute to the late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, are also competing today at Westminster. Penelope and The Intimidator live out-of-state. Kasey is owned by Plonkey, Mike Smiley of Camano Island and Lynn McKee of Lake Stevens. Butch, Kasey's father, lives with McKee. Some show dogs are raised in kennels, but not Kasey Kahne. He has free rein in Davis' and Plonkey's home. His toys are scattered everywhere. He has a red race car bed but prefers to sleep on Plonkey's pillow, right next to his head. "He's very outgoing, very intelligent and active, yet loving," Plonkey said. "He loves toys and he loves people. He has a lot of fans at the dog shows." Plonkey has been to Westminster more than 20 times, and he's been showing dogs for more than two decades. Before showing toy fox terriers, he showed poodles, Yorkshire terriers and Pomeranians. "It's an expensive hobby, is what it is," Plonkey said. "When I was a kid, I went to work for a grooming shop, and they happened to show dogs, and I got involved. It escalated from there." Kasey Kahne was a natural-born show dog, just like his father, McKee said. "These two were just born that way," McKee said. "You could see them walk across the floor when they were eight weeks old, and you just knew they could tell what to do and when to do it. "Their attitude was, 'I'm here; take a good look at me,'" she said. Kasey already has a good track record on the dog show circuit. Last year, he was named the best in his breed by the American Toy Fox Terrier Club, and he's also won a pair of national regional competitions. Kasey has scored many smaller best-of-breed victories and multiple first-place finishes in toy-group divisions. Now, at Madison Square Garden, Kasey has a chance to score the biggest win of all. "Kasey hasn't been to the Garden yet," Davis said. "This is going to be his big debut." Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com. |
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