LYNNWOOD — A pint-sized pooch from Lynnwood beat out his own sister to be named best of his breed at the biggest dog show in America.
Champion Valcopy Kasey Kahne, a toy fox terrier named for the famous NASCAR driver from Enumclaw, competed against more than 20 dogs in his breed at the 132nd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City.
Dana Plonkey of Lynnwood, Kasey’s handler, said the energetic brown-and-white dog with large, alert ears won over the judges with his attitude and presence.
“He got tons of applause, it was very exciting,” said Plonkey, one of Kasey’s three owners and operator of Valcopy Show Dogs, a private kennel. “People were screaming and yelling. It was fun.”
Kasey appeared on national television late Tuesday after advancing to the toy group competition. Plonkey, wearing a tuxedo, walked his prize-winning dog in front of the judges.
The judges took a long look at Kasey, Plonkey said, but didn’t pull him out for judging in the group category.
“It was just a privilege being in there with all those top dogs,” Plonkey said. “It was a beautiful lineup. I can’t complain.”
As for Kasey, the dog gave the performance of his life, Plonkey said.
“He did wonderful,” he said. “He didn’t put a foot down wrong, he showed absolutely beautiful. He showed his heart out; he really did.”
Kasey is owned by Plonkey, Mike Smiley of Camano Island and Lynn McKee of Lake Stevens. Plonkey and McKee accompanied Kasey to the famous dog show at Madison Square Garden.
The runner-up to Kasey in the toy fox terrier breed division was his sister, Champion Valcopy Penelope Pit Stop, who won the best of opposite-sex breed award. In each competition, judges award the best dog and then give an award for the best dog of the opposite sex. Penelope lives with out-of-state owners.
Kasey’s father, named Champion Valcopy Butch Cassidy, won the breed’s title at Westminster in 2003.
The tiny dog lives with Plonkey and his longtime friend, Rick Davis, in Lynnwood. Davis, who said he barely slept the night before the competition, was thrilled by Kasey’s win.
“In a way, I kind of knew it was going to happen,” Davis said. “I just felt it. Kasey has been doing good all year, and he’s so showy.”
Last year, Kasey was named the best in his breed by the American Toy Fox Terrier Club, and he has 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.
This was Kasey’s first appearance at the Westminster show.
Plonkey, who has taken more than 20 dogs to Westminster, was planning to celebrate with friends late Tuesday at Robert Emmett’s, a swanky steak-and-seafood restaurant in New York City.
The pooch of the hour, Kasey, would be sleeping in the hotel room — but he’ll likely get a doggy bag, Plonkey said.
“We’ll probably go to dinner and buy a steak and bring it home to him,” Plonkey said. “He’ll be exhausted.”
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
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