news-record.com

Kernodle Middle School seventh-grader Chaz McDonnell and his pointer, Rigel, did not make it into the finals in the Junior Showmanship competition at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show this year. But they still had a good time hobnobbing with some of the animal kingdom’s brightest stars at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

“Rigel, he did great,” 12-year-old Chaz said. “He loved it. He was a little scared at first, because we had to walk across the street from the hotel to get to the Garden. He was afraid of the trucks and cars and everything. But once he got inside and saw the dogs, he was pretty excited. And I plan on going back next year and hopefully win.”

Chaz was making his third appearance at America’s premier dog show, which took place Monday and Tuesday. Last year he was one of eight finalists.

The nine-month-old Rigel, whose full registered name is CH Marsuz Alydar LoveSpell at Solivia, was making his first appearance at Westminster.

This year’s Junior Showmanship winner was Dylan Kipp of Union Grove, Wis., who showed  a Doberman pinscher named CH Paradigm Pop Sensation.