Double-duty dogs at Westminster Dog Show aid victims of LA fires, war

By Natalie Armstrong

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Straight from the dog-show circuit at the 149th Westminster Dog Show in New York City, a four-year-old Borzoi named Ziggy is heading to Los Angeles to offer comfort to those displaced after the recent California wildfires and to emergency response workers who battled them.

Ziggy, who has been a therapy dog for two years, won a merit award for her breed this week at the show put on by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Her owner and handler, Randi Chylinski, who splits her time between Grosse Point east of Detroit and Los Angeles, says she and Ziggy will at first start work with the Red Cross and through Therapy Dogs International.

“She has a pretty clear understanding of the on-and-off switch for both jobs. And she enjoys both of them, so as long as she’s having a good time, I’m happy,” said Chylinski.

Ziggy’s therapy work has mostly been in Detroit, connecting with people of all ages, but especially children.They plan to support people in Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and Altadena. Now contained, the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire in Altadena and Pasadena killed 29 people and destroyed over 16,000 structures.

“I’m really looking forward to her connecting with all of those families, and people who just need reassurance during this time,” Chylinski said. “It’s really such a great thing to see her connecting with people who really need her the most.”

The Sunset fire, which briefly broke out in early January at Runyon Canyon, a popular hiking trail that’s close to Hollywood Boulevard, was about three miles (4.8 km) away from Chylinski’s apartment.

Another show dog is also doing double duty on the job front, apart from being a pet like all the dogs at Westminster.

Prosper, a Biewer Terrier brought to the United States soon after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, walked Westminster’s “green carpet” this week.

He had been living in the Ukrainian breeder’s basement when bombs were going off and the breeder was desperate to get him and other dogs out of the country. When he is not show-dogging, he and his teammate from Russia, Peadora, model in elaborate outfits to raise money for animal rescue groups.

“This is their other job, and I take this very seriously whether they’re in the AKC ring or they’re in the pet fashion ring, I’m able to talk about animals,” said Amy Cox, of Dallas, Texas.

“I’m able to talk about show dogs and I’m able to talk about rescue dogs who do not have the luxury of having moms and dads and handlers and professionals take care of them.”

(Reporting by Natalie Armstrong; Editing by Mary Milliken and Sandra Maler)

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