The Tamesis
This week, New York City is in trouble. The 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show takes place at the Javits Center and Madison Square Garden in downtown Manhattan, where thousands of dogs; their countless breeders, handlers and groomers; and thousands of fans gather to watch one of the oldest and most prestigious conformation shows in the world.
The competition lasts three days – Saturday, January 31; Monday, February 1; and Tuesday, February 2 – during which the dogs compete in a thrilling agility championship (Prove-It, won by a five-year-old border collie from New Hampshire) and compete in breed groups: hounds, toy, non-sporting dogs, herding dogs, sporting dogs, working dogs and terriers.
All the standing, walking and screening culminated in Tuesday night’s Best in Show event. Who is the winner? Among the final contenders – Zaida the Afghan Hound, Biscuit the Maltese, JJ the Lhasa Apso, Graham the Old English Sheepdog, Cota the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Penny the Doberman Pinscher and Wager the Smooth Fox Terrier – four-year-old Penny won Dog of the Year. (Five-year-old Kota was the runner-up.)
But not long before that, photographer Poupay Jutharat was on the grounds of the Javits Center, sniffing around as the puppies prepared, groomed, and occasionally took a nap before heading out. Check out her photos from the 150th Westminster Dog Show here.
