Page 96 - ShowSight, March 2020

LINES FROM LINDA
AKC REGISTERED HANDLERS PROGRAM
2019 HANDLER OF THE YEAR
CARISSA SHIMPENO
BY LINDA AYERS TURNER KNORR
Each year the AKC Registered Handlers Program honors one member who exemplifies their ideals of conduct and professionalism. For the year 2019 members of the group voted to recognize Carissa
Shimpeno. Other worthy nominees for the award were Paul Catterson and Gabriel Rangel.
Carissa is a third generation member of our sport with quite an impressive pedigree herself! Over 50 years ago her grand- mother, Joanne Satalino, established Alisation Dobermans. Her mother, Gwen DeMilta, is also a professional handler and breeder. Together they have bred over 200 AKC champions.
Good genes run deep in Carissa’s family. Even though some claim she was born with a leash in her hand and she most likely teethed on Doberman ears, her Mother was hesitant to approve her wish to begin participating in Junior Showmanship. When Carissa was eleven years old she turned to her Aunt Terry Hun- dt (you know the beautiful one who made us all so proud as she judged the Sporting Group at this year’s Westminster Kennel Club). Hooray for Aunt Terry who convinced Gwen to give in.
Carissa quickly proved her point when through Junior Showmanship she won trips to Crufts Dog Show and the World Show. She was only twelve years old when she repre- sented the United States in both competitions. Carissa credits those experiences with teaching her valuable lessons. Through Juniors she learned to be a good winner and loser. Good sports- manship helped her build lifelong friendships.
94 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2020