Page 66 - ShowSight - September 2020
P. 66

                Photo Vicki Holloway
Photo Derek Glas
LIVING THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
 ourselves, wear a mask and wash our hands. “It is an effort running around the ring with a mask, sweating and keeping an eye on the dog,” he notes. Diego feels it is important to keep the stress down and stay calm, so that he can deal with the situation in the very best way. As he emphasizes, “So much negativity going around, it stresses the body making it so important to keep a good attitude.”
Diego’s income was somewhat unscathed by the Coro- navirus. None of the dogs left his care when the dog shows stopped. Diego says, “My clients are like my family and they take care of us in so many ways. Dog show people are one big family. They all take care of each other. We will be there to help those who need help because I know they will be there when I need help. Dog shows are our life.”
Diego is called “Mr. Obsession.” He is obsessive about his dogs and follows the same routine every day to keep the dogs in top condition. He works with the dogs on the golf cart to keep muscles tight. He explained to me that if you left a Boxer go without working for three to four days, you can see the difference in the muscle tone. As if the dogs are at the shows, Diego works them 20 minutes at a time—like a little show ring—doing a down and back and then going around. After that, there’s the grooming. “If you let a dog’s coat go for four to five days, you will lose it,” he reports. To end the day, like a ceremony, Diego has a glass of Argentine wine. Diego is a happy man who loves the life he is liv- ing. He loves the sport so much that he refers to it as “the opportunity to show.” Diego feels the best thing he can do is enjoy the pleasure he feels when he shows. His true goal is to show well. “When the dog deserves the win, take the win,” he advises.
I asked Diego if he thought Westminster Kennel Club would have a show in 2021. He said he has no idea. He assumes the committee is doing the best they can to make the Garden happen. He said he would keep his fingers crossed and would accept any decision they make.
Diego’s parting comment was to tell you, “Be safe.”
BILL & TAFFE MCFADDEN
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Sunday at the Anderson show. She recalls the general belief was that it wouldn’t last more than a few weeks. It’s now been months since that fateful day and it seems like there is no end in sight.
Taffe feels there isn’t likely to be too many dog shows on the West Coast in 2020, and she is skeptical about 2021. Taffe was quick to share stories of how the virus is spread- ing in many states and she believes the future of dog shows depends on how fast a vaccine is developed. Taffe expressed concern that dog shows will be a different sport when they start up again. “There will not be several dog shows every weekend like they were before,” she suggests. “Clubs may be having a hard time surviving.” Taffe expressed the opinion that before this pandemic, there were too many dog shows. She is fearful that clubs could fold, but maybe a couple can combine and survive. Taffe expressed the concern that win- ter shows would be indoors, though she was not sure how that would work. She also feels that a handful of handlers have moved on to other things.
Being in a high-risk group with pre-existing health issues, Taffe isn’t planning on going to a dog show until it is safe. The Coronavirus has divided her family. To survive, the family has gone to extraordinary measures. Taffe and Connor are staying home to take care of the home front and the baby, while Bill and Olivia go off to the shows and quarantine separately from the family. The family will be split as long as they are having dog shows and there is a Coronavirus with no vaccine. She feels it is a hard life. With no dog shows on the West Coast, Bill and Olivia have to go East, nothing short of a twenty-hour drive to find a dog show. When Bill returns from a dog show he is quarantin- ing in a small portion of the house where he has a room and a bath with a separate entrance. Taffe puts his meal by the door and he picks it up after she leaves. She told me that Olivia is staying in the motor home so as not to expose the baby and Connor to the virus. Last weekend, Olivia drove off in tears when she headed out to the dog show, leaving her baby behind. I asked Taffe if Olivia was earning enough
to be away from the baby. Taffe doubted it, but they have no choice.
The resilience and support of the dog show community is apparent in Taffe’s story. The McFadden’s nest egg had been depleted due to Taffe’s struggle with cancer and lupus. “Take The Lead” has been a tremendous support since the family has been financially impacted during this pandem- ic. Many of their clients’ dogs went home when the shows
Taffe and Bill McFadden were on opposite sides of the United States on that fateful Friday the 13th when dog shows started shutting down. Taffe was at the Anderson, California, dog show and her husband, Bill, was at the Lou- isville, Kentucky, shows. The Louisville shows shut down on Friday, so Bill made the long trek back to California. Taffe was very concerned as she continued to work through
64 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2020
Dog show people are one big family. They all take care of
each o”
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