IT WAS MY PLEASURE TO BE PRESENT WHEN a friend was feted for years of good work. Arlene Czech and I forged our friendship almost forty years ago, and she’d already been judging for more than ten years. She’s spent a lifetime in ser- vice of purebred dogs—in particular, her beloved Papillons—and the people she’s helped and the contributions she’s made make a list far too lengthy to include here. Suffice it to say, Arlene has been a treasure in our world for a long, long time, and we expect her to be so for a long time yet. THE UNSINKABLE ARLENE CZECH BY JOSEPHNEILM C GINNIS III and JUDY THOMPSON
I call this visit The Unsinkable Arlene Czech because through the recent hurricane, as she has her entire life, Arlene has weathered many storms with a smile on her face and spring in her step. She’s a ray of sunshine everywhere she goes and brightens up even the darkest day. And so i t is that I hand the microphone, so to speak, to Judy Thompson who wrote a great piece about Ms. Czech for us a few years back on the occasion that Arlene was chosen by AKC as Toy Breeder of the Year. Arlene herself, of course, has written for ShowSight for twenty-five years. Enjoy a glimpse of this girl who’s had such impact on our sport and for whom we care so much...
Photo: Zell von Pohlman
ARLENE CZECH, by Judy Thompson EXHIBITORS, HAVE YOU EVER HAD A WIDE-EYED YOUNG SPECTATOR come to you at your set-up at a dog show and fall in love with your
only a week. Then Czech pulled out that business card from 1948 and contacted the breeder. She saw Taffy and bought her instantly for the grand sum of thirty-five dollars. That was
breed? Did you spend time talking to her and perhaps give her your business card? That is exactly what happened to a Chihuahua and Papillon breeder in 1948 at the Detroit Kennel Club show. The young lady was a college coed, and her name was Arlene Czech. Shows were benched then, exhibitor s had plenty of time to talk to spectators, and Miss Czech ended up spending the whole day at the show. She left that day enthralled with Papillons and the excited about the idea of someday bringing a dog into the Obedience ring. Six years later, in 1954, the Czech family lost their beloved Irish Setter. At first, they opted to never have another dog. But that lasted 216 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , N OVEMBER 2017
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