living through the
F riday the 13th of March has a reputation for being an unlucky day, and Fri- day, March 13, 2020 fulfilled expectations for the superstitious as dog shows across the country started shutting down because of the Coronavirus. Living through the COVID-19 pandemic has been a huge test for our country—and the dog show community is no exception. Some parts of our country are completely shut down for dog shows, whereas others are having shows. I have reached out to several professional handlers for insights into how different people across the country are handling the current Coronavirus situ- ation. Despite the diversity within the dog show community, we are all struggling to get back to the sport we love and miss so much. COVID-19 Pandemic BY DEBRA FERGUSON-JONES PROFESSIONAL HANDLERS SHARE THEIR STORIES
DIEGO GARCIA I contacted Diego Garcia at his home in Lillington, North Carolina, and asked him what he was doing that fateful Fri- day the 13th when they started shutting down dog shows. He was in Louisville, Kentucky, and had shown on Thursday and Friday. The clubs announced Friday after Best in Show that they were cancel- ing the balance of the shows that week- end because of the Coronavirus. Diego was home by Saturday.
Photo Courtesy of Diego Garcia
Diego is concerned about the Coronavirus. He commented that he and Evelyn are taking all the precautions. One foot out of the motorhome, they put on their masks and they wash their hands when they return. Outside the motor home they keep Clorox to wipe their shoes and try to social distance. When he arrives home, Diego Clorox’s the crates and everything used at the dog show. He keeps hand sanitizer in the set-up, motorhome and car. He says about the Coronavirus, “If it was going to happen, it was going to happen. It is out there.” Diego feels that the clubs have gone to great effort to keep the exhibitors safe. (Some judges are not so young.) He points out that everyone needs to understand and respect those who want to go back to dog shows and those who don’t want to go back. Diego emphasizes that we must each take care of
62 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2020
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