Virus postpones Westminster Kennel Club's annual dog show

NEW YORK – The Westminster Kennel Club's yearly canine amusement has go the latest lawsuit to beryllium postponed oregon canceled successful New York arsenic the fig of coronavirus cases surges.

The club's committee of governors announced Wednesday it was postponing its 2022 event, scheduled for precocious January, to aboriginal successful the year. A caller day wasn't given.

“The wellness and information of each participants successful the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show are paramount,” the radical said successful a statement. “We admit the community’s continued involvement and enactment arsenic we hold the amusement to a clip erstwhile we tin safely convene.”

First held successful 1877, the canine amusement attracts thousands of competitors from astir the U.S. and is usually held successful February, with semifinal and last rounds astatine Madison Square Garden. Last year, it was moved to June and held outdoors astatine the Lyndhurst property successful suburban Tarrytown, northbound of New York City. Spectators weren’t allowed, and quality participants had to beryllium vaccinated oregon recently tested.

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A Pekingese named Wasabi won champion successful show, beating retired a whippet, a French bulldog, an aged English sheepdog, a German shorthaired pointer, a Samoyed and a West Highland achromatic terrier.

With COVID-19 cases present exploding astir the U.S., the postponement comes little than 2 weeks aft much than 8,500 canines, owners and handlers converged for different apical U.S. canine show, the American Kennel Club National Championship successful Orlando, Florida.

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