Sadie the Scottish terrier is Westminster 2010 winner

Sadie the Scottish terrier won America's top dog show Tuesday night, and that was pretty predictable. What happened moments before she took the title at Westminster was far more startling.

Two women walked into the center ring at Madison Square Garden and held up signs that said "Mutts Rule" and "Breeders Kill Shelter Dogs' Chances," the latter a slogan popularized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The crowd of 15,000 gasped at the PETA-inspired protest, then booed the women and cheered as security ushered them away without incident. The interruption lasted about a minute and was not featured on the USA Network telecast.

Moments later, the 4-year-old Sadie climbed the purple best in show podium where one of the women had stood.

"I thought it was well-controlled by our people," Westminster spokesman David Frei said, without elaborating.

Sadie was a big favorite coming into the show, which is for 2,500 purebred dogs.

There have been previous protests at Westminster, but none nearly this dramatic. As a matter of course, the public-address announcer at the Garden reads an announcement urging people to visit shelters and adopt their dogs.

Sadie came to New York as America's No. 1 show dog and earned her 112th best in show ribbon. Also reaching the final ring were a Brittany that recently had two litters, a whippet that can run 35 mph, a Doberman pinscher headed into retirement, a white toy poodle who overcame his anxiety around crowds, a Canadian-bred French bulldog and a puli that twice won the herding group.

"She was perfect," handler Gabriel Rangel said. "I couldn't ask for anything more."

Her tongue out and her tail wagging, Sadie was right in step with Rangel. She is owned by Amelia Musser of Mackinac Island, Mich., and sports the champion's name of Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot.

Rangel kidded that his relationship with Sadie was like a marriage. "I'm happily married," he said, "as long as I say, 'Yes, honey.'"

Sadie became the eighth Scottie to win at Westminster, second most to the 13 wins by wire fox terriers. She was the record 45th terrier to win in a show that began in 1877.

Judge Elliott Weiss picked the winner. He'd already seen Sadie -- he chose her as the winner of an event in North Carolina last September.

Sadie became the first Triple Crown winner of dogdom. She took the National Dog Show in suburban Philadelphia in November and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in California in December.

This was Sadie's third try at Westminster. She got spooked by strange sounds at the Garden two years ago, and last February had a potty accident on the Garden's green carpet.

Garden fans cheer loudly for big dogs, and thundering mastiffs got a great reception. There was a murmur, too, when a sweet golden retriever got passed over by a judge. Retrievers always rank among the most popular dogs in the U.S., but have never won Westminster.

A Glen of Imaal terrier drew a laugh when she stopped her parade to scarf up loose treats off the carpet. She was a show girl -- it figures, because handler Bruce Sussman co-wrote "Copacabana" with Barry Manilow.

Among the notables at ringside were Broadway star Bernadette Peters and a top official from baseball's big dogs, New York Yankees president Randy Levine.

Dogs from 173 breeds and varieties entered this show. Westminster will welcome six more breeds next year, including the bluetick coonhound, best known to sports fans as the Smokey mascot at the University of Tennessee.

"She was there for me all the way," Rangel said after easily winning the terrier group. Within a half-hour, he and Sadie had captured an even bigger trophy.

Maybe she was in a hurry to get home.

"She likes to watch TV," Rangel said. "We have dinner together at the hotel and watch Animal Planet."

-- Associated Press

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Top photo: Sadie is photographed after being named Best in Show. Credit: Justin Lane / European Pressphoto Agency

Middle photo: A protester holding a "Mutts Rule" sign is approached by a security staff member. Credit: Justin Lane / European Pressphoto Agency

Bottom photo: Rangel handles Sadie. Credit: Justin Lane / European Pressphoto Agency

Comments

[Robt Vesco Jr]

Purebred dog shows are not why the shelters are full. They're full because of puppy farms and irresponsible and immature dog owners who treat dogs like objects. Dog shows are a cheap and easy target - like when the GOP goes after Hollywood.

Next time someone insists it's immoral for you to purchase a purebred dog from a responsible breeder when there are so many mutts in the shelters, aak them if they adopted their kids or had their own.

The key is responsible pet ownership.

Remember folks, PETA is the same group that wasted the nation's time protesting Obama's fly murder.

[Jennifer]

When you buy a dog from a breeder you kill more than one dog. You kill the dog you didn't get from the pound, and you kill the imperfect dogs bred by the breeder.

If compete in dog shows you don't love dogs, you pity yourself and you need help.

[observer]

THOSE SNOBBY DOG SHOW PEOPLE ARE THE WORST OFFENDERS!

THEY GASPED BECAUSE THEY HAD TO LEAVE THEIR FANTASY WORLD AND HEAR THE TRUTH!!

LOOK AT THE GROUP MENTALITY AT THE SHOW.

WHAT THEY DO TO THOSE DOGS FOR THE SHOW IS CRUEL AND SELFISH.

I AM GLAD THAT THE PROTESTERS GOT IN THE RING!

LOOK AT NORTH HOLLYWOOD...THEY ARE TRYING TO STOP THE RETAIL SALE OF DOGS AND CATS FROM PET STORES.

OTHER CITIES WILL FOLLOW THEIR LEAD AND I HOPE WITH NO DELAY.

PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT THIS HAS GONE ON FOR TOO LONG AND ARE FINALLY DOING SOMETHING TO STOP THE CRUEL BEHAVIOR TOWARDS ALL ANIMALS.

WAKE UP AMERICANS AND QUITE BEING COMPLACENT ...

BE AN ANIMAL ADVOCATE AND HELP THE ANIMALS...

STOP ANIMAL CRUELTY NOW !!!

[Fran]

When I see these PETA people head out to dog fighting hot spots to protest, then I'll give them some credibility. But grabbing the limelight at Westminster, in MSG, surrounded by a pretty non-threatening dog crowd? Not so much.

But they can't be expected to put themselves in DANGER to stop the horrors of dogfighting, can they? Heavens, that would require going to icky urban neighborhoods, and those people might actually have guns and weapons and things!

Nice fashionable (but cruelty-free natural fiber, I'm sure) duds on Ms. Protester, too. Made by child labor in a third world country, no doubt. No irony there, apparently.

[slybuzz]

The problem is not breeders, breeding quality dogs. We need to spay and neuter pets and shut down puppy mills. Money needs to be spent to encourage spay and neuter and shut down puppy mills. We can prevent accidents and less dogs - pure bred or mutts would not endure the shelters and those poor dogs that have to endure a lifetime of neglect in the puppy mills. PETA - spend your time going after the puppy mills, this is where the suffering is.

[Patricia]

I think at least half of PETA members must be controlling, abusive narcissists. That's how they act. Their point of view is the only legitimate point of view on the planet and they're allowed to spoil anyone else's good time in the name of their point of view. Controlling bullies using animals to justify their aggressive acts towards other humans.

[angelina]

Maybe if the general public was more responsible and spayed and nutered their mutts we wouldn't have an abundance of shelter dogs. There is nothing wrong for wanting a pure bred dogs.... freaking weirdo PETA losers. Find something usefull to do with your time like finding a way to end homelesness in the USA.... Jerks.

[Pennies from Heaven]

Will a Welsh Corgi ever win this event?

[B Lee]

I love doggies but these dog shows are a mixed bag. Yes, these particular dogs are beautiful but the whole "purebred" process is very damaging to the health of so many animals. For every conscientious breeder there are dozens more breeding out of their backyards and garages and sending scores of unsound puppies into the world to suffer and die, frequently in a high kill shelter. It's long past time for stringent regulation and licensing of pet breeders.

P.S. PETA sucks

[DAVID]

you can call PETA "kayne west" for destroying a great moment

[9Dwarfs]

PETA is worthless. They have a kill shelter. Look it up. Hypocrites.

[FC7711]

That ugly little half a dog, shag rug looking thing won Westminster, geez the show has gone to the dogs to use the patios of the street. Woof. She's nothing compared to the least handsome Boxer on Earth. Anytime the Boxer doesn't win you can bet the show is rigged , I smell something and it isn't dog chow, it's the FIX ! Give the Boxer the gold medal every year and be done with it !