I went to Westminster last night. I had a lot of fun because, well, you don't start a blog about pets if you don't like dogs after all. BUT, I did have an unsettling realization. I looked around the crowd at Madison Square Garden, and there was not one minority, other than a few Asians. Let's remember this is New York City, diversity capital of the world. It was like watching an episode of Friends.
This is the first time I've gone to a show and really the first time I've watched, so maybe I'm out of line making suggestions, but it seems like the American Kennel Association should reach out more. Other whitebread pastimes have become more integrated lately. Look at tennis and golf. So why not dog shows?
Maybe it's because the idea of breeds is itself a little racist. Why is a dog considered legitimate only if its genetic profile matches some imaginary ideal? I know this is going to be controversial, but why not allow at least one mutt category? I'm not saying this would automatically bring in people of other races, but it would certainly make the event seem a little more inclusive.
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