142nd Westminster Dog Show will feature Triangle judges

The 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show begins in New York City on Monday, and five Triangle residents have been selected to preside as judges over the competition.

“It's a huge honor,” said Randy Garren, who lives in Apex and will serve as one of the judges in the dog show, scheduled for Feb. 12-13 at Madison Square Garden. “It's not the largest dog show in the world, but I think it's the most prestigious."

Garren will be joined in Manhattan by four other locals: Dennis McCoy, of Apex; Bob Slay and Linda More, both of Cary; and Dave Kirkland, who lives in Sanford.

"We all know one another and we all respect one another because we all have certain things to bring to the table,” McCoy said.

McCoy and Garren own a dog kennel in Apex and have made a career out of their love for the animals. They have also raised champion show dogs, and they are now working as judges, for what is arguably, the most important dog show in the industry.

“You really look forward to it," Garren said. "That's the epitome of judging (and) to have the best dogs in the country.”

Each judge has a specialty category that they review for the dog show. The judges say there is an enormous amount of deliberation that goes into their thinking.

"You're judging the dog against the AKC breed standard and not against each other,” Garren said. “So, you are really judging them in how you interpret the AKC breed standard."