January 24, 2009 – Had a happy dog day, going to visit Gretchen Pinkel and her husband John Keeler. Both are good friends and Gretchen is also a wonderful Lab breeder (Kee-Pin Labradors of Argyle, N.Y.), one of the best and most conscientious breeders I have known. Another friend, Christine Nemec of Redux Gallery (she shows my photos and sells my notecards), an artist and dog lover, lost her dog recently.

She was looking for another. As she has a place in the country and loves to be outdoors, she struck me as a perfect Lab owner. Yesterday Gretchen told me all of her 10 puppies were spoken for, but one had suddenly become available. I told Christine and she went over to see Gretchen’s puppies Sunday morning, and everybody seems to have fallen in love with everybody else. So she got this pup above – cousin of Lenore, and with a similiar disposition – and named her Georgia, after her favorite artist, Georgia O’Keefe.

How nice to see a connection like that. I am always pleased to introduce anyone to Gretchen, because I know they will have a wonderful dog. And Christine is about the best dog owner I can imagine, especially for an easy going Lab who loves the outdoors.

It just fits, and when a great dog lover meets a great breeder,  and they are all great people, great things happen. And Georgia will be an artistic dog, as she belongs to a gallery owner and is named after an amazing artist. Gretchen has one pup left, who has some health problems, and she is keeping him. It crossed my mind, but there are enough dogs here.

Georgia goes to her new home this week. I have agreed to help socialize one of the puppies Gretchen is keeping. Frieda will tune her up (just kidding. We’ll leave her with Lenore.)