Festiva Whippets History

Kelly (9 years) and Dodger

Katie started breeding and showing German Shepherds in 1980. Our foundation bitch, Ch. Hoedown of West Wind, ROM. produced a number of Champions and a Group winning son, Ch. Rudolph’s Benson of West Wind. Kelly started handling dogs when she could barely reach from the head to the tail of a German Shepherd. At the age of 7, Kelly showed our young hopeful, Rudolph’s Triumph to a Best in Match at the prestigious Beverly Hills Kennel Club match.

When Kelly was 8 we started on our search for a Junior’s dog when she turned 10. After trying to purchase two other whippets we met Dianne Bowen of Oxford Whippets. That was the start of a friendship that still continues to this day. Kelly and I sat in Dianne’s front yard and played with puppies out of Ch. Chelsea Saffron, ROMX sired by Whippoorwill’s Moonstone, ROMX. After thoughtful thinking, Kelly picked a very outgoing red and white male, later to become Ch. Oxford’s Stetson. Dodger was Kelly’s best friend and the most special dog for the next 13 years. As I watched these beautiful puppies on every visit I started to fall in love. Two months after taking Dodger home, we visited with Dianne at the Silver Bay dog show. All day I carried around a half-faced dilute fawn bitch. At the end of the day I asked Dianne where she was going. Dianne said she had an interested party in Florida. I responded with a no, she is going home with me. That puppy became Ch. Oxford’s Passion, ROM and the dam of Multi-BISS Select Ch. Festiva’s Knickerbocker, ROMX. The rest is history. The whippets have taken over the house and the lives of both Kelly and I.

Katie and Moe	Kelly and Merlot

Katie Rudolph/Festiva East	Kelly Riney/Festiva West