Purchase an 8-inch tall champion at Westminster dog show for Portsmouth's Carol Kelly

Karen Dandurant, Portsmouth Herald
·2 min read
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PORTSMOUTH — Purchase, a 3-year-old papillon owned by city resident Carol Kelly, is a little dog with a mighty heart that made a big splash at the 147th Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Purchase took first place in the agility championship in the 8-inch dog division, jumping over hurdles, running up seesaws and bolting through tunnels. The prestigious competition was held at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. There were 14 dogs in the division competing Saturday, May 6, and the blue ribbon Purchase won was taller than the dog.

Purchase took first place in the agility championship in the 8-inch dog division at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York Saturday, May 6, 2023. Purchase was guided through the course by Carol Kelly of Portsmouth, its owner.
Purchase took first place in the agility championship in the 8-inch dog division at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York Saturday, May 6, 2023. Purchase was guided through the course by Carol Kelly of Portsmouth, its owner.

"It was his second big event," Kelly said. "In March, we took him to the AKC Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He did great the first day. On the second, he got a little jittery, and we failed to make the finals. So, I figured the best way to get him over that was to keep entering him. And this time, he loved it, the crowds, the people, and the dogs."

Immediately after the winning run, Kelly told a Fox Sports interviewer, "I'm just thrilled. I can't tell you what this means to us. It's so exciting."

Portsmouth resident Carol Kelly and her champion papillon Purchase at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York Saturday, May 6, 2023.
Portsmouth resident Carol Kelly and her champion papillon Purchase at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York Saturday, May 6, 2023.

She added, "Purchase really enjoys doing things with me and agility in particular. I've been fortunate enough to have some really super instruction from some really terrific coaches. He just put it all together with me tonight and we did it."

Purchase's older "brother" Pickwick, 5, another papillon is a retired agility champion, and may have been a good influence, Kelly said. In keeping with the Ps, Kelly also has Pinto, a border collie and Pilot, a Sheltie.

Kelly said it was Purchase's first trip to Westminster. Purchase came to Kelly from a breeder in Lithuania.

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Purchase and Carol Kelly of Portsmouth run through the agility course at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York Saturday, May 6, 2023.
Purchase and Carol Kelly of Portsmouth run through the agility course at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York Saturday, May 6, 2023.

"I had seen another dog from the breeder and really like it," said Kelly. "The dogs have beautiful lines. Papillons do not have large litters, so we were lucky to get him."

What's next for the tiny powerhouse? Kelly said wait and see.

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Purchase a champ at Westminster dog show for Portsmouth's Carol Kelly