A day for the dogs
<p>Rico Ciccone, center, co-owner of Cricket's Steakhouse & Oyster Bar, will host the 8th Annual Westminster ÒBest in ShowÓ Party benefiting the Kootenai Humane Society. Photographed from left are, Lori Nelson and Naomi Daniell.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - For the eighth year, the Best in Show Party to benefit the Kootenai Humane Society will be held at Cricket's Downtown Bar and Grill.
Add one more venue.
Fedora Pub and Grille will also feature specials as people settle in to watch The 136th Westminster Kennel Club all breed dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York.
"It will be a wonderful time at either place," said Nicol Barnes, KHS development director.
Rico Ciccone and Naomi Daniell, owners of Cricket's, are glad to step up.
"We just wanted to continue on with the legacy Jim Elder had started," said Rico, who worked at Cricket's as a bartender for many of those first seven Best in Show parties.
Cricket's will have the show on all its big screens, along with surround sound, from 5-8 p.m. There will be a wireless microphone for dog-themed games, too, and food and drink specials, with part of the proceeds going to KHS.
It will be the eighth year of the gathering of dog devotees in downtown Coeur d'Alene to track via satellite what is considered the country's most prestigious dog show.
It raises a few thousand dollars each year. It's also a chance to give exposure to dogs and cats that need homes.
"I love animals. I'm really happy the humane society chose Cricket's to be one of the hosts for the party," Naomi Daniell said.
Rico and Naomi own two Cocker Spaniels, Sparky and Coco.
Sparky came from the KHS shelter in February 2009. They adopted Coco about a year and a half ago.
Naomi said she wasn't sure she wanted to take in Sparky, 10 at the time, and a bit on the chubby side.
"I was a little reluctant to start off with an older dog again. He just had a really kind face," she said.
Since, he's lost 20 pounds and is down to a fit and trim 35 pounds.
"I'm very happy I saved him," Naomi said. "He's been a big part of our lives."
If you go
The 136th Westminster Kennel Club all breed dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York is scheduled Feb. 13-14. It will be on the big screens at Cricket's Downtown Bar and Grill in Coeur d'Alene, and at Fedora Pub and Grille, 1726 W. Kathleen Ave. A fundraiser, Best in Show Party, for the Kootenai Humane Society will be from 5-8 p.m. at both locations. At Cricket's, there will be food and drink specials, raffles and prizes and dog-themed games "to get you howling." At Fedora, there will be food and drink specials and a "relaxed atmosphere to watch the show." No dogs allowed, though, at either site.