w00f!

The beagle that won "best in show" at the Westminster Dog Show is from Belleville!

Uno, the champion beagle bred and born in Belleville, was top dog after he made history Tuesday night — becoming the first beagle to win Best in Show title at the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.

Tuesday night, Uno was clearly the crowd favorite, and drew a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden when he was picked.

The only dog consistently listed among America's most popular breeds for nearly 100 years, a beagle had never won in the 100 times Westminster picked a winner.

Uno was born and bred in Belleville by Kathy Weichert, but a team of co-owners and handlers show him.

"We're known as Team Uno," Weichert said. "You have to have a team when you want to campaign a dog like this. Dog showing is very, very expensive. There is no money in dog shows, none to be made. It's an expensive hobby and we do it for the love of the dogs. It's for the betterment of the breed, and that's why we do it."

It's sort of weird there's no money in it, what with dog shows being on teevee and all. You'd think the owners would get a cut.

But still ... good boy, Uno!

(BTW, the Jennifer Bowen who wrote the article is no relation.)