Kennel

The Howard County Board of Appeals unanimously approved last night a Woodstock couple's request for a kennel for their Dalmatians.The approval came after the couple and neighbors reached an agreement Wednesday about reducing the number of dogs to be kept at the kennel and employing measures to keep them from barking at night.The board voted 4-0 to grant the special exception to Stephen D. and Beth E. Winick after the Winicks and neighbors announced they had added two conditions to the original proposal to pacify residents' concerns.

A Woodstock couple last night cleared the first hurdle to obtaining permission to operate a kennel for dalmatians on their property.The five-member Howard County Planning Board unanimously recommended approval for a 20-dog kennel on 10 acres owned by Stephen D. and Beth E. Winick in the 10300 block of Cavey Lane.The panel endorsed the project despite opposition from a handful of neighbors who argued that the kennel would be a nuisance and lower property values in the Woodstock Ridge Estates community.

The Carroll County Board of Zoning Appeals has approved a request for a conditional use for a kennel in Hampstead.Jack and Betsey Leonard of the 2800 block of Hampstead-Mexico Road requested authorization to expand their kennel to hold more than 10 dogs. They applied previously to build an addition, but were halted by financial problems.The board approved the request on the condition that the kennel be insulated for sound. Health Department approval also must be obtained.FiresHampstead: Firefighters from Hampstead and Arcadia responded at 4: 28 p.m. Sunday to a field fire in the 3800 block of St. Paul Road.

There was no growl, no snarl, no sound, just the sudden instant pain of a pit bull's teeth clamping so hard on Kevin Hoffmann's wrist that his doctor compared it to being crushed by a forklift.Terrified and alone, the Montgomery County animal shelter worker knew if the dog's teeth reached his neck, he could easily die. So Hoffmann, 29, dragged the dog -- attached to his right arm -- 50 yards through the kennel, using his other arm to protect his face.Help came when fellow kennel workers heard his screams and threw water on the dog to startle it so it would let go. His hand was all but severed -- held on only by some tendons and a nerve.

A wrong number was listed for the American Kennel Club's Customer Service line in Sunday's Home & Family section. The correct phone number is 919-233-9767.The Sun regrets the errors.Pub Date: 5/05/98

When the region's finest canines strut into the 5th Regiment Armory Sunday to put on the dog at the Maryland Kennel Club's annual show, they will be greeted by Eve Ballich.As club president, she won't be showing her champion wire fox terriers in this event; instead, she and other club members will assist with the general operation of the 86th All-Breed Dog Show and Obedience Trial.Other days, though, Ballich is right in the middle of the ring, positioning her dog for the judge's keen eyes.

Krissy could have been a contender.Her hair was perfectly coiffed after a last-minute shampoo and clip. She was relaxed after getting encouraging hugs and kisses from her managers. But when it was time for her to prance before the judges yesterday, Krissy didn't make the cut.Such is life on the dog show circuit.The canine contestants in the Maryland Kennel Club's 85th All-Breed Dog Show and Obedience Trial yesterday vied to be the top dog in an intense competition that drew more than 2,000 entries representing at least 135 breeds, from Afghan hounds to miniature schnauzers to soft-coated wheaten terriers.

Ruth C. Benhoff, who trained and bred world champion cocker spaniels in a backyard kennel at her Catonsville home for more than 40 years, died Monday of complications from a stroke at St. Agnes Hospital. She was 90.Mrs. Benhoff's reputation as a dog breeder spread beyond the United States, and cocker spaniel lovers worldwide came to her Baltimore County home to buy dogs or have them bred."People flew in from all over the world and were so surprised to find that it wasn't a big kennel she had, but a small backyardkennel behind her home," said her son, Robert Benhoff of Little Orleans in Allegany County.

A helicopter and police dogs failed to find two men who robbed an Eldersburg convenience store at gunpoint Monday night and escaped with money, cigarettes and jewelry after assaulting an employee, state police said.Two bandits wearing ski masks entered the High's store at Route 32 and Liberty Road about 9 p.m. and demanded money, investigators said.One of the men took jewelry from a cashier, police said.Zoning appeals board OKs variance for kennelThe county Board of Zoning Appeals has granted a conditional use and variance to Kevin Patton and Carolyn Hricko of 4800 Arlington Drive, Sykesville, for a kennel for four dogs and reduced minimum lot area.

Due to inaccurate information supplied to The Sun, a story in Monday's editions about the Maryland Kennel Club's annual dog show incorrectly reported the name of the dog that won best in show. The winner was a standard schnauzer named Ch Parsifal Di Casa Netzer.The Sun regrets the error.