Lisa Begin-Kruysman

Dog's Best Friend: Will Judy, Founder of National Dog Week and Dog World Publisher - Dogs in Our World Lisa Begin-Kruysman

William Lewis Judy was trained in the ministry, but his colorful career included service as a captain in the United States Army, and as a teacher and a lawyer. In 1923, Judy purchased Dog World Magazine for just over $1,000. It proved to be a wise investment. For the next four decades, his unique, poignant, and witty writing and editing style, combined with his genuine love for dogs, enlightened a growing population of dog owners across the nation. His accomplishments in "dogdom" included his contributions as a prolific dog show judge and breeder and expert on dog law in America. Despite his involvement in the dog elite, however, Judy's appreciation of man's best friend extended beyond the purebred and he championed the causes of all dogs. He had a vision that dogs would serve humans in ways most had not imagined. He championed their use in military and police work, and in their value as assistance and therapy dogs. In 1928, he launched the National Dog Week Movement, to honor man's best friend in a collective and thoughtful manner. Today, that movement continues, a testament to the legacy of this inspiring and gifted dog-enthusiast.