UPDATE: Upper Milford Beagle Places Second in Best of Group at Westminster

Lola, the 15-inch beagle who was born and bred in Upper Milford won Best of Variety for the third year in a row this morning at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.

Then, in the evening, Lola placed second in the Best of Group (Hounds).

Lola, and her breeder/owner/handler, Marcelo Chagas of Upper Milford, are used to the spot light. Lola is the is the top winning 15-inch beagle in the history of the American Kennel Club.

Overall, she has won 34 all-breed Best in Shows in American Kennel Club competitions, according to Chagas’ secretary.

This is remarkable considering Lola is also the first Torquay to ever be born in the United States.

The Torquay Kennel originated in Brazil, where, not coincidentally, Chagas himself was born and bred.  Twenty years ago Chagas and Marco Flavio Botelho, who, along with Marco's wife, Alessandra, are Lola's co-owners and co-breeders.

Chagas is a professional dog handler and is internationally known. He has also been breeding beagles for 20 years, his secretary said.

Lola was the first pup in the first litter on American soil, Chagas’ spokesperson said. And Lola's brother from the same litter was the No. 1 hound in Canada in 2009.

Despite her awards, Chagas’ secretary confides, “Lola’s really just a house pet … she is a fantastic bed buddy.  All of the dogs here are first and foremost pets ... if they happen to be show dogs as well – great!"

Chagas told interviewers today that he now plans to breed Lola, which means Feb. 14 was her last time at Westminster. She did not advance to the Best in Show competition because of her second place standing in the hound group.