Every day, I pull one card from a pack. It allows me to enjoy and get to know individual cards, rather than blowing through an entire pack being disappointed by not discovering any hits.
I’ve always loved the quirky, unexpected cards in Allen & Ginter. But sometimes, I pull a card that feels… empty. Take this one, for example:
There’s nothing unique about it—no trivia, no interesting tidbits. Topps uses the same generic text for every dog card. The text is promotional chatter that feels like an ad for the Westminster Kennel Club. How much did the Kennel Club pay Topps for this ad to appear in my Allen & Ginter pack?
But what about the dog? Topps cards are about the person—in this case a dog—and trivia about that person (or dog). It made me wonder: Who is Tommy?
Digging Deeper: Who Is Tommy?
Curious, I googled “Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Tommy“ and found an entire page about him on the Westminster Kennel Club website.
Turns out, Tommy Valor is a black Labrador Retriever in training to become a service dog through the Valor Service Dogs program. Sponsored by the Westminster Kennel Club and Cosequin®, Tommy is undergoing an intensive 18-24 month training process to assist a military veteran or first responder, providing both mobility support and PTSD assistance.
He was named in honor of U.S. Coast Guard rescue diver Tommy Faulkenberry, who tragically lost his life during a dive. This initiative reflects Westminster’s long-standing commitment to supporting service dogs, a tradition dating back to World War I and II.
Cosequin has worked with Westminster for a decade on various campaigns, and now their collaboration extends to Tommy’s training. Valor Service Dogs specializes in preparing dogs like Tommy to help their future handlers regain independence and confidence.
A Missed Opportunity for Topps
What makes Tommy’s story even more compelling is that Westminster provides monthly updates on his training. Here’s an example from December 2023:
“Tommy Valor is five months old and he’s been a busy boy over the last month as he continues his service dog training. He continues to work on and learn new PTSD cues.
He is doing a great job at picking up on these cues from his Puppy Coach. He really enjoys learning new commands. His leash manners and eye contact are on point. He accompanied his Puppy Coach to a recent event and did a wonderful job of staying settled while there was lots of activity around him.
When he’s not working on commands, he loves to play frisbee or chase a ball.”
Another post, this one from January 2024:
“Tommy’s Puppy Coach reports he is doing great with his training. He has had lots of new experiences over the last few weeks. He attended a party with lots of people and did great with all the distractions and checking in with his Puppy Coach Mom.
Tommy has been out to restaurants, doctor’s offices for appointments and he rode an elevator for the first time. His new favorite thing is a robot feeder. He has to bump a button with his nose and the robot will reward him with treats.
He also really loves brain game puzzles and finding the yummy treats.”
These updates about ONE DOG are posted every month.
Now imagine if Topps included even a fraction of this information on the card. Just a single sentence about Tommy’s story, his training, or his namesake would make the card so much more meaningful.
Allen & Ginter cards are known for celebrating the unusual and the unexpected. Why not embrace that fully and give collectors a real reason to care about the subjects on these cards?
Topps, you’re sitting on a goldmine of great stories—don’t let them go to waste.