Two champion pointer dogs, who were half-sisters and shared two of the same owners, were recently selected for induction into the Field Trial Hall of Fame.

The dogs, Elhew Sunflower and Elhew Swami, were owned by Bryce Flaming of Wichita, Kan., and Rob Butler of LaGrange, Ky. Stan Howton of Bainbridge, was third owner of Elhew Swami.

Both dogs had illustrious careers in field trial competitions. Elhew Sunflower won the United States Shooting Dog Invitational Championship, her 15th title, when she was 10 years old. She died early this year at the age of nearly 14.

Elhew Swami, or “Bama,” as she was called, began competing in 1999. She won the Canadian Open Shooting Dog Championship, her 40th win, in Spring of 2007. She died in May of this year, just shy of 12 years.

Dogs cannot be nominated to the hall of fame until they are deceased.

Howton, former president of Pet Royal Canin USA Corp., a pet food company with headquarters in St. Louis, has been involved with bird dogs all his life. Upon his retirement from the pet food industry he decided to make Decatur County his retirement home. He owns a small kennel off Woodhull Road where he breeds and raises a few dogs as a hobby. He currently owns Elhew Sinbad, the son of Swami, that is competing and has already become a multiple champion.