REGISTRY, Breed & kennel Club NEWS

PEDIGREE FRAUD – THE STUD BOOK

Bulldog, Kuvasz, Samoyed - Part Two
(if you got here from a search engine or chat list, go back to Part One Link below..)

dateline March 28, 2006:  Mail and calls have been overwhelming.  The result is that we have changed the name of this series to that which more accurately reflects the damage.  To the public and to breeders, it is PEDIGREE fraud.  One AKC judge said that in his breed, the known fraud involved over $200,000.  And he emphasized the word “known.” 

While some would rather not wash dirty linen at all, 10 to 1 have said they want it stopped!! The cognizant realize there can be no massive stud book repairs and in fact, several of you referenced breeds that have suffered almost as much from correction as from corruption!

 Four people pointed out that the Saltzmans (AKC judges) went through hell for Sheltie Pedigrees and in the end, they won.  One writer reminded us that certain AKC officials then proudly proclaimed themselves as saviors of the stud book.  Whatever, the result is that Donna Tidswell Hardin and her husband Clare Hardin received a lifetime suspension.  The magnificent top winning Shetland Sheepdog bitch, Ch. Banchory Thousands Cheered still stands out in breed memory and many feel that it’s unfortunate her accomplishments were associated with the scandal because her pedigree was not believed to be compromised.  One person wrote “It is common knowledge in the breed that there were other fake pedigrees besides just the ones AKC corrected but it would have almost destroyed the gene pool if AKC had pulled all of the suspected dogs.”  One group judge commented “one might think AKC would have made sure nothing could ever corrupt a breed so badly again, if for no other reason, because it cost them dearly.”  She is correct in that it hurt thousands of innocent owners, breeders, and handlers.  But no, the story was buried and so the crooks just keep stealing pedigrees for their junk dogs and like Banchory, some show breeders still take advantage of AKC’s known disregard for authenticity. 

Can pedigree fraud be stopped?  At what cost?  Breeders must demand and welcome reform or we ALL become a party to this massive defrauding of the public – and each other!

 I spoke with Daisy Okas (AVP Communications) on March 17^th and asked for comment on this story.  (In the two weeks since, I have donned a bullet proof vest and been asked to order more for others who dare to ask.  They are available in pink....)  We also asked about the outdated reason for publishing registration numbers in the show catalogs.  (more on that) Ms. Okas is usually very cooperative and we have followed up several times but as of this date (over two weeks later) have heard nothing.  We can only assume there is a scramble for a satisfactory position statement. 

In the meantime, it is noteworthy that two of the cases have just been “closed.”  Lofranco and Addamo received notification letters right after this story broke.  If AKC's refusal to comment or answer questions is more than coincidence, then one might conclude that AKC is once again slamming the door on an issue in hopes it will just go away. 

This editor has studied many cases of registration fraud and followed with interest the AKC approved crossing of Dalmatians and Pointers and the more recent acceptance of tribal Basenjis.  Such infusions were carefully monitored and said to be due to genetic health problems.  Most people are not aware of those short-term exceptions but could accept them.  That AKC can allow deliberate fraud such as the Bulldog and Samoyed cases or to cover up what appears to be only a sloppy mistake grown into a “serious problem” as in the Kuvasz, well, it defies logic regardless of one’s opinion on the validity of the studbook. 

Here are new details and developments since the March 8^th Edition of TheDogPress. 

Kuvasz Case: When Darla Lofranco said the loss in the breed was probably “in the millions” we were skeptical.  However, when one considers the (now) thousands of dogs with compromised pedigrees, many of them top winning dogs, it doesn’t take a CPA to add the dollar signs.  A big winner has great opportunity to sire and in a prolific breed it doesn’t take long for the second generation to exceed the “thousands” category.  And top winners they are for according to Darla, the March AKC Kuvasz National Specialty in Louisville KY resulted in a Best Of Breed dog and Winner’s Bitch with invalid pedigrees.  She says if the rules were enforced, they could and should, through no fault of their owners, lose those wins!  Many Best in Show and Group winners (and their descendants) would be cancelled.”

Mrs. Lofranco says “A name change is no "simple" error.  The AKC letter (to her) dated March 3, 2006 is in violation of the rules of the American Kennel Club under Section 7.  It states in part  “No change in the name of a dog registered with The American Kennel Club will be allowed to be made except for a one-time change for a dog whelped in the United States which the breeder(s) has registered with The American Kennel Club.”  (Note Trevor and Tank were NOT whelped in the USA)  The rule continues “…no change in the name will be recorded by (AKC) after the dog has produced or sired an AKC registered litter or received an award at an AKC licensed or member event….”  

 Lofranco received a letter from AKC dated March 3, 2006, which alleges she "convinced an operator that a simple error was made years go and that the above dog’s name should be changed. That action has been reversed. The AKC record for Kuvasz shows the name Ch. Lofranco TNT Trevor Nordland." The letter is very short, closing with AKC "considers this matter closed. AKC will not correspond with you further regarding this matter."

Lofranco mentions the obvious in her reply to Mr. Sharp.  “AKC can not change the name of a dog born in Canada for any reason.”  (Remember, the dog was not even AKC registered,  not eligible for AKC registration as he was owned by a Canadian, and therefore, could not sire an AKC registered litter.) She says did not “convince” anyone of anything and that is indeed a preposterous comment from AKC.  According to Lofranco, she requested a copy of the CKC export certificate which led Ms. Brenda Lucas, AKC Registration Supervisor to confirm there were no CKC export papers for Trevor on file.  He was therefore ineligible for import registration and could not have sired AKC litters.  Whoops.  Lofranco says “AKC cancelled the illegal import registration for Trevor and corrected the records on November 9, 2005.”  

AKC “corrected” the records because it had previously recorded Trevor as sire of AKC litters.  In such a high volume of transactions, mistakes can be made but this seems to be just sloppy handling of registrations.  Trevor and Tank are littermates bred by the Lofrancos who are Canadian. Darla Lofranco says “AKC did not change the name of the dog, AKC changed the dog imported by Henry and Karen Nichols to Lofranco's Tank-You Nordland”

She sums up years of inquiry with this statement “AKC alleges Lofranco TNT Trevor Nordland was imported by Karen and Henry Nichols residents of the USA. Therefore, a CKC export certificate of registration in the name of Karen and Henry Nichols showing an address in the USA must be on file.  AKC cannot provide a copy of the above certificate because it does NOT exist.  Therefore AKC records are in violation of the rules of the American Kennel Club.”

Since AKC will not correspond further and apparently will not address illegally registered dogs, the question regarding which dog was the sire is also forever buried.  Or is it?  In this March 24^th letter to AKC, Mrs. Lofranco states the following:

Dear Mr. Sharp,
       AKC cancelled the illegal IMPORT registration for Lofranco TNT Trevor Nordland on November 9, 2005.
       Please cancel the wins for any alleged descendants of the above dog including BOB and winners bitch at the Kuvasz Club of America Specialty on March 15, 2006.  Winners bitch at the Specialty should be Aegys Lunatic Fringe RN owned by Lynn Vogel.
       Exhibitors are spending thousands of dollars to show against dogs illegally registered and entered at AKC events.  Handlers are losing thousands of dollars to show against dogs that should NOT be in the ring!
       AKC is knowingly, making millions of dollars from dogs illegally registered and entered at AKC events.
       Please give this matter your immediate attention.
Sincerely, Darla Lofranco

Bulldog: Bruce Lorenzen provides more details on the bulldog stud book which you will recall involved stealing the name and fame of Jean Hetherington's top winning Ch. Heatherbull Bounty’s Frigate.  "There were 7 pups in the April 16, 1995 litter sired by my dog, a Frigate son.  4 pups died.  Gina Price registered the litter for her mother and when the blue slips came back, she gave her mother three blue slips – but she kept the four extras for the dead puppies.”  Ms. Lorenzen explains that in about 1998 or 1999 Gina and her mother went to someone’s house and bought an “NKC” (National Kennel Club, i.e. puppy mill registry) dog.  “She then used the blue slip from 1995 and registered that dog as being out of my dog.  She named him Sir Newton Of Georgetown.  Seems she told AKC the reason she was late sending in the blue slip is because he had a couple of health problems but he ‘outgrew’ them.  And AKC accepted that.”

Ms. Lorenzen found out about it when Gina Price advertised the dog and put his pedigree on her website which “showed his father was my dog and the grandsire was Frigate, Jean Hetherington’s wonderful top winning dog”  Asked how they knew it was not a dog from that litter, Lorenzen said, “Simple, we know because Gina had a DNA on Sir Newton. Okay?  And we have a swab on the mother.  So we sent that swab to AKC and said ‘Look at this proof’ but AKC sent it back and said it was too late, that they don’t go back that far!”

 Ms. Lorenzen’s voice grows soft here as she recalls “I got in touch with Jean (Hetherington) but she wasn’t in Registrations then and there was nothing she could do.  Her hands were tied.  I sent a letter to Tom Sharp, explaining everything, and to somebody else, I forget their name right now, but they both said the same thing, that ‘they don’t go back that far.” 

“That far” meaning only to 1995? DNA was easily done then and in fact, the stud dog’s DNA was on file, how is that?  She replied “Yes, I know, but they said they didn’t go back past 1998 or something like that.  And I said ‘well up there on that Secretary’s page you said that AKC wants the registration to be pure and have integrity and you’re not living up to what you stand by.’  He didn’t say anything.  In my opinion, they only want the money!  And you can quote me on that, that’s my opinion, they only care about the money.”

 The hurt was clearly evident as she continued “And they wouldn’t stand by me.  So what else can it be?  I’m an AKC breeder judge of bulldogs and French bulldogs.  She (the mother) still has the swabs and I don’t know if it could be sent to the company that does the DNA for AKC or what good it would do.” Ms. Lorenzen was thoughtful for a moment, then continued “But as far as what I think should be done in the future, every bitch should have DNA before she is bred and the owner should also get the stud dog’s DNA graph and keep a copy of those records.  Don’t breed to any stud dog that does not have DNA.  You don’t know who’s gonna swap what or anything else.”  Asked why she thinks all that should be done – why AKC isn’t itself trying to protect the stud book, she replied “Because AKC wants the money off of the litters, and off the pups that are going to be registered.  And that’s my opinion.”

 We asked why her friend Mari-Beth O’Neil couldn’t get anyone to sort this out, she said “No, she might have been the one that gave me the names of people to write to but Mari-Beth had nothing to do with registrations or DNA at all.  Mari-Beth is a lovely person and I still consider her a friend and I know she tried to help me.  And then that kooky woman sent me the letter addressed to Mister Bruce Lorenzen, and it was nothing about what I had written AKC about, it was something crazy about, let me think, she thought I was trying to register an imported dog, that I wanted to know how to register an imported dog.  That was so insulting to me. I saved all of those letters.  Kept them right in the envelope they came in.”

Is it true that Gina is in trouble with the authorities about “imported dogs”?  “Yes, I have been in contact with the FBI and the attorney General’s office in Nashville.  I told them if they need a witness against her, I’ll be glad to testify.  They said they would call me if they needed more testimony.  They know about the alias she is using now, you know, that website ‘CSA’ and there’s some others.  She’s pretty smart in some ways.  She imports these dogs from other countries, she gets these names of breeder-judges and known people in the breed and probably members of BCA, and she uses those names as the importers.  We have notarized statements that those people never heard of her but that’s how Gina sells the pups.  She puts these other people’s names on as the importer and then she sends the dogs right on to her buyer so when these people get the dog, they can’t get it registered or it is very sick but Gina doesn’t even show up in the paperwork!  Some of them, we know the date of birth and stuff did not coincide with the information she had given the new owner.  When you import any breed of dog from Europe the litter has to be born in that country.  So they can’t get her for being the owner or breeder, just a broker.”

When asked why didn’t AKC catch that Gina forged her mother’s name on the litter papers and blue slips she replied “Well I suppose it’s because they don’t care.  There is reason to believe the male wasn’t the only one she falsely registered, there may be two bitches too but they are not as high profile as the dog because he sires a lot of litters.  Only AKC knows that and they aren’t going to say.”

We told Ms. Lorenzen we are publishing a link to just one of several websites that reveal Gina Price for what she is.  What she’s done and continues to do is no secrete to AKC.  Google the name and sites like http://www.rebelridgekennelsisbad.com/  are returned.  It is graphic. 

Lorenzen knows of other sites.  When we asked if she cared to speculated about whether or not Rebel Ridge was ever “inspected” and if so why Price was not suspended she was thoughtful, then replied simply, “I don’t know.  The greatest disappointment that I had with AKC is that I have been a respected breeder, I’ve judged all over the United States, and as a breeder judge AKC did not back me up.”

Samoyed – Gini Addamo.  We regret that we can only provide you with Ms. Addamo’s position because AKC refuses to discuss the case or elaborate on the reasoning to date.

 As data coordinator for the SCA, Ms. Addamo became aware of this deception in March 1999 and filed charges with AKC in April.  August 10, 2005 she filed formal charges in the Samoyed Club Of America against one Jennifer Brown of Cabot, Arkansas for gross misconduct alleging that Brown  

Ř      Bred a dysplastic bitch in Aug. 1998 resulting in a litter whelped 10/31/98

Ř      Submitted a false litter registration by knowingly substituting another dam

Ř      Committed felony fraud by selling puppies from this litter. 

Addamo provided precise and detailed background, including that she had filed charges with AKC in 1999 but some way Brown received a heads up that the investigator was coming.  The investigator was told both bitches, the real dam and the falsely inserted dam, were dead!  Gini comments that it was “odd that 2 young bitches involved in an investigation died in less than six months.”  The result however, was that AKC backed out of the investigation and at that time there was no available science with which to proceed as neither bitch could be DNA’d.  Interestingly however, eye witness testimony was available which not only refuted the recorded bitch “Julie” as the dam but established that the bitch “Rita” (that had supposedly been spayed and petted out due to HD) was in fact the dam!  There was a time, before DNA, when this would have been enough to cause AKC to pursue a more in-depth investigation.

  things happened that spurred Ms. Addamo to pursue what she knew to be wrong and a detriment to the breed she loved.  She learned that Mitochrondrial DNA (mtDNA) had advanced to being applicable to dogs, and she became aware that Brown had put herself on the ballot for a Board position with SCA and was furthermore, published in the AKC Gazette as having applied for a judge’s license. 

 Addamo had a full sister to Rita, the alleged dam of the litter, and she had Rita’s mother.  And others from the bitch side which could be tested.  Establishing a “perfect chain of evidence” as recommended by UC Davis, the dogs were all taken to their respective vets where they were scanned and samples taken.  The results were clear and conclusive.  The mtDNA proved that “Rita” was probably the dam of the litter (there was also supporting eye witness testimony) and that the registered dam, Kamelot’s Jewel of the Knight “Julie” could not be the dam.

 We asked a totally impartial geneticist for a layman’s explanation on this new form of DNA testing which is as accepted in a court of law as is “regular” DNA.  Christopher Gordon responded:

 “I can tell you assuredly that mitochondrial DNA is passed virtually identically (with some possibility of a single mutation or two) from mother to all offspring. The way it works is simple. Mitochrondria are like tiny organs within cells, including egg cells. Except for a controversial handful of observed incidents of sperm cells retaining mitochondria after fertilization, ALL mitochondria in offspring come directly from the mother's egg, and are reproduced identically in every cell of their bodies. Therefore, any puppies born will have identical mitochondrial DNA to their mother, and unlike their father (unless the father's mother comes from the same maternal line as the puppies' mother, because his mitochondrial DNA is also inherited from his mother, and her mother, and her mother, going all the way back).

 “However, if the mitochondrial DNA of a litter is different from the mother listed on their papers, then it's virtually impossible that the mother listed is the actual genetic mother.

 “(That is) a simple definition of how mitochondrial inheritance works, what I stated above is factual and can be authenticated in virtually any high school biology text. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need something more scientific for verification.”

 Gini Addamo provided conclusive test results from University Of California, Davis and extensive documentation.  The mtDNA evidence should have gotten both the SCA and AKC’s attention and been more than enough to spur an investigation, right?  Wrong.

 First, the SCA took no discernable action.  After seven months Addamo contacted Michael Liosis, AKC Director of Club Relations in January.  He responded in effect, “the charges filed with the SCA are null and void.”  And then goes on to explain that the SCA has no jurisdiction over “filing false registration papers with the ACK” or her other charges.  Addamo wonders if it is it AKC’s place to state that the club has no jurisdiction, effectively letting them off the hook and then say asks, if the SCA has no jurisdiction, why did AKC not assume it?  Mr. Liosis said “those matters fall within the purview of AKC” and suggested “perhaps a re-filing of the alleged code of ethics violations would be appropriate.”  More delay and deflection?  You decide.  Put yourself in Gini’s position.

 She replied to Mr. Liosis, stating that the only real response she had received from the national club was a notice that Brown let her membership lapse that same month.   Addamo wrote (to AKC) “this is a slap in the face to justice, the club, and to the Samoyed breed.”  She charges that the SCA was “derelict in its duty to handle this matter in an expeditious manner …. as per the Constitution.”  Gini Addamo then charged the AKC Director with the duty to chastise or sanction the SCA for  

Ř      Deliberately delaying action on charges filed against a club member

Ř      Violating the rights of the club member who filed the charges

Ř      Not considering the best interests of the club or the breed

Ř      Leaking information to the charged person allowing her to evade or avoid a hearing.  

With polite restraint and three pages of documentation, Addamo explains that she “depended on the constitution to protect me, the breed and the club.”  She implores Mr. Liosis, in his official capacity, to stop parent club officers from “manipulating, circumventing and violating the Constitution and Bylaws they were elected to enforce.”  

And what happened then you ask?  March 17 Ms. Addamo received a letter from Mr. Thomas Sharp, AVP Compliance in which he states “AKC’s policy on DNA parentage verifications, approved December 1999” says essentially, after Jan. 1, 2000 if problems are found, breeders will be notified, every effort will be made to establish correct parentage….  Litter corrections will be made based on DNA profiles, and quoting the policy he continues “Litters that can not be corrected will, unfortunately, be cancelled.”

 He then throws her case out the window citing an Oct. 2004 meeting which reaffirmed that policy only applies to litters born before Jan. 1, 2000.  Incredibly, from this reporter’s point of view, Mr. Sharp then states “mitochondrial DNA analysis presented does not offer enough information to correct the registration of the litter.” 

 Then comes the now-famous closing “Therefore, no action will be taken on this complaint, and the AKC considers this matter closed.”

 Is it closed?  Does this mean any proven registration or pedigree fraud occurring prior to Jan. 2002 is okay?  Does this mean that AKC will not accept mtDNA evidence even though it is accepted by the Supreme Court of the United States Of America?  Is the AKC stud book above the Law?

Is there an answer, a plausible reason for ignoring scientific evidence, for not cancelling the litter proven to be falsely registered?  We ask on behalf of our subscribers and the thousands of visitors who, reading this, have seen the ivory tower crumble.  The breeder’s bible, the AKC stud book, that revered and cherished document on which the studies and plans of any responsible breeder are based, is corrupt beyond repair.  We might accept that, dog breeders are realists, but you are already asking the next question “where does that leave us?” 

 We hope AKC has reassuring answers and that it will not slam the door in the face of the fancy.  

Footnote: So far, roughly 50% said "you're kidding!" 10% say "Unsubscribe" and the remaining 40% "It's about time!"  We will tabulate your responses following this edition, after you've had opportunity to digest the facts and choose your position.

We are STILL trying to reach AKC for comment regarding these very high profile Pedigree Fraud cases.  If we can elicit any response or assurance by Monday March 28, we will include it here. 

As previously stated, the internal workings of AKC are really none of "our" business.  AKC provides a service which we willingly seek.  That includes paying fees to become a part of the AKC Stud Book and to be able to ourselves "market" an AKC Pedigree.

AKC can and has on numerous occasions, slipped the noose of the legal system.  We have spoken with two attorneys (for our own protection) and they have independently stated that we are customers, we pay for services rendered, and as paying customers, we have a legal right to expect dependable service and that the product is as marketed.  And that is the problem. 

Even as it glorifies the advantages of the purebred dog, dog shows, and all that it can market to the media, AKC is backing away from the concept of the stud book having validity.  AKC says a pedigree is only as dependable as are the breeders who register dogs and litters.

AKC says this while it actively and eagerly solicits business (registrations) from commercial - high volume - puppy mill breeders, etc.

Want to know more?  Unfortunately, there is much more.... _____________________________________ Handy links: ____

Pedigree Fraud Part One - Bulldogs, Kuvasz, Samoyeds
Pedigree Fraud Part Two - Bulldogs, Kuvasz, Samoyeds
Pedigree Fraud Part Three - Mastiffs
Pedigree Fraud Part Four  - Kuvasz

DoodleDog's pup is well trained!  Just copy and paste  any or all of the above links into a REGULAR email message, then select as many recipients as you want!!   Right from your contacts list.  This puppy can handle it!  He's his daddy's boy.  Cool eh?  He's here to help you share the news.... nope, he's not for sale, this pup's a keeper!

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