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Barbara (BJ) Andrews,
Editor-In-Chief |
TheDogPress
11|18|09
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I
avoid covering any story with which I am
personally involved, thus absolving myself and
TheDogPress from charges of biased reportage.
The $1.8 million lawsuit was given to
TheDogPress as the best way to accurately inform
the most people. We agreed to cover the
case because history has shown it would have
been covered-up or misreported even though it
affects every person who breeds, shows dogs, or
is a member of a dog club.
 Toy Fox Terrier Club background,
prior to November 14th 2009, I had never spoken
or communicated with plaintiff Barbara Quast. I
had no knowledge of the lawsuit until well after
it was filed. I do however have knowledge of the
obstacles the Toy Fox Terrier club has faced
because I was asked to support formation of the
American Toy Fox Terrier Club in 1994. I have
never sought office in the ATFTC but in the
interest of an involved membership, I offered to
pay for a club newsletter. The offer was
repeatedly declined and the club has continued
to deprive members of information as it pertains
to the board, voting (?) for specialty judges,
and moving the club forward.
Also in the interest of disclosure, I have
challenged the Toy Fox Terrier club election
process and offered to pay for ballots to be
sent and received by an independent auditing
firm. I took the same position as regards the
Akita Club Of America and together with a small
group of concerned members, we sought legal
representation which resulted in the ACA’s legal
firm ordering a ballot recall and proper
election protocol was thus established.
I voted for
Roger Pritchard
because I believed he would salvage the club but
I regret to say the problems have only
accelerated since Roger became President. Up
until the lawsuit was filed, I knew him only as
a judge I rarely saw. The Toy Fox Terrier
club suffered its first AKC reprimand under
Roger's leadership. Fearing another
censure, I worked with him to re-word a "rule"
he wanted that would enable the board to expel
people from the TFT club for gossip. The
secretary and I agreed the wording would have
invited a lawsuit. I don't know what
became of Roger's Rule but we never had a
conflict or disagreement.
Other important background of which you should
be aware. Dog magazines depend on advertising
done to influence judges and subjectively, to
garner favor with AKC. As a publisher and dog
magazine columnist since 1968, I understand how
it works. I have written for ShowSight Magazine
(Doll-McGinnis Publications) for 20 years and
respect their publishing tradition too much to
broach such distasteful subjects within their
pages.
Dog club politics are but a microcosm of
the national scene. Despite your editor having
personal history with the ATFTC, and
consequently with Roger Pritchard, we agreed to
cover the Quast lawsuit because it is a
precedent-setting legal action, therefore, it is
news that affects everyone in dogs. Specifically
excluding DMG publications, a lot goes on behind
the scenes.
Some publications curry favor with advertisers
by implying a special connection with AKC and
that advertising in their publication will
assure bigger wins and favorable nods from the
AKC hierarchy. In certain instances, that may be
true.
Some people claim close friendships and
influence with the leadership of AKC in order to
aggrandize themselves, control a club, maintain
a following, or gain more assignments or
clients. In certain instances, those claims may
be true.
The Dog Press claims none of the above. It
is the free press, literally and figuratively.
Whether broadcast or print, public knowledge
makes corruption harder to accomplish. If
The Dog Press serves as a professional,
objective news source for the fancy; then it has
done its job. Many news outlets are openly
biased but broadcast or print, the press
represents the very freedom upon which this
country was founded. The Constitution protects
freedom of speech and of the press specifically.
In our sport, there is self-censorship out of
concern for advertising dollars or the threat of
disfavor from the AKC if any questionable
actions are exposed. We thought about all
that. Then we decided to cover this story.
No one would deny there are few dog clubs that
are free of dictatorial control. The result is
that, faced with corruption and the expense of
challenging those in control, club members
simply drop out. At this time in our history,
when Breed and Kennel clubs are failing across
the country, losing valuable members is the last
thing a dog club can afford.
The Quast Suit was filed as a result of personal
damages inflicted by Roger Pritchard but having
interviewed Barbara Quast, there is no question
that she also saw the damages inflicted on the
club. As a board member, she was subjected to
perceived corruption that impeded the club and
the advancement of the Toy Fox Terrier breed.
And so, with an unshakable obligation to the
sport and to the ATFTC membership, most of whom
were unaware of the behind-the-scenes politics,
she took appropriate action. Our partners
think we have done likewise in presenting this
case to our readers. We will do our best
to keep you informed at the "dog club lawsuit"
goes forward.
Barbara J. Andrews, Editor |
