Sept
2006 |
AKC's rationale for the "done deal" Petland
contract
and the official release to explain the (current) decision "not to go
forward with it."
At the
September meeting of the AKC Delegates, the AKC announced a program in
which Petland may facilitate the individual AKC registration process for
eligible dogs sold in their stores. Today, many of these AKC-registerable
dogs are registered with other registries or not at all. Several
questions emerged following that announcement. We provide the following
details to reduce misunderstandings about the program.
What kind of agreement does the AKC have
with Petland?
Following are some of the basic facts about this plan:
Only AKC-registerable dogs are eligible
for this program.
The
program does not provide registration to dogs not otherwise eligible for
registration. We are doing this in large part to assure that AKC-registerable
puppies already in these stores are registered with AKC.
AKC will
educate Petland staff about the value and importance of AKC registration.
AKC will highlight the opportunity for participation in appropriate AKC
events and the importance of programs like AKC Canine Good Citizen to
promote responsible dog ownership.
Petland
will encourage new puppy owners to register with the AKC.
Petland will help the
customer complete the AKC registration form online, similar to the
current online registration process. The customer will pay the entire
AKC registration fee in the store. Petland may charge the customer a
small processing fee to cover their cost. Registering in the store
increases the likelihood that the puppy owner will register their new
puppy with the AKC. Research has shown that if dog owners don’t
register their dog soon after acquiring it, they are less likely to do
so in the future.
This
program allows the AKC inspections team to continue its active presence
in the commercial sector.
If puppies sold in retail pet stores are not AKC registerable, AKC loses
the ability to inspect and influence the care and conditions in pet
stores and the breeding kennels that supply the pet stores.
AKC and
Petland are not engaged in an endorsement, partnership, affiliation or
joint venture.
A
written agreement between AKC and Petland exists, in large part, to
protect the AKC and ensure that all applicable AKC Registration Rules
and Procedures are followed.
AKC does
not endorse any breeder or seller of dogs.
Our
central message about how to buy a puppy -- to thoroughly research the
breed and the breeder and to consult AKC resources, starting with the
parent club -- has not and will not change.
This
program has not changed AKC’s registration policies.
The
AKC has always registered dogs sold through pet retailers as long as the
pet store and breeder are in compliance with our standards for accurate
record keeping and meet the AKC’s care and conditions requirements. Read
our Compliance fact sheet at:
AKC Press Center- Facts/Stats, page 6. The program with Petland
offers AKC an opportunity to communicate the benefits of registration
and involve new puppy owners in the world of AKC but does not imply an
endorsement any more than AKC papers have in the past. It will ensure
that AKC inspectors and investigators continue to have access to all
kennels breeding AKC puppies. This will continue enforcement of our care
and conditions policies and compliance with record-keeping.
Why is
AKC encouraging the registration of all registrable dogs?
Today,
many AKC-registrable dogs sold by pet retailers are not registered with
the AKC by their owner.
Less
than 50 percent of AKC-registrable dogs are registered with the AKC. The
AKC strategic plan targets this problem in all customer groups,
including pet stores. When these new owners do not register, AKC and our
clubs lose the ability to encourage them to become part of the fancy or
to educate them about responsible dog ownership. We feel we can best
promote our values and bring people into the world of AKC events by
reaching out to new dog owners no matter where they choose to purchase
their dog.
AKC’s
ability to influence legislation and public opinion is directly linked
to the number of dog owners we represent.
Ultimately,
AKC’s ability to take a leadership stand on any issue is closely tied to
the size of our constituency (the number of people with AKC registered
dogs).
AKC can
best serve the interests of dogs and their owners by maintaining
stringent standards and promoting the benefits of AKC registration.
With more than 20
different for-profit businesses acting as canine “registries” in the
U.S., it is important that the AKC distinguish itself as the genuine
purebred registry. Many of these for-profit businesses will "register"
dogs with little or no proof of lineage and none have any inspections or
compliance standards. These businesses actively and aggressively work to
convert AKC registrations into applications for their listing services.
The fact that AKC can inspect kennels and pet shops and take action
against them whenever necessary protects the welfare of all AKC
puppies.
AKC’s
ability to offer important programs is directly linked to our annual
registrations.
In addition to subsidizing AKC events, registration fees provide support
for a range of programs and services including the AKC Canine Health
Foundation and the AKC Museum of the Dog. Registration income also
provides an important source of funding for our scholarship programs,
veterinary outreach, our compliance department, combating unfair canine
legislation, providing disaster relief and much more.
What
else is being done to promote AKC Registration?
We are
less than a year into a five year strategic plan that has already
introduced a suite of benefits and resources for the fancy including a
breeder newsletter, full litter registration option, litter coupons,
online accounts and enhancements to online dog registration. In
addition, AKC has introduced new registration benefits like dog.com
e-certificates for both breeders and individual registrants and
complimentary first office visits at participating veterinarians. As we
continue implementing the plan, additional programs for breeders and new
dog owners will be introduced.
We
have made a significant investment in a diversified advertising campaign
that communicates our mission and promotes the value of AKC registration
and the integrity of our Registry. Our message embodied in our
advertising tagline “We’re more than champion dogs. We’re the dog’s
champion” has reached almost 200 million people in print and broadcast
media during the past year.
How
will this impact rescue?
Dogs will
be sold in pet stores whether or not AKC registers them. However the AKC
feels that by bringing more registrants into the AKC fold we have the
opportunity to educate them and involve them in programs that promote
responsible dog ownership.
What
prompted this agreement?
The AKC
has undertaken a strategic plan to reverse the significant decline in
registrations that has occurred during the last decade. The plan
includes a number of separate initiatives. Together these initiatives
are designed to regain market share, while maintaining a registry of
unequaled integrity and size. The approach outlined in the plan is to
increase registrations by addressing the needs of all customer groups –
fanciers, breeders, pet owners and the commercial channel. This focus
stems from a belief that purebred dogs are best served by the AKC, and
that breeding programs are improved with our involvement. This inclusive
approach helps position AKC as the voice for all dogs and all dog
owners.
What
are the next steps?
As a
result of the questions raised both during and after the September
Delegates Meeting the Staff will continue reviewing and communicating
with our core constituency. A meeting will be held prior to the October
Board Meeting which will include a number of Delegates and fanciers to
discuss this initiative. The AKC Board of Directors will discuss this
topic during the October Board Meeting. The program is under review by
staff and management. Further details will be provided when they are available.
Thank
you
David Roberts
AVP Registration and Customer Services
American Kennel Club
direct comments to:
puppyreg@akc.org
Mail: AKC Operations, 5580 Centerview Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606-3390
September 2006 -
AKC WITHDRAWING FROM PETLAND AGREEMENT
Letter
from the AKC:
At the
September Delegates Meeting AKC reported that we had reached an
agreement with Petland in order to facilitate the registration of dogs
that are already AKC registerable.
Precedence: bulk
AKC's Board of Directors and management believed that this
agreement would have helped to further the mission of the AKC. Promoting
responsible dog ownership to new puppy owners, implementing our care and
conditions policies, and exposing more dog owners to AKC educational
programs and services would have had even greater reach.
In the past few weeks we have received many comments about this
agreement, both positive and negative. We have listened to the concerns
and because this issue has become so divisive, we believe it is in the
best interest of our sport and the American Kennel Club not to go
forward with this initiative.
Ron Menaker, Chairman of the Board
Dennis B. Sprung, President and CEO
Facts Are For Friends! Just
click here to
FARF this page This puppy can handle it! After all, he's
DoodleDog's son so he knows how to handle mail.
FARF
makes it easy to share what you've found with all your friends.
10081
http://www.thedogpress.com/ClubNews/AKC/0609-AKC-Board-Rescinds-Petland.Contract.asp
|
