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More on AKC and the Irish
Red and White Setters
by Chris James
Mark Atkins
and Greg Williams each write compellingly as to the plight of their
Red and White setters. I too owned a dog which lost his AKC/FSS
status. Many individuals, alone and as a group, fought long and hard
to get these dogs into the gene pool (registered) in the US.
Much was written about the AKC representative who told the R&W
breeders and owners the dogs would be accepted after meeting the
three generation status. But did we interpret her words accurately?
Could the information have been inadvertently distorted once it left
her office? Did she fully understand the pedigrees involved? Was she
in a position to make 'final' determination?
More importantly, no matter what information was put forth, those
interested in this beautiful antique breed need to understand the
clubs of the world (including the breed club in Ireland) were
adamantly against the inclusion of the questioned pedigrees. There
was the ever present possibility that we would end up with Irish Red
and White Setters of the US registries, and Irish Red and White
Setters of the world registries -- basically isolating the US dogs
from the world wide gene pool. Read English Cocker Spaniel and
American Cocker Spaniel.
Whether or not the AKC made mistakes during the recognition process;
or the Irish Red and White Setter Club of America made mistakes in
the stud book; or the Irish Red and White Setter Association made
mistakes in influencing the AKC is irrelevant. The AKC made the
right decision in the end. They kept the world gene pool as one.
None of this is a reflection on the dogs which were left out.
Wonderful dogs, far more often than not, indistinguishable from the
accepted dogs. These dogs have a home in the UKC, effectively
creating an American Red and White Setter (or a UKC IRWS). The
breeders will have access to the worldwide gene pool of IRWS while
they strive to ever improve the breed under the auspices of the
UKC's total dog philosophy.
Can you picture the future of the Red and White grudge matches?
Chris James
jamesgang@cqservices.com
________________________________________ Handy links:
Introduction and History:
AKC and The Irish Red and White Setters, An Old Breed Whose History and Future is in Jeopardy by Mark Atkins.
AKC
Disregards Policies in Controversial Recognition Procedure of Irish Red and White Setters
AKC and the IRWSA Parent
Club's
website language that owners and breeders say is defamatory and
misleading.
Another Viewpoint regarding the Irish Red and White Setters by Chris
James
comments or news
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