|
|
Across The Board
Direct From The Major Registries
 |
The American Kennel Club
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
|
January 2007 -
Dogs initially earned the moniker "man's best friend" as a
result of their work alongside man as hunter, herder, or guardian.
Today's canine may have dwindling duties on the farm and in the
field but a new role has emerged, taking simple companionship a step
further and becoming a full fledged family member. Like our human
family members, we concern ourselves with our dogs' health and
longevity. A positive side effect of our desire to understand more
about our pet's well being is research that helps not only the dogs
themselves but has profound implications for human health as well.
Man has selectively bred dogs over centuries creating pedigreed
breeds with verifiable ancestry. These closely monitored
populations, thanks in part to AKC's Compliance recordkeeping
standards, make them suitable to study not only canine diseases, but
humans as well, since these two species share 85 percent of the same
genetic make-up. This heritage, couple with the dog's shorter
generation spans and DNA samples collected from the fancy, made the
purebred dog the ideal model for genome mapping.
When the canine genome sequencing project was undertaken the
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) became the
largest non-profit supporter of this research initiative. Once the
canine genome was finished, it joined four other completed
sequences, including the human and chimp, to give researchers more
tools to gain faster genetic results in research to find causes -
and thus cures - for diseases.
One such example is the breakthrough discovery on Neuronal Ceroid
Lipofuscinosis in Tibetan Terriers that led to a landmark stem cell
replacement therapy in a California boy who was suffering with the
human equivalent called Batten Disease. In addition, there are
cardiac and cancer AKC/CHF-funded research projects currently
underway that may lead to cross-over benefits for human treatment.
Man's best friend giving back in an unexpected way.
In 2006, many advances were made in developing genetic tests for
dogs as a result of the canine genome map. Tests were developed for
copper toxicosis in Bedlington Terriers and juvenile cataracts in
Boston Terriers. Important discoveries were made regarding the
transmission of the tick-borne disease Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Genetic markers causing specific illnesses in Basenjis, Standard
Poodles, and English Cocker Spaniels were also identified.
Another benchmark for the advancement of canine health and research
came last year with the establishment of the DNA Repository. This
research database, a collaboration of AKC/CHF and the Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals (OFA) partnering with the Canine Health
Information Center (www.caninehealthinfo.org) is a collection of
canine DNA samples that will become a major tool for funded
researchers worldwide.
We are proud to continue our funding of the AKC/CHF, with $15
million to date and another $1.2 million donation slated for 2007.
These dollars have helped fund more than 340 studies in nearly all
of the top ten diseases in dogs and aided more than 74 schools and
research institutes worldwide including Great Britain, Germany,
Australia, and the Netherlands. The correlation between genetic
health testing and responsible breeding can never be understated.
Because of the genetic tests made available through AKC/CHF,
breeders have a wealth of information and resources at their
fingertips.
To aid in our mission to advance canine health we also present the
popular Breeders' Symposia. These cutting-edge seminars help us
educate breeders and the public about canine health, genetics and
responsible breeding. The next Breeders' Symposium, presented by
AKC/CHF and the American Kennel Club will be held later this month
on January 27 - 28 hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, School
of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia. For more information on this
exciting opportunity to learn about what man's best friend is up to
in the field of canine health go to: www.akcchf.org.
Sincerely,
|
Highlights from the January 2007
meeting of the AKC Board
of Directors
One has to wonder why so
much hype on the genome sequencing project? See Pedigree Fraud
:))
AKC, CFH, and OFA shake
hands (bad news for PennHip)
$1.2 million slated for
AKC/CFH in 2007,
Judges Conflict Of
Interest Policy Amended - under pressure, see below
So. Korea and Puerto Rico
pedigrees recognized by AKC (good business decision but what
pedigree authentication required?)
Tervuren and Dachshund
standards revisions approved.
Agility Regulations re
entry and eligibility amended after big mess exposed in TDP.
See
Agility Club Protests
The Judging Conflict of
Interest Policy was amended, with the prohibition on AKC judges,
judging non-AKC events removed. The full policy now reads:
Judging Conflict of Interest
“No AKC judge may have a
significant interest in a dog registry or dog event-governing
organization deemed by the AKC Board to be in competition with
TheAmerican Kennel Club. Significant interest would include, but not
be limited to ownership of, employment by, a directorship in, and
holding office in.”
* The Korean Kennel Federation (South Korea) and the Federación
Calófila de Puerto Rico were added to the list of registries with
pedigrees acceptable for AKC registration.
* Event license fees,
some of which have been in place since 1925, were increased
effective for events held on and after January 1, 2008. A full
schedule of event license fees appears in the minutes of the January
meeting.
* The breed standard
revisions for the Belgian Tervuren and the Dachshund, as published
in the AKC GAZETTE, were approved effective March 1, 2007.
* A number of amendments
to the Agility Regulations were adopted, effective immediately. They
clarify entry and eligibility requirements for the FAST Class. the
changes appear in the minutes for the January Board meeting.
AKC JUDGING CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY
Here is the
actual policy that has generated so much debate:
"The American Kennel Club ® Board of Directors has adopted a new
Judging Conflict of Interest Policy, effective January 1, 2007. AKC
® believes that it has the best judges in the world and expends
millions of dollars a year to administer its judging approval system
to ensure that quality remains high.
“AKC judging approval confers a certain status on an individual and
with such status comes an enormous responsibility to both AKC and
the Sport as governed by AKC,” said President and CEO Dennis B.
Sprung.
The policy states, with some notable exceptions, that AKC approved
judges should be focused on judging and supporting AKC events.
Approved judges should not have a significant interest in another
registry that is in direct conflict with AKC or be judging for
another event-giving organization to the possible detriment of
events held by AKC member and licensed clubs.
The complete policy is as follows. Bolding has added
for added for emphasis.
JUDGING CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY
No AKC judge may have a significant interest in a dog registry or
dog event-giving organization deemed by the AKC Board to be in
competition with the American Kennel Club. Significant interest
would include, but not be limited to ownership of, employment by, a
directorship in, and holding office in.
Any AKC-approved judge, who shall judge a purebred dog event in the
U.S. not in accordance with the rules of AKC, which apply to such
purebred dog events without the express permission of the AKC, may
be disciplined even to the extent of having his or her AKC judging
approval revoked.
An AKC-approved judge may judge breeds that are not AKC registrable
and/or that they have not been approved for by AKC at non-AKC
events. The AKC Board has also given permission for the judging of
certain other events based upon the following criteria:
1. AKC has no comparable events in place.
2. While AKC has a program in place, AKC judges have officiated at
events under the aegis of the other organization for years before
the AKC program was initiated.
3. The type of event is not or would not be perceived as being
contrary to the best interest of AKC and the sport of purebred dogs.
4. The event is a breed or type of breed-specific performance
activity.
No
AKC approval is needed to judge versatility or performance
activities developed by AKC Parent Clubs and sponsored by such
clubs.
Events held by the following organizations meet the above criteria,
and AKC-approved judges may continue to judge them:
• American Sighthound Field Association Coursing Events
• American Working Terrier Association Earthdog Events
• American Herding Breed Association Events
• North American Versatility Dog Association Pointing Breed Hunting
Tests
• American Field Pointing Breed Field Trials
• United Kennel Club Coonhound Events
• Professional Kennel Club Coonhound Events
• Any of the various organizations sponsoring Agility Trials
Other activities may be added to this list at the discretion of the
AKC Board.
...... end of quotation
____________________ Handy links:
Senior Conf. Judges Assoc. Letter to the AKC Board April 2006
Individual Rights or AKC's Right to
Change The Rules in Mid-Game?
Senior Conf. Judges Assoc. Letter To Members
No Judges' Associations Were Contacted, SCJA
Reacts, Seeks Input
Conflict Policy Prohibits Learning New Breeds May 2006
Where Are Judges To Learn About
Plott Hounds and Icelandic Dogs?
 Across
The Board Index
Send Your
Comments and Club News to
contact@thedogpress.com |
