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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,   Ron Menaker Chairman

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?

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