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A MIXED FUTURE IN AKC DOG COMPETITIONS
 06|08
An
issue many thought was permanently swept off the table by
Delegate opposition nearly two years ago may be back, served
with a new “feel good” concept – allowing “mixed breeds” to
compete in AKC companion events. More on that in a moment.
AKC’s
Rationale To Partner With (Petland) Petshops, was covered
first by TheDogPress which broke the story immediately following
the September 2006 meeting. We included a letter from the
AVP of Registration and Customer Service, one which we concede
was well founded and brilliantly presented.
Even so, AKC Delegate outrage was heard loud and clear.
If you missed the important background that may have led to the
present proposal to register mongrels and designer dogs, go to
the
Petland Deal for complete coverage including comments from
judges, delegates, and exhibitors.
Perhaps it just took time for AKC to come up with a back-door
plan, made feasible by concern over falling registrations which
are said (by AKC) to have seriously impacted income and
financial reserves. This is known as fiscal responsibility
and looking ahead. Had the AKC applied that to its AKC Canine
Health Foundation, today’s financials would be much higher – but
the AKC/CHF is another story - one AKC wishes TheDogPress had
not made public.
Right now we wonder if the AKC concept of partnering with pet
shops is dead? If AKC clubs allow mixed breed dogs to
compete in “companion events” as presented at the June 2008
Delegates’ Meeting, wouldn’t it also be logical to readdress
boosting registrations?
The Delegates presented a Resolution that the AKC Board “take
no final action” without Delegate approval. The Delegates
seem adamantly opposed to a change in the AKC Bylaws that would
open the door to registration of mongrels and “Designer Dogs.”
That is exactly what will happen, at least in the minds and
advertising of the more than 532,000 Designer Dogs online
listings. The public will be led through that crack in the
door, believing mongrels and designer dogs are of the same value
as purebreds.
So we are asking every member and approved AKC club:
What do your members think about AKC’s proposal to allow
mongrels and designer dogs to compete in companion events?
And the most important but simplest question of all:
Does
your club (ask) or (require) or (expect) your Delegate to vote
according to the majority opinion of its membership?
A full ballot report and your comments will follow in next
week’s edition of HEADlines. We trust all clubs will
respond promptly.
Barbara (BJ)
Andrews
Handy links:______________________
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