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Adhering To The Highest Journalistic Standards
REPLY TO AKC MARKETING re FEES
Dear Mr. Crowley,
You supposedly did “market research” before you asked the Board to
take the action it did on registrations. I’m one of your better and
more reliable customers. No one asked me or anyone I know what this
increase in fees might mean to us.
I received this yesterday:
STATEMENT FROM THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB
AKC Registration, Transfer, and Co-Ownership Restructured Fees
The AKC Board of Directors voted unanimously at its October 2011
meeting to restructure the individual dog registration and
co-ownership fees. This new fee structure will allow AKC to
continue its good works for all dogs, including canine health
research donations, search-and-rescue dog grants, lost dog recovery,
kennel inspections, monitoring canine legislation, and promoting
responsible dog ownership among other programs. AKC can also
continue to provide the same level of quality vital services to
clubs, exhibitors and breeders. This is the first registration fee
increase since 2007 despite the continuing economic challenges
facing the country and as a result the sport of purebred dogs.
As of January 1, 2012, the first-time individual dog registration
fee and each basic transfer of ownership fee will increase to $30
per dog. This new fee structure also includes modifications to
co-ownership. With the first-time individual dog registration
as well as any subsequent transfer of dog ownership, one (1) primary
owner will be listed with the $30 registration or transfer fee. In
addition, a $10 fee will be added for each additional owner listed
on the registration certificate.* The primary owner will receive the
official AKC Registration Certificate and each additional owner will
receive an e-mail only copy of the registration certificate. The
e-mail copy will be clearly marked COPY, will not display the
certificate issue date, and will not have the transfer form on the
back.
Owners of AKC Registered Dogs will still receive the same benefits
as before including:
· AKC Registration Certificate
· Complimentary Trial Pet Health Care Insurance
· Eligibility to Participate in AKC Events
· New Puppy Handbook and Optional discounted Registration Packages
As the nation’s only not-for-profit registry, we look forward to the
continued support of dog owners through registration with the
American Kennel Club. Together we will overcome the current
challenges of the economy and continue our good works on behalf of
all dogs. *Co-owners of dams registering litter members to the
litter owners will be exempt from this additional fee.
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Here is the affect this will have
on me if this is indeed the policy of the AKC:
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I will no longer register my
dogs in my name and in my wife’s name. It is not that she isn’t
worth $10. It is that her being shown as a co-owner isn’t worth
$10.
-
I register all my puppies with
the AKC immediately after birth. I do this because most of my
buyers have no intention of registering their puppies as they
perceive absolutely no benefit from doing so. As my puppies are
already registered and named, I pass the three generation
pedigree, AKC Found paper work and AKC registration papers to
the new owners. I do this to introduce the merit of registering
the dogs (I lead by example) and to make it easier for them to
register the dogs in their own names. If they do not follow
through, the dogs are at least registered and because I micro
chipped them and registered them with the AKC Lost Dog program I
am still listed as the primary person to contact if the dog is
lost. I will simply no longer register my puppies. I’ll register
the litter and if the new owners want to register with the AKC
or the UKC or whatever, it will be entirely up to them.
-
As I am becoming less and less
concerned about having AKC registered dogs and because AKC shows
continue to go up in price and down in attendance, I am going to
get off my duff and start investigating the UKC sponsored
conformation shows and those that lead to the so called
“International” title. If I find venues that are as much fun or
more than AKC conformation events, I’ll switch to those events
instead. I don’t mind being patient, but in the end, life’s too
short to put up with the foibles of others for too long.
I think you folks have a
fundamental misunderstanding of the economy and the community you
purport to serve. Instead of aggressively reducing your
administrative costs – including salaries and benefits and moving to
less expensive quarters – you just keep increasing our costs to be
involved with the AKC. The AKC is making the UKC remarkably more
attractive all the time.
The plain fact is that MOST dog owners don’t know much about the AKC
or even that it exists, let alone care about anything you folks do.
Soon, those of us who are seriously involved in dogs will join them
in ignoring the AKC. I don’t think “too big to fail” applies to the
AKC. If in doubt, ask your compatriots to the North, the CKC.
Very truly yours,
Bill Burns
The Kennel At Burns Gardens
Port Ludlow, Washington
http://www.BurnsGardens.com
Golden Retrievers and Havanese
https://www.thedogpress.com/ClubNews/AKC-Marketing_Burns-1112.asp 1112.1

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