March
2007 -
The American Kennel Club is the only purebred dog registry which
mandates both registration as well as care and condition quality
control standards enforced through ongoing rigorous inspections of
AKC Breeders.
In 1991, the AKC’s Compliance Department came into its own, going
beyond the complaint-based system of investigations to mandatory
inspection for certain AKC breeders. Financial resources were
allocated toward the creation of a dedicated proactive inspections
team.
In the late 1990’s we became the first and only registry to enforce
a care and conditions policy by establishing protocols in our
inspections program regarding the safety and welfare of the dogs and
their environment. Today, we have 14 field staff traveling across
the country to conduct inspections. In 2006, we conducted
approximately 4,800 inspections nationwide in an effort to ensure
humane conditions, accurate record keeping and dog identification.
We truly embody our tagline, “We’re more than champion dogs. We’re
the dog’s champion.”
The Board recently adopted enhancements to our inspection protocols
which I strongly believe will continue to strengthen overall
compliance for AKC breeders using our registry. The AKC spent more
than $5.7 million in 2006 to ensure the accuracy of its registry and
the care and conditions of dogs raised by AKC breeders. New
guidelines that are being implemented by the Compliance department
include:
* For the first-time ever, breeders who register 4 to 6 litters
annually with AKC will be randomly selected for inspection.
* As an added incentive for AKC breeders currently inspected who
register 7 to 24 litters annually, we will waive one 18-month
inspection cycle for those who pass two consecutive AKC inspections.
After the waiver, they will be placed back on an 18-month inspection
schedule.
Current continuing
protocol:
* Annual inspections of all breeders who register 25 or more litters
* Inspection of pet shops
* Inspection of distributors
* Complaint-based inspections
One of the new
provisions includes inspections of breeders who register 4 to 6
litters per year. Formerly, our emphasis was on those breeding 7 or
more litters. Now, breeders in the 4 to 6 litter category will be
randomly selected for inspection. We have found some among this
group who only register a few litters in order to maintain AKC
breeding stock, but don’t register enough litters to trigger an
inspection.
The new protocol will further strengthen our standard practice of
inspecting mainly breeders who register from 7 to 24 litters per
year. If these breeders are found to be in compliance for two
consecutive inspections, then the AKC would defer inspection for the
next inspection cycle. One of the goals of this change is to
reallocate resources toward other areas of needed inspections while
rewarding those breeders who consistently comply with AKC rules.
This new inspection protocol was based upon data reflecting current
registration demographics and compliance results. These statistics
will be reviewed annually and resources will be adjusted, if
necessary. We continue to work diligently in areas where we have not
changed Compliance protocol. For example, we still inspect breeders
with 25 or more registered litters annually. We inspect pet shops
and distributors that sell AKC puppies. And we inspect customers
based upon signed, written complaints with substantial documentation
sent to AKC.
One important aspect of our Compliance protocol includes our DNA
program. DNA testing is utilized during inspections for verification
of parentage and positive dog identification. The AKC’s Frequently
Used Sire Program, which requires AKC DNA profiling for every sire
producing seven or more litters in a lifetime, or more than three
litters in one calendar year, also aids in our compliance efforts to
protect the integrity of the AKC registry.
Indeed, we are very proud of our compliance standards, and continue
to seek ways to use our resources to strengthen AKC’s dedication in
this area. Our commitment to compliance protocol is tantamount to
our commitment to purebred dogs. By focusing on education and
cooperation, as well as rewarding those breeders who adhere to AKC
policies, we help to preserve the integrity of our registry and we
improve the overall standard of dog breeding. To find out more go to
AKC
Compliance.
Sincerely,
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