January 18, 2008

A 30 Percent Turnover
The operative word in American politics today seems to be “change.” Not to be outdone by mainstream America, the delegates, at their December meeting, by reaffirming term limits, assured the fancy that four Board seats will turn over in the March 2009 elections. This could result in a major swing of power and in philosophy at AKC. We are now faced with the prospect of four directors running on one slate. Perhaps as a group or on the same platform. Now, then, this in itself is not necessarily all bad. New blood, new ideas, and the like should not automatically be condemned. Indeed, these pages believe in encouraging that kind of thinking. What has these pages concerned are the backgrounds and qualifications of the people who both may be nominated by the Nominating Committee and those who will decide to run from the floor, independently or as a group. It is expected that a larger-than-usual number of delegates will seek the four seats. But larger numbers do not assure quality of backgrounds. How many people seeking Board seats truly have the background to sit as directors of a $75 million organization? It takes more than a background in dogs to earn a director seat. Indeed, there is a smattering of people within the fancy who strongly believe a seat or two should be held by people with no interest in dogs whatsoever. The purpose of such seats would, of course, bring in an unbiased, totally business-like attitude. The probability of that happening within our lifetime is remote at best. Therefore, for those thinkers, the non-dog qualifications of those running for the Board magnify in importance. Keep in mind that as one hears of a delegate being interested in running for the board, that a broad business background and/or experience in being a director for other for-profit or not-for-profit corporations should be strongly considered. Let’s not settle for the somewhat pedestrian business backgrounds of many of the sitting board members. Let’s look to expand and improve our vistas in 2009 as all those seats open.

How to Fight PETA
The unreasonable and aggressive attacks instituted of late by PETA against all breeders must not go unanswered. These pages are unaware of any direct counterattack taken by AKC in this area. True, there is general verbiage and veiled indirect responses to the charges made by PETA that can be read into any number of AKC press releases. But where, in fact, has a program been developed, a plan instituted, or a program outlined that takes PETA on head-to-head. The fact is that we must refute word for word the accusations made by PETA against the responsible breeders of the world. Where better than in the three most recognized and viewed television broadcasts about dogs and dog shows than after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Invitational broadcast and Westminster! These are the aired programs where PETA attacks must be refuted. And this should be only a start as we counter PETA’s every move against us with similar programs and attitudes. All the Animal Planet shows as well as any AKC-related event must take these people on. Additionally, let’s form a group of athletes and Hollywood types who own purebreds and enjoy their company, and get them to endorse our thinking and our way of breeding. Not answering these people is a total capitulation to what they have to say about us. We must get on the stick and do it immediately, too!

Show Site Conditions For the Dog
The question of conditions behind the scenes of a show, for the dog itself, usually comes to play at large indoor circuits and/or clusters. Although no one can deny that either single-day events or two-day events can be equally at fault in this situation. There are many people who believe there are too many shows being held today with too many dogs being exhibited on a virtually unlimited basis. If the powers that be can’t or will not step in to reduce the number of shows at which a dog may be exhibited, then, at the very least, can’t one insist that the conditions in which they are shown be properly maintained? Certainly, staff at AKC is making a strong effort to move in on those shows with unacceptable grooming areas and conditions. Hopefully, the support for staff will be across the entire show spectrum and not handled on a selective basis, as matters such as these in the past have been handled.

Encouraging Club Membership.
Becoming a member of a parent/breed club or an all-breed club is a problem facing the sport today. Should the doors be opened to John Q. Public without requiring either sponsors or seconding individuals? This appears to be a method followed by the larger membership parent clubs. Keeping people in the club is another matter. It’s better to have some control, one would presuppose, than none whatsoever. Certainly, with the precipitous drop in registrations over the past 10 years, primarily due to the pirating of AKC-registered dogs by the commercial paper registries, the problem has become even more acute. Certainly, there are no uniform requirements for club membership. Each club—parent or all-breed—is left to its own devices. In some clubs, such as the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, anyone owning a dog may be a member. There is no sponsor or seconder, nor is there a Code of Ethics with regard to members’ business or prior activities. There is a breeders’ restriction, but that’s it. Truly, that is as open a procedure as any. The problem of keeping a member interested and a longtime contributor to the sport is another matter altogether.

Thought for the Week
Dog show rumors are the worst. Last weekend in Brooksville, someone started the story that CAR was being investigated in a manner similar to the CHF audit. Of course, nothing was further from the truth. The rumor started, no doubt, as a result of the change in leadership at CAR. Truth be told, the timing of the change at CAR was questionable at best. A longtime plan to change was instituted just prior to the March election. With the deposed individual running for the Board, he was turned into a victim of innuendo and bad gossip by his enemies. Frankly, throughout the years CAR was ably managed by Carmen Battaglia. He was a mainstay in promoting the organization. Now then, these pages are neither looking to defend nor condemn the introduction of the new microchips for CAR, nor any of the other related factors. But the fact is there is no truth to the rumor that a forensic audit of CAR is taking place or has taken place or is planned to take place in the future.