Another Friend Gone
The unexpected news that Michael Sauve passed away on Tuesday last has shocked the conformation world of the dog. Michael was one of the most popular Field Reps ever and totally devoted to his Florida constituency. Originally from the Mid-West he worked in the New York office where he was well respected and beloved as well. He was the Assistant Vice President of Dog Events in New York and went back to the field first in Connecticut and then to replace Art Marsh in Florida upon Art’s retirement. This was no easy task since Art Marsh was not only a revered fixture in Florida but he commanded the loyalty and respect of the hard-core dog showgoers. Michael initially met a bit of resistance from these people but after a few months easily won over any doubters and soon had the masses virtually in his hip-pocket. He could and did no wrong insofar as Floridians were concerned and was soon labeled “Captain” by the weekly participants at the shows. He had as wicked a sense of humor as anyone could possess whilst his knowledge of dogs and the dog world was hard to surpass. He was a loyal and steadfast friend who will be missed by one and all.

Pet Airways For Dogs Only!!
Soon, dog owners who live in a handful of large cities in America will have an airline on which people will not be allowed but which will cater to dogs and other pets exclusively. Pet Airways plans to begin service on July 14 as the USA’s first pets-only carrier – no human passengers allowed. The introductory fare: $149 each way. For that dogs will be flown in individual crates in lighted and pressurized plane cabins, with a human attendant checking them every 15 minutes. They’ll board, just like people, from their own airport lounges and get overnight lodging accommodations on long haul-flights. Their owners can track their whereabouts at all times online as the pets earn “pet points” as frequent fliers too! Pet Airways will hardly solve every owners needs initially as it will serve only five destinations and will fly each route but once a week. The owners however are hoping to build on this initial project and expand to 25 more cities within the next couple of years. Whether or not this will be a commercially successful specialty market remains to be seen but the pet community is massive and growing and the niche maybe novel enough to appeal to the needs of pet owners. Breeders and handlers too may want to take advantage of this project as it could open the door to interesting possibilities for all of us who ship animals. The aircraft to be used is labeled both affordable and economical – the Beech 1900 which was originally designed as a 19-passenger turboprop for use by regional airlines serving small markets. The 1900 does not fly as fast nor as far as a jet and will have to make frequent stops for fuel which may be good for a pet as it gives one a chance to exercise the animal. With all its passenger seats removed except the ones for flight attendants up to 50 small dog crates can fit. This could be a good form of pet comfort and give owners peace of mind. Many of the major commercial airlines have created special operations aimed at treating animals better. Both Continental’s PetSafe program and Delta’s PetFirst feature airport kennels at its hubs and temperature-controlled vans that deliver pets to planes moments before take off. That gives pets last-on/first-off treatment and reduces chances of prolonged exposure to temperature extremes on the loading ramp and potential hazards in cargo areas. All of these are positive steps which encourage people to fly on the airline with their pets. But a pets only airway certainly does open the door to an entirely different type of attitude, doesn’t it!

Opposing Senate Bill 250
Creeping along in the California Senate is the extension of AB1634 dubiously now labeled as Senate Bill 250. The measure purports to help reduce animal shelter populations but the reality check is that in fact it will have the exact opposite effect and increase animal shelter population. The bill is not only superfluous in that parts of it are already questionable law in California but places additional and unnecessary extra-burdens upon owners of intact animals. The pending legislation will not improve the lives of cats and/or dogs and will negatively impact responsible owners and breeders. The bill also inserts the word “custodian” into the California Food and Agriculture Act. This usage should automatically raise the red flag as it is the favorite word of the ARers in describing the relationship of dogs with owners. Not only does the word custodian like the word guardian reduce the legal status and value of dogs as property and thereby restrict the rights of owners, veterinarians and governmental agencies in protecting and caring for dogs. It also accepts the philosophy of those who use the terms as being gospel and invalidates the history of the relationships which have existed in these areas for centuries now between owners and pets. There is still time to oppose this bill. Fanciers and breeders and owners can contact members of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee to voice their opposition (for a full list of Assembly Members’ phone and fax numbers click on http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article id=3883

Judges Fees
What with the current economic conditions causing problems insofar as the cost of shows are concerned isn’t it about time to visit the matter of judges fees. Now then we are not referring to judges expenses but to the fees they are charging. Some people have gone hog wild and have raised these fees to outrageously high figures. It’s hard enough for instance to fly a judge from one coast to the other for an assignment of 35 exhibits when the judge tacks on in addition a large fee. Surely when expenses are paid an honorarium in those instances should suffice. Each situation must be handled independently that’s for sure but wouldn’t it behoove the judges organizations to establish some sort of fee schedule of a non-mandatory nature to help people come up with a reasonable charge. If not certain people are just going to price themselves out of assignments at the current rate they are going. Let’s face it judging should be considered an honor and not a business proposition for most people involved in the endeavor. It’s certainly true that for too many years now the matter of judges fees has like topsy just been permitted to grow totally unchallenged. The new climate economically throughout the world requires a change in this position and a thorough analysis as to how to revaluate these costs which affect the shows so greatly.

Thought For The Week
The latest brouhaha in the UK revolves round whether or not Dachshunds should be inter-breed coat ways. That’s always been a no-no there but an accepted, but not widely used practise here. Of course the major complaint in the UK appears to be not so much as to what should be done but as to who ordained the change. It seems the GC over there (equivalent to our Board) without consulting any of the Breed Clubs stated that interbreeding amongst the coats is permissible. Almost in the same manner that the GC changed the breed standards there and instituted so-called changes in health standards without consulting in many instances the breed clubs in question. Keep in mind the breed clubs do not own their breed standards as do our breed clubs in the States but that the Standards are in fact owned by the Kennel Club. At the recent AGM (meeting of TKC’s membership) most of the complaints in this area were parried with statements to the effect that in the future the GC would first consult with the breed clubs. Too bad they did not do so in the Dachshund situation that’s for sure. It would certainly have if not lessened the uproar definitely caused it to be more minor in effect. A lesson our Board and Staff should well keep in mind when dealing with breed and all-breed clubs on any level, that’s for sure. •