Too bad the Riverhead show lost the Westhampton site they used the past several years, since the new site is not in the same league. Perhaps, held on a different part of the Suffolk Community College's campus, the show grounds could be acceptable, but quite candidly, I found the grounds, invaded by red ants, to say nothing of the sand and the lack of grass, a throwback to venues long abandoned. Too bad. Let's hope that in the future, other places on the campus are made available to the show. The heat of the day did not help things out either, and while I was personally not up to snuff, I opted to both leave early and chose not to return the following day either.
As far as PAWS is concerned, it amazes me that the very people who have been screaming for years about the need to enforce and control commercial puppy mills are now fighting the proposed legislation. I can understand some of the fears in that no one wants intrusion from the Federal Government in a hobby pursuit. But sometimes you have to give a little to get a lot, and in the long run, while no one can believe this legislation is perfect, it does provide some necessary action. The argument that because HSUS supports the bill it is reason enough to oppose it is as spurious to my mind as someone who would say, well, Hunt opposes the bill so we should be for it! As for the numbers aspect contained in the proposed bill, this affects such a small percentage of people who now use AKC that it is almost a non-issue. And for fear of being bombarded with vituperative e-mails, some of the names given to me of people who would be affected probably should be under some sort of control with which to begin. I am told there is a Whippet-based Web site where some canoodle is claiming we are in cahoots with AKC in this matter, which is as obtuse as the Kane line that AKC wrote the bill! Some of these people are totally off their rockers. So far, Patty Strand has been extremely clever in handling herself between the NAIA Board and AKC's. Let's see if she turns up in Florida and how she acquits herself at this discussion.
Of course, the deaths of both Bernie Esporite and Kathy Reges coming on top of each other were extremely disquieting to people in the Fancy. From totally different schools within the sport, both offered a great deal to the Fancy, and their passing is a great loss to us all.
On the subject of the ADSJ association, Mr. Penta spent close to five pages answering various points made by DOG NEWS about their endorsing candidates as well as their accepting individual and/o r corporate monies to sponsor their events. I have no intention of getting into a "he said" argument with Mr. Penta. I basically stand by what we wrote and still believe these types of organizations have no business endorsing Board candidates. I guess someone not too happy with ADSJ or Mr. Penta sent me a tax return from The Dog Judges Educational Foundation, which is a 501c3 public charity. It would appear that the listed purpose of the DEF is to sponsor the ADSJ's Institute. Contains some interesting information which is, of course, public knowledge with which to begin.
Very candidly, I think Jim Holt's piece which appeared in last week's DOG NEWS is a must-read as an historical interpretation of legislation relative to dog ownership and retail pet stores and their relationships to each other. •
|
