If you though the AKC would be following its sister club’s new health check policies for BOB winners in certain breeds, you’d dead wrong.
AKC president and CEO Dennis Sprung wrote the following statement to the dog fancy zombies who are shrieking all over the internet this weekend:
We should prepare a statement after all facts are in. However you can assure and share with everyone that AKC will NEVER allow any such practice to occur. Our Parent Clubs own their respective standard and we support them 100 percent. Furthermore a Judges’ decision is final and we respect that as well. The situation is a very disappointing one here from the point of view of breeders, exhibitors and judges and fanciers from around the world. In summary while our PCs have a right to be upset and concerned I will never allow this wrongful practice in America. Never!!! Dennis.
Let’s keep in mind that AKC is losing money year after year.
It can’t compete with the puppy mill paper mills, which at least admit that they don’t do anything but register dogs.
The AKC makes two claims: That it is “the dog’s champion,” meaning that it will stand up against unfair legislation targeting dog owners, which it does. However, when its breeders and patron start doing stupid things, it throws up its hands and says it’s “just a registry.”
It isn’t just a registry. It is a governing body. It is an institution.
And as an institution, it has largely ceded its moral authority.
And when institutions do things like that, they lose public support.
Institutions that lose public support don’t last as institutions.
The Kennel Club (of the United Kingdom) has figured out that it better make some changes or it is going down the tubes.
The AKC doesn’t seem to care all that much– probably because we don’t have a Pedigree Dogs Exposed documentary here.
We do have Mark Derr’s “The Politics of Dogs” article, which you can access at the first link on this Google search. This article caused a great stink in the American Kennel Club governing board. Resignations happened.
But since then, the purebred dog reform movement in North America has been relegated to obscure blogs like this one.
I think this has to change.
word.
You know that Mortal Kombat video game? When your opponent makes some bone-headed move and goes down, and the Big Scary Voice says, “FINISH HIM!” And then you rip out his spine.
This reminds me of that.
What an ass
What I find fascinating is the complete lack of awareness on the AKC’s part to realize how monstrous publicizing this statement will make them appear to the general public. As if they weren’t sinking their own ship fast enough already.
This:
“Furthermore a Judges’ decision is final and we respect that as well. The situation is a very disappointing one here from the point of view of breeders, exhibitors and judges and fanciers from around the world. In summary while our PCs have a right to be upset and concerned I will never allow this wrongful practice in America. Never!!! Dennis.”
Is handing HSUS a loaded gun. Already cocked. Just point and shoot.
I think they just dug their grave.
AKC is holding elections right now for several new officers and board members; the results should be interesting.
As an Australian who knows very little about the AKC I am in a position where my thoughts on this matter are not biased by prior knowledge about or experience with the AKC.
When you boil it all down these winning dogs that are found to be unfit after post competition examinations are exactly that unfit/unhealthy. Prior to crying foul perhaps the kennel club people should consider that the dogs would not even have been allowed in the show ring if the vet examinations were conducted prior to the event (a practice that would probably not be financially viable). It is a dangerous path the AKC are taking by ignoring the fact that there is a problem, indeed a problem that has been verified by a physical and scientific examination of the “winning” canines. Perhaps these people are too concerned with how their dogs look (based on the fashions of the day) rather than considering the total animal and how well it functions.
I’m sure the AKC could find lots of olympic games drug cheats that would support Mr Sprung’s assertion that the judges decision is final!
Thanks for the info Scottie.
[…] statement is very much in keeping with the previous comments against the Kennel Club’s new policy from Dennis Sprung, the AKC president and […]