AR-News: (US)Info on controversial decision by the AKC to accept its High Volume Breeders

[Snugglezzz at aol.com]

Many are aware of the controversial decision by the AKC to accept its High 
Volume Breeders Committee recommendation to once again include and recruit 
commercial breeders back into the AKC.  As part of their study the High Volume 
Breeder Committee, chaired by National Animal Interest Alliance founder Patti 
Strand, visited the Hunte Corp headquarters in Goodwin, MO and one of Petland's 
flagship stores.  Hunte is the largest puppy mill broker in the US, while 
Petland has gained a reputation of having problems with commercially raised puppies 
for years.  
 
Thanks to the efforts of Strand and the recommendations of the HVBC pet 
consumers can know purchase an AKC registrable puppy in any of the Petland stores 
located across the country.  Now comes the next step in the AKC's growing 
partnership with large scale High Volume Breeders - which many refer to as simply 
puppy mills.  The AKC is offering to allow any "breeder in good standing" to 
advertise on the AKC.  Suddenly the line between commercially bred irresponsible 
breeding and the devoted dog fancy who breed responsibly becomes more clouded 
and difficult to see.
 
I have often written that devoted responsible breeders need not fear those 
seeking to end irresponsible breeding but need to pay close attention to the AKC 
role in turning products of the puppy mills into "brand" names.  How long 
will it be before the phrase "AKC registered" doesn't mean a hill of beans.
 
To her credit Barbara Wicklund, a delegate for the Basset Hound Kennel Club 
and long time advocate of responsible breeding and basset rescue, spoke out 
against this plan when she offered the following exchange with AKC's Dennis 
Sprung.  From the last AKC minutes -   of the   
 
Crosspost
 
AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB GOES BLACK
>From the meeting minutes: For the first four months of 2004 (through April) 
AKC had a net profit of 3.8 million, compared to a loss of over 1 million last 
year.
DIRECTLY FROM THE MEETING MINUTES
The Chair recognized Mrs. Barbara Wicklund, Delegate for the Basset Hound 
Club of America, who spoke as follows: "Dennis, could you please clarify your 
statement from the beginning of the meeting about putting a puppy referral 
service online.
Mr. Sprung: Yes. What this will be is an optional service for breeders to 
list a litter on the ground, stating the number of dogs and bitches for sale and 
the contact information.  The public may go directly to the breeder at the 
time they are actually looking to purchase an AKC puppy.
Mrs. Wicklund: Would that include commercial breeders whose dogs are AKC 
registered? And if so, I strenuously object.
Mr. Sprung: It would be optional to anybody who registers a litter with AKC 
and is in good standing with AKC.
Mrs. Wicklund: I think that in light of the attacks on AKC-registrable 
puppies, the fight that many of us are waging within our states against 
breeder, breeding restrictions and mandatory spay/neuter where we are trying 
desperately to differentiate the serious responsible hobby breeder from the 
commercial breeder, I beg of you to reconsider this. It's not going to help us in 
fighting this kind of legislation.

PKC editor's comment:  Since cheap "pups for sale" advertising in newspapers 
first became available, reputable dog breeders have been trying to educate the 
general public on the importance of finding a responsible, ethical breeder.  
The AKC Gazette now accepts advertising from "anyone," but, thankfully, the 
magazine has limited circulation.  
 
Now www.akc.org proposes accepting advertising from "all in good standing 
with AKC."  If you feel the AKC website should not become a forum for classified 
dog and puppy sale advertising, please write to 
Mr. Crowley
5580 Centerview Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606. 

This decision is set to be made by the board of directors without input from 
individuals or member clubs -- unless YOU offer your opinion.  MB

Permission to share freely 

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