Page 75 - Chow LIfe - Summer 2022

AKC Delegate

Report

March 2022 by Margaret DiCorleto, Delegate

I attended the quarterly meeting of the AKC Delegates Clubs are encouraged to appoint a Junior Coordinator
held in Newark, NJ March 7 and 8, 2022. and include that name when the annual list of officers
is submitted to AKC. This person can encourage Junior
Highlights from the Parent Club Committee meeting: participation in any and all AKC events. Currently only a
Sheila Goffe from Government Relations reported on the few clubs are offering Juniors the opportunity to show a
recent Norwegian breeding ban. She discussed the ban Canine Partner (mixed breed) in conformation. There is
on breeding Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. a proposal that the requirement that a Junior own or co-
This decision was based on the claim brought by the own the dog they are showing be eliminated.
Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals that these There is a new AKC archivist, Jaimie Fritz. who can be
2 breeds have such major health challenges that breeding reached at Jaimie.Fritz@AKC.org or (212) 969-8216.
them is in violation of the Norwegian Animal Welfare
Act. This comes on the heels of the 2020 guidelines from I have attached a correspondence from the chair of the
the European Union requiring veterinarians to approve AKC Parent Club Breeder Committee regarding the
dogs for breeding, monitor the degree of inbreeding, and Breeder Mentoring Program which is designed to help
that the justification for selection of breeding animals clubs develop or strengthen such a program.
be shared with future puppy buyers. Such restrictions
should be of concern to all breeders. AKC’s Government There was discussion about the Meet the Breed events. It
Relations team vigorously addresses anti-breeder is understood that AKC wants maximum Parent Club/
legislation and regulatory efforts in the US. To learn breed participation, but there was concern about how
more about canine legislation and advocacy, go to AKC’s booth coverage will be provided if a Parent Club cannot
Legislative Action Center at www.akcgr.org provide it. There was even more concern expressed after
the meeting on one of the delegate chat groups. Clubs
She also addressed H.R. 2840/S. 1385, also known as the would like to be able to approve any non- club member
“Puppy Protection Act,” would establish a number of recruited by AKC and if no suitable non-club members
new arbitrary, one-size-fits-all requirements for USDA- are available, clubs would prefer to offer printed handout
licensed dog breeders. [Generally, dog breeders who materials instead.
maintain more than 4 intact females and transfer one
or more pets sight unseen.] New arbitrary requirements Additional information about the AKC Purebred
would include: completely solid flooring; mandated Preservation Bank project will be forthcoming. At this
primary enclosure height such that a dog can stand on time, storage facilities are being explored and criteria for
its hind legs and not touch the enclosure roof; mandated collection and usage are being established.
feeding twice daily; unrestricted access from primary At the general meeting there were tributes to the late
enclosure to outdoor exercise yards large enough to Ronald Menaker, Chairman Emeritus and President of
achieve full stride; specific mental stimulation and the Museum of the Dog, who will be remembered for his
socialization; prohibitions on the number of litters bred; many contributions to AKC and the sport of dogs.
and prohibitions on breeding age. Although the measure
has not advanced, proponents have secured a large AKC litter registration numbers increased to the highest
number of sponsorships on the measure. AKC is actively in over 13 years. Online registration accounts for over
working to educate about the unintended consequences 80% of litters registered. The number of AKC events has
associated with the arbitrary requirements in this returned to pre-pandemic levels.
measure. AKC has issued multiple alerts urging breeders In addition to AKC.TV there are AKC offerings on
and club members to share their concerns with their U.S. ESPN. These new offerings are a win for both AKC and
Senators and Member of Congress. ESPN since they now reach more viewers and a larger
Read more. (AKC’s Action Alert on the puppy protection demographic audience. Dog related events attract female
act.) viewers. Program alerts are sent out for these airings.
The next meeting will be in Newark in June.

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