AKC Update/Contact Info

I blogged earlier about reports coming from the American Kennel Club's delegate's meeting in New York that the registry planned on some kind of contractual arrangement with a chain of stores that sells AKC-registerable puppies, presumably to increase revenue from such registrations.

Many fanciers, breeders, and rescuers took great exception to this. The AKC, in its infinite wisdom, has chosen spin over responsiveness. See said spin below the jump. Contact information also given.

[UPDATE 9/20/06:] Link to minutes on AKC website here.

Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate and understand the concerns of
our breeders and dog owners.  We hope the information provided below is
helpful.   

At the September meeting of the AKC Delegates, the AKC announced a program
in which Petland may facilitate the individual AKC registration process for
eligible dogs sold in their stores. Today, many of these AKC-registrable
dogs are registered with other registries or not at all.  Several questions
emerged following that announcement.  We provide the following details to
reduce misunderstandings about the program.

What kind of agreement does the AKC have with Petland?
Following are some of the basic facts about this plan:

.   Only AKC-registrable dogs are eligible for this program. The program
does not provide registration to dogs not otherwise eligible for
registration. We are doing this in large part to assure that AKC-registrable
puppies already in these stores are registered with AKC.

.   AKC will educate Petland staff about the value and importance of AKC
registration.  AKC will highlight the opportunity for participation in
appropriate AKC events and the importance of programs like AKC Canine Good
Citizen to promote responsible dog ownership.

.    Petland will encourage new puppy owners to register with the AKC.
Petland will help the customer complete the AKC registration form online,
similar to the current online registration process.  The customer will pay
the entire AKC registration fee in the store. Petland may charge the
customer a small processing fee to cover their cost. Registering in the
store increases the likelihood that the puppy owner will register their new
puppy with the AKC.  Research has shown that if dog owners don't register
their dog soon after acquiring it, they are less likely to do so in the
future.

.   This program allows the AKC inspections team to continue its active
presence in the commercial sector.  If puppies sold in retail pet stores are
not AKC registrable, AKC loses the ability to inspect and influence the care
and conditions in pet stores and the breeding kennels that supply the pet
stores.

.   AKC and Petland are not engaged in an endorsement, partnership,
affiliation or joint venture. A written agreement between AKC and Petland
exists, in large part, to protect the AKC and ensure that all applicable AKC
Registration Rules and Procedures are followed. 

.    AKC does not endorse any breeder or seller of dogs. Our central
message about how to buy a puppy -- to thoroughly research the breed and the
breeder and to consult AKC resources, starting with the parent club -- has
not and will not change.

.   This program has not changed AKC's registration policies.  The AKC
has always registered dogs sold through pet retailers as long as the pet
store and breeder are in compliance with our standards for accurate record
keeping and meet the AKC's care and conditions requirements. Read our
Compliance fact sheet at:
http://www.akc.org/press_center/facts_stats.cfm?page=6. The program with
Petland offers AKC an opportunity to communicate the benefits of
registration and involve new puppy owners in the world of AKC but does not
imply an endorsement any more than AKC papers have in the past. It will
ensure that AKC inspectors and investigators continue to have access to all
kennels breeding AKC puppies. This will continue enforcement of our care and
conditions policies and compliance with record-keeping.   

Why is AKC encouraging the registration of all registrable dogs?
.   Today, many AKC-registrable dogs sold by pet retailers are not
registered with the AKC by their owner.  Less than 50 percent of
AKC-registrable dogs are registered with the AKC. The AKC strategic plan
targets this problem in all customer groups, including pet stores. When
these new owners do not register, AKC and our clubs lose the ability to
encourage them to become part of the fancy or to educate them about
responsible dog ownership.  We feel we can best promote our values and bring
people into the world of AKC events by reaching out to new dog owners no
matter where they choose to purchase their dog.

.    AKC's ability to influence legislation and public opinion is
directly linked to the number of dog owners we represent.  Ultimately, AKC's
ability to take a leadership stand on any issue is closely tied to the size
of our constituency (the number of people with AKC registered dogs).

.   AKC can best serve the interests of dogs and their owners by
maintaining stringent standards and promoting the benefits of AKC
registration. With more than 20 different for-profit businesses acting as
canine "registries" in the U.S., it is important that the AKC distinguish
itself as the genuine purebred registry. Many of these for-profit businesses
will "register" dogs with little or no proof of lineage and none have any
inspections or compliance standards. These businesses actively and
aggressively work to convert AKC registrations into applications for their
listing services. The fact that AKC can inspect kennels and pet shops and
take action against them whenever necessary protects the welfare of all AKC
puppies. 

.   AKC's ability to offer important programs is directly linked to our
annual registrations.  In addition to subsidizing AKC events, registration
fees provide support for a range of programs and services including the AKC
Canine Health Foundation and the AKC Museum of the Dog. Registration income
also provides an important source of funding for our scholarship programs,
veterinary outreach, our compliance department, combating unfair canine
legislation, providing disaster relief and much more.

What else is being done to promote AKC Registration?
We are less than a year into a five year strategic plan that has already
introduced a suite of benefits and resources for the fancy including a
breeder newsletter, full litter registration option, litter coupons, online
accounts and enhancements to online dog registration.  In addition, AKC has
introduced new registration benefits like dog.com e-certificates for both
breeders and individual registrants and complimentary first office visits at
participating veterinarians.  As we continue implementing the plan,
additional programs for breeders and new dog owners will be introduced. We
have made a significant investment in a diversified advertising campaign
that communicates our mission and promotes the value of AKC registration and
the integrity of our Registry.  Our message embodied in our advertising
tagline "We're more than champion dogs. We're the dog's champion" has
reached almost 200 million people in print and broadcast media during the
past year.

How will this impact rescue?
Dogs will be sold in pet stores whether or not AKC registers them. However
the AKC feels that by bringing more registrants into the AKC fold we have
the opportunity to educate them and involve them in programs that promote
responsible dog ownership.

What prompted this agreement?
The AKC has undertaken a strategic plan to reverse the significant decline
in registrations that has occurred during the last decade. The plan includes
a number of separate initiatives. Together these initiatives are designed to
regain market share, while maintaining a registry of unequaled integrity and
size. The approach outlined in the plan is to increase registrations by
addressing the needs of all customer groups - fanciers, breeders, pet owners
and the commercial channel. This focus stems from a belief that purebred
dogs are best served by the AKC, and that breeding programs are improved
with our involvement. This inclusive approach helps position AKC as the
voice for all dogs and all dog owners.

What are the next steps?
As a result of the questions raised both during and after the September
Delegates Meeting the Staff will continue reviewing and communicating with
our core constituency. A meeting will be held prior to the October Board
Meeting which will include a number of Delegates and fanciers to discuss
this initiative. The AKC Board of Directors will discuss this topic during
the October Board Meeting. The program is under review by staff and
management. Further details will be provided when they are available.

Thank you

David Roberts
AVP Registration and Customer Services
American Kennel Club

You may direct comments to:
.   Email:  [email protected]
.   Mail: AKC Operations, 5580 Centerview Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606-3390

Comments

[kabbage]

Oh, my, what a nasty taste in my mouth after reading that. How does that guy write or at least send this kind of bilgewater out over his own name and still sleep at night?

[Sharyn]

"When these new owners do not register, AKC and our clubs lose the ability to encourage them to become part of the fancy or to educate them about responsible dog ownership. We feel we can best promote our values and bring people into the world of AKC events by reaching out to new dog owners no matter where they choose to purchase their dog."

Interesting...both my previous Golden and my present Golden (purchased from breeders, not pet stores) were/are AKC registered and I have never once heard from the AKC about anything, including responsible dog ownership. I gave them my money and they sent me a certificate. End of story.

[Alison]

LOL Sharyn. So true. Anyway, when the AKC says "reaching out to new dog owners" what they mean is "add them to our mailing lists and try to sell them more stuff".

[Sherry]

Shame on the AKC! They are about to undo all the good they have done to date for the dog world by assisting and condoning puppy mills. This could very well ruin the integrity and quality of our blood lines so carefully developed to date.

[Sherry]

Shame on the AKC! They are about to undo all the good they have done to date for the dog world by assisting and condoning puppy mills. This could very well ruin the integrity and quality of our blood lines so carefully developed to date.

P.S. If you want to educate the people who buy these poor little dogs, picket outside the stores with information on how to get a proper dog and how to take care of it. I'm not real smart and even I can figure that out!

[JoAnna Bennett]

This is the most disgusting, damaging thing I have ever heard of. The AKC is essentially endorsing wholesale/puppy mill produced pups. The wave of the future. Seems like it would definitely be stupid on the part of Petsmart and PetCo NOT to get on board with Petland and start selling pups too--especially since the AKC would have to and WANT to endorse them in the same way. Just think of all that revenue in registrations. I guess ethical breeders (the ones who screen candidates for pups) need to be put out of business because they didn't produce enough puppies--maybe the economy and cost of gas had something to do with that-?. So the mills and the BYB's have been producing pups by the thousands and have not cared whether they were registered or not. So the AKC is going to legitimize the wholesale production of pups to make a few more bucks. And ensuring that purebred dogs will go to rotten, unqualified homes and end up in shelters or rescues after 1-2 years.
There won't be any point in entering dog shows if breeders don't have homes for puppies. Prof. handlers will be out of business. Won't need show superintendants either,
or judges-!
Did anyone at the AKC even think about all of the negative ramifications of this decision that has already been SIGNED???
JB

[Leigh]

"However the AKC feels that by bringing more registrants into the AKC fold we have the opportunity to educate them and involve them in programs that promote responsible dog ownership."

- doesnt being a responsible pet owner mean NOT buying your pet in a pet store? and shouldnt the AKC educate people to NOT buy from pet stores, a.k.a. puppy mills?

"Together these initiatives are designed to regain market share, while maintaining a registry of unequaled integrity and size."

- Bingo! that is the real motive right there - increasing their market share of registration money. not to mention, how much "integrity" does a puppy mill puppy bring to the AKC?

is the AKC going to allow these sub-standard and sickly dogs in the show ring and be awarded top prizes? they are gonna have to, because that will be all thats left!

i agree with the other poster, after i registered my dog - i never heard another peep from the AKC...but they were sure happy to cash my check!

What a disgrace! Shame on you, AKC!!

[jen hainen]

What are they thinking? The AKC has really gone over the edge on this one. He can sugar coat it with all his reasons he can come up with but it really comes down to one thing..money! I never thougt I would see the day AKC would promote pet shops and puppy mills. What a disgrace and a slap in the face to all the reputable breeders who work so hard to preserve their respective breeds!

[Gil.]

There is a God.

The AKC has "received many comments about this agreement, both positive and negative. We have listened to the concerns and because this issue has become so divisive, we believe it is in the best interest of our sport and the American Kennel Club not to go forward with this initiative."

I'd love to read that positive comment.