Comments on: The American Kennel Club, The Pet Store and The Deal That Never Was http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/72/the-american-kennel-club-the-pet-store-and-the-deal-that-never-was/ the lifestyle magazine for dog lovers Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:23:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mary O'Connor-Shaver http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/72/the-american-kennel-club-the-pet-store-and-the-deal-that-never-was/#comment-197 Mary O'Connor-Shaver Thu, 09 Nov 2006 18:41:26 +0000 http://www.dogmagazine.net/the-american-kennel-club-the-pet-store-and-the-deal-that-never-was/#comment-197 As many of you might be aware, the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation is hosting a symposium at my alma mater, Ohio State University, on November 11th and 12th. On a personal note, I find this entire event amusing - particularly their choice of topic on "Breeding for Genetic Soundness" - given AKC's ties to dog auctions and puppy mills (see below). Although their organization claims to be devoted to advancing the health of purebred dogs, the sad truth is that the AKC typically spends only about 2% of its total yearly income on research towards that end (Source: Last Chance for Animals - http://www.lcanimal.org/). Moreover, AKC papers do not guarantee the value or health of a puppy. In my opinion, this organization does very little in working with breeders to improve mill conditions, perhaps because breeders pay the AKC millions of dollars in registration fees for purebred dogs each year. I invite each of you to write a letter to the contacts for this event - Ronald Rella (rnr@akc.org) and Erika Werne (eaw@akcchf.org) - asking them to address the concerns in Mr. Sharp's letter below (I've already written mine). Until the AKC's Board of Directors discontinues their practice of participating in dog auctions represented by puppy mill breeders, symposiums such as these add no value to improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs. Thanks in advance for your kind consideration. P.S. Many thanks to Ellie Brecher, General Assignment Reporter at the Miami Herald, for including the issue of Ohio dog auctions in her "Crazy for Critters" blog - http://miamiherald.typepad.com/crazy_for_critters/ Mary O'Connor-Shaver Columbus Top Dogs www.columbustopdogs.com www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com -------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: Customer inquiry: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog Auction in Millersburg, OH From: Mary O'Connor-Shaver Date: Wed, August 30, 2006 8:37 am To: Tom Sharp Dear Mr. Sharp: Please see my comments below. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: Customer inquiry: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog Auction in Millersburg, OH From: "Tom Sharp" Date: Tue, August 29, 2006 8:52 am To: "Mary O'Connor-Shaver" Dear Ms. O’Connor-Shaver: AKC records are confidential, and we do not share inspection records. Many breeders in that area do not use AKC’s services and therefore are not inspected by the AKC. However, AKC has spent tens of millions of dollars since the 1990s on its inspections program. A field staff of fourteen people around the country has the full-time job of inspecting the kennels of high-volume breeders who register with AKC. The inspections cover the care and conditions of the dogs and the kennels in which they are raised, record-keeping and identification practices, and even collecting DNA samples at AKC’s expense to verify the parentage of AKC registered litters. If AKC is so confident of their inspections, why do you not make those records accessible to the general public? Also, I would like to view the full policy and procedure regarding these inspections. I find it hard to believe that 14 full time inspectors for the entire country can cover enough ground to sufficiently ensure breeders who use AKC services are in compliance, particularly those located in Holmes, Tuscawarus and Cochocton counties. In addition to inspections, inspectors also cover dog auctions like this one you attended, per the policy noted herein. My understanding is that approximately half of the dogs at this particular auction were AKC registered. The inspector verified the microchip identification for every single one prior to sale. The AKC is the only registry in the United States with an ongoing, sustained kennel inspection program, and in fact, you may have noticed that other registries were represented by sales reps at this auction, where AKC was represented by an inspector. What I noticed about your inspector Mr. Sharp is that he was oblivious to what was taking place around him. Perhaps be has a case of severe battle fatique given what surrounds him in Holmes County. I understand your strong objections to dogs being sold at auction, but I have shared with you the Board of Director’s policy, which this department will implement. Your policy is in direct violation of your mission statement. I cannot imagine that any of these breeders are improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs. It is apalling that AKC is represented at this event. Mr. Sharp, there used to be a time when I was proud to showcase my AKC registered rescue collie to the Greater Columbus pet community. Given your organization's practice to participate in this auction, I now view his registration as a badge of shame. Yours truly, Thomas W. Sharp Assistant Vice President, Compliance The American Kennel Club tws@akc.org www.akc.org From: Mary O'Connor-Shaver [mailto:mshaver_0462@columbustopdogs.com] Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 3:11 PM To: Tom Sharp Subject: RE: Customer inquiry: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog Auction in Millersburg, OH Dear Mr. Sharp: Thank you for your quick response. Please see my comments and additional questions below. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: Customer inquiry: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog Auction in Millersburg, OH From: "Tom Sharp" Date: Mon, August 28, 2006 1:48 pm To: Dear Ms. O'Connor-Shaver: Thank you for contacting the American Kennel Club ("AKC") with your concerns. The AKC has a policy regarding the selling of dogs at auction, which may be found on the AKC Web site at http://www.akc.org/rules/policymanual.cfm?page=7#AuctionPolicy and reads as follows: Auction Policy "The American Kennel Club considers auctions and raffles not to be reasonable and appropriate methods to obtain or transfer dogs. "AKC's current inspection program shall include kennels/individuals offering dogs for sale at auctions. Given what I witnessed this past Saturday during the Buckeye Dog Auction, I find it hard to believe the breeders represented at this event have met your inspection. If possible, I would like to see the results of your inspection for the 490 kennels in Holmes County, particularly those licensed dog breeding and brokering facilities which were found to be in clear violation of USDA regulations during an undercover investigation conducted by Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) - http://www.caps-web.org/240x192x240_ohio_pennsylvania.php. AKC records are confidential, and we do not share inspection records. Many breeders in that area do not use AKC’s services and therefore are not inspected by the AKC. However, AKC has spent tens of millions of dollars since the 1990s on its inspections program. A field staff of fourteen people around the country has the full-time job of inspecting the kennels of high-volume breeders who register with AKC. The inspections cover the care and conditions of the dogs and the kennels in which they are raised, record-keeping and identification practices, and even collecting DNA samples at AKC’s expense to verify the parentage of AKC registered litters. In addition to inspections, inspectors also cover dog auctions like this one you attended, per the policy noted herein. My understanding is that approximately half of the dogs at this particular auction were AKC registered. The inspector verified the microchip identification for every single one prior to sale. It's my understanding Mr. Sharp that the AKC does not actually travel to every breeder's facility to inspect it. Nor does your organization check to find out if the puppy even qualifies for registration. My guess is that most consumers are not aware that your organization cannot guarantee the quality of health of dogs in your registry, correct? "Any dog sold at auctions that is under 8 weeks of age or without microchip identification will be ineligible for AKC registration and shall be placed on permanent referral. Mr. Sharp, it was very apparent to me that many of the puppies being certified over the age of eight weeks were born to mill brood bitches. My guess is that the puppy's mother is most likely nursing another litter. "The American Kennel Club discourages Parent Club rescue groups from purchasing dogs at auctions. Although Parent Clubs may be doing good things for individual dogs purchased at auctions, it perpetuates the problem and tends to create a seller's market. Reciprocally, auctioneers seek more dogs of those breeds to offer at auctions. AKC applauds the work of Parent Club rescue groups on many fronts. However, AKC believes that the purchasing of dogs at auctions is not overall in the best interest of purebred dogs." The August 26 Buckeye Dog Auction represented one of the worst experiences I have ever witnessed in my lifetime. 300 dogs were sold at a cost between $25-$450 (this is very low compared to last year). The staging area (entrance to the auction in which buyers can "view the livestock") smelled like a cesspool. The majority of cages lacked food, water and were covered with feces. All the dogs were scared and shaking, down right pittiful and heart breaking. Some of the dogs had been shaved, and any experienced vet technician could tell by their feet that they have been living in urine and fecus. What was most disturbing was the number of dogs who were immediately registered with your organization following the winning bid. I cannot imagine that any of these breeders are improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs. Again, I don't understand why your organization would allow themselves to be represented at this type of auction. As the proud guardian of three rescue collies - one of which is AKC registered - and a rescue sheltie, I find it apalling and a direct violation of your mission statement. Yours truly, Thomas W. Sharp The American Kennel Club Assistant Vice President, Compliance tws@akc.org www.akc.org -----Original Message----- From: AKC Communications Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 1:42 PM To: Tom Sharp; William H. Deily Subject: FW: Customer inquiry: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog Auction in Millersburg, OH -----Original Message----- From: mshaver_0462@columbustopdogs.com [mailto:mshaver_0462@columbustopdogs.com] Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 1:15 PM To: AKC Communications Subject: Customer inquiry: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog Auction in Millersburg, OH Name: Mary O'Connor-Shaver Email: mshaver_0462@columbustopdogs.com Date: Aug-28-2006 1:08 PM Subject: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog Auction in Millersburg, OH Comment: It has just come to my attention that you are registering dogs following the winning bids at the Buckeye Dog Auction in Millersburg, OH - http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/846327093. This is apalling and a direct violation of your mission statement. I am respectfully requesting justification of your actions. Client details: IP Address: 12.16.164.205 System Info: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; SV1; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; InfoPath.1) As many of you might be aware, the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation is hosting a symposium at my alma mater, Ohio State University, on November 11th and 12th.

On a personal note, I find this entire event amusing – particularly their choice of topic on “Breeding for Genetic Soundness” – given AKC’s ties to dog auctions and puppy mills (see below). Although their organization claims to be devoted to advancing the health of purebred dogs, the sad truth is that the AKC typically spends only about 2% of its total yearly income on research towards that end (Source: Last Chance for Animals – http://www.lcanimal.org/). Moreover, AKC papers do not guarantee the value or health of a puppy. In my opinion, this organization does very little in working with breeders to improve mill conditions, perhaps because breeders pay the AKC millions of dollars in registration fees for purebred dogs each year.

I invite each of you to write a letter to the contacts for this event – Ronald Rella (rnr@akc.org) and Erika Werne (eaw@akcchf.org) – asking them to address the concerns in Mr. Sharp’s letter below (I’ve already written mine). Until the AKC’s Board of Directors discontinues their practice of participating in dog auctions represented by puppy mill breeders, symposiums such as these add no value to improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs.

Thanks in advance for your kind consideration.

P.S. Many thanks to Ellie Brecher, General Assignment Reporter at the Miami Herald, for including the issue of Ohio dog auctions in her “Crazy for Critters” blog – http://miamiherald.typepad.com/crazy_for_critters/

Mary O’Connor-Shaver
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.columbustopdogs.com
http://www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: Customer inquiry: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog
Auction in Millersburg, OH
From: Mary O’Connor-Shaver
Date: Wed, August 30, 2006 8:37 am
To: Tom Sharp

Dear Mr. Sharp:

Please see my comments below.

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: Customer inquiry: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog
Auction in Millersburg, OH
From: “Tom Sharp”
Date: Tue, August 29, 2006 8:52 am
To: “Mary O’Connor-Shaver”

Dear Ms. O’Connor-Shaver:

AKC records are confidential, and we do not share inspection records. Many breeders in that area do not use AKC’s services and therefore are not inspected by the AKC. However, AKC has spent tens of millions of dollars since the 1990s on its inspections program. A field staff of fourteen people around the country has the full-time job of inspecting the kennels of high-volume breeders who register with AKC. The inspections cover the care and conditions of the dogs and the kennels in which they are raised, record-keeping and identification practices, and even collecting DNA samples at AKC’s expense to verify the parentage of AKC registered litters.

If AKC is so confident of their inspections, why do you not make those records accessible to the general public? Also, I would like to view the full policy and procedure regarding these inspections. I find it hard to believe that 14 full time inspectors for the entire country can cover enough ground to sufficiently ensure breeders who use AKC services are in compliance, particularly those located in Holmes, Tuscawarus and Cochocton counties.

In addition to inspections, inspectors also cover dog auctions like this one you attended, per the policy noted herein. My understanding is that approximately half of the dogs at this particular auction were AKC registered. The inspector verified the microchip identification for every single one prior to sale. The AKC is the only registry in the United States with an ongoing, sustained kennel inspection program, and in fact, you may have noticed that other registries were represented by sales reps at this auction, where AKC was represented by an inspector.

What I noticed about your inspector Mr. Sharp is that he was oblivious to what was taking place around him. Perhaps be has a case of severe battle fatique given what surrounds him in Holmes County.

I understand your strong objections to dogs being sold at auction, but I have shared with you the Board of Director’s policy, which this department will implement.

Your policy is in direct violation of your mission statement. I cannot imagine that any of these breeders are improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs. It is apalling that AKC is represented at this event.

Mr. Sharp, there used to be a time when I was proud to showcase my AKC registered rescue collie to the Greater Columbus pet community. Given your organization’s practice to participate in this auction, I now view his registration as a badge of shame.

Yours truly,

Thomas W. Sharp
Assistant Vice President, Compliance
The American Kennel Club
tws@akc.org
http://www.akc.org

From: Mary O’Connor-Shaver [mailto:mshaver_0462@columbustopdogs.com]
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 3:11 PM
To: Tom Sharp
Subject: RE: Customer inquiry: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog Auction in Millersburg, OH

Dear Mr. Sharp:

Thank you for your quick response. Please see my comments and additional questions below.

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: Customer inquiry: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog
Auction in Millersburg, OH
From: “Tom Sharp”
Date: Mon, August 28, 2006 1:48 pm
To:

Dear Ms. O’Connor-Shaver:

Thank you for contacting the American Kennel Club (“AKC”) with your
concerns. The AKC has a policy regarding the selling of dogs at
auction, which may be found on the AKC Web site at
http://www.akc.org/rules/policymanual.cfm?page=7#AuctionPolicy and reads
as follows:

Auction Policy

“The American Kennel Club considers auctions and raffles not to be
reasonable and appropriate methods to obtain or transfer dogs.

“AKC’s current inspection program shall include kennels/individuals
offering dogs for sale at auctions.
Given what I witnessed this past Saturday during the Buckeye Dog Auction, I find it hard to believe the breeders represented at this event have met your inspection. If possible, I would like to see the results of your inspection for the 490 kennels in Holmes County, particularly those licensed dog breeding and brokering facilities which were found to be in clear violation of USDA regulations during an undercover investigation conducted by Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) – http://www.caps-web.org/240x192x240_ohio_pennsylvania.php.

AKC records are confidential, and we do not share inspection records. Many breeders in that area do not use AKC’s services and therefore are not inspected by the AKC. However, AKC has spent tens of millions of dollars since the 1990s on its inspections program. A field staff of fourteen people around the country has the full-time job of inspecting the kennels of high-volume breeders who register with AKC. The inspections cover the care and conditions of the dogs and the kennels in which they are raised, record-keeping and identification practices, and even collecting DNA samples at AKC’s expense to verify the parentage of AKC registered litters. In addition to inspections, inspectors also cover dog auctions like this one you attended, per the policy noted herein. My understanding is that approximately half of the dogs at this particular auction were AKC registered. The inspector verified the microchip identification for every single one prior to sale.

It’s my understanding Mr. Sharp that the AKC does not actually travel to every breeder’s facility to inspect it. Nor does your organization check to find out if the puppy even qualifies for registration. My guess is that most consumers are not aware that your organization cannot guarantee the quality of health of dogs in your registry, correct?

“Any dog sold at auctions that is under 8 weeks of age or without
microchip identification will be ineligible for AKC registration and
shall be placed on permanent referral.
Mr. Sharp, it was very apparent to me that many of the puppies being certified over the age of eight weeks were born to mill brood bitches. My guess is that the puppy’s mother is most likely nursing another litter.

“The American Kennel Club discourages Parent Club rescue groups from
purchasing dogs at auctions. Although Parent Clubs may be doing good
things for individual dogs purchased at auctions, it perpetuates the
problem and tends to create a seller’s market. Reciprocally, auctioneers
seek more dogs of those breeds to offer at auctions. AKC applauds the
work of Parent Club rescue groups on many fronts. However, AKC believes
that the purchasing of dogs at auctions is not overall in the best
interest of purebred dogs.”

The August 26 Buckeye Dog Auction represented one of the worst experiences I have ever witnessed in my lifetime. 300 dogs were sold at a cost between $25-$450 (this is very low compared to last year). The staging area (entrance to the auction in which buyers can “view the livestock”) smelled like a cesspool. The majority of cages lacked food, water and were covered with feces. All the dogs were scared and shaking, down right pittiful and heart breaking. Some of the dogs had been shaved, and any experienced vet technician could tell by their feet that they have been living in urine and fecus. What was most disturbing was the number of dogs who were immediately registered with your organization following the winning bid. I cannot imagine that any of these breeders are improving the health, temperament and quality of purebred dogs.

Again, I don’t understand why your organization would allow themselves to be represented at this type of auction. As the proud guardian of three rescue collies – one of which is AKC registered – and a rescue sheltie, I find it apalling and a direct violation of your mission statement.

Yours truly,

Thomas W. Sharp
The American Kennel Club
Assistant Vice President, Compliance
tws@akc.org
http://www.akc.org

—–Original Message—–
From: AKC Communications
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 1:42 PM
To: Tom Sharp; William H. Deily
Subject: FW: Customer inquiry: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog
Auction in Millersburg, OH

—–Original Message—–
From: mshaver_0462@columbustopdogs.com
[mailto:mshaver_0462@columbustopdogs.com]
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 1:15 PM
To: AKC Communications
Subject: Customer inquiry: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog
Auction in Millersburg, OH

Name: Mary O’Connor-Shaver

Email: mshaver_0462@columbustopdogs.com

Date: Aug-28-2006 1:08 PM

Subject: Why Are You Supporting the Buckeye Dog Auction in Millersburg,
OH

Comment: It has just come to my attention that you are registering dogs
following the winning bids at the Buckeye Dog Auction in Millersburg, OH
- http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/846327093.

This is apalling and a direct violation of your mission statement. I am
respectfully requesting justification of your actions.

Client details:
IP Address:
12.16.164.205

System Info:
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; SV1; .NET CLR
1.1.4322; InfoPath.1)

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