Your AKC Registration Dollars at Work
Since Sean and I are thinking about opening a pet supply store, we’ve subscribed to all the trade publications we can find.
One of them, Pet Age, seems to carry advertising that leans pretty heavily towards pet stores that also sell puppies. There are frequently ads in Pet Age from the big mid western puppy sellers like Hunte Corporation., and Hunte Corp. has booths at all the trade shows this magazine and its parent company, Backer, promotes.
Imagine my surprise when I opened the June issue of Pet Age and found a FULL page ad from the American Kennel Club – an ad touting the fact that “nine out of ten puppy buyers prefer their puppies to have AKC papers”. The gist of the ad is that store owners should skip the ConCK and APRI registered puppies, and sell only ‘authentic’ AKC registered puppies in their pet stores. That AKC puppies somehow carry more consumer appeal, due to their conception as being a ‘superior’ product. An appeal, I should add, that’s based on the public’s perception of the AKC as being the arbiter of good breeding practices.
At a time when everyone is decrying the allegiance between AKC and Hunte, and AKC and Petland, and when people are insisting that AKC take a firmer stand against the sales of puppies in pet stores, what does AKC do? They spend registration dollars touting AKC registered puppies as great money making products to sell in pet stores. They get in bed with the very groups that they should be opposing, and they tarnish the very reputation that they claim their paperwork conveys. What’s truly ironic is that the ad touts the fact that the AKC is “Not for Profit”. I suppose that’s true, if you put aside how much money they pour into salaries, real estate and perks. I understand the theory that NGOs have to pay decent salaries to attract decently skilled people, but after a certain point it becomes a vicious cycle – you have to make more so that you can pay more to get people who can make more… (repeat endlessly). It’s similar to the statistics about the HSUS — they are, in effect, nothing more now than a vicious cycle of fund raising to make money to pay for more fund raising, with the barest minimum actually going to anything concrete.
The AKC, of course, excuses their behavior by claiming that all of these registrations are needed – are necessary! – for them to be able to continue to run dog shows. On their own website, they state that they’d have to raise fees to a ‘staggering’ $20 per entry to be able to make up for declining registrations. Is this true? Possibly. I believe, as do many others, that they could trim this number down through selling their prime New York City real estate and a few other belt tightening measures. And if that isn’t enough? Then raise entry fees. Ask your average exhibitor which they would prefer – higher entry fees, and an AKC that refuses to allow puppies sold through pet stores to be AKC registered, or the current artificially subsidized entry fees. I’m pretty sure I know how that vote would turn out.
Every single time AKC does something like this, it makes it harder and harder for me to believe their line about being the ‘purebred’s champion’, and to believe their PR about how they’re all about sportsmanship and breed preservation. Clearly, the only thing that matters any more to the AKC is making more and more bucks off of registrations, no matter where those registered puppies end up being sold. With this as their mantra, someone tell me – what REALLY is the difference any more between AKC and America’s Pet Registry or any other registry for that matter?
When you start touting your services to the very people your organization is supposed to oppose, haven’t you lost the entire “We’re better than those other guys” moral high ground?
Given that you state that you live in Ontario, do you sell animals to the US and do they have AKC registration transferred from the Canadian Kennel Club?
If you are such a snobby-hobby AR breeder why don’t you keep your Canadian Opinion within Canadian Institutions?
Why do you criticize the AKC/pet stores and live in a different country, with little, or less than needed knowledge, to understand politics and animals in the US. The AKC has its critics and frequently I am one of them, but you have no right and no reason to say that purebreds sold in pet stores should not be registered. Purebreds must be registered by the AKC, whether they are sold in pet stores or by breeders. The AKC cannot legally denounce purebred status in pet store dogs and refuse to register them.
If you are such a snobby-hobby AR breeder why don’t you keep your Canadian Opinion within Canadian Institutions?
Yes, that’s what I’m well known for – my animal rights activities. HSUS writes me love letters every day, thanking me for my support. As for the issue with my being Canadian, I’ll reserve the right to comment on what I want, when I want, because I live in a free society, and basically – this is my party, and I’ll say what I want to. If you don’t like it, you’re welcome to bugger off and read some other, non Canadian snobby hobby doggy bloggy. That’s one of those ‘free society’ perks I was just mentioning.
Why do you criticize the AKC/pet stores and live in a different country
See above. Also, see US foreign policy for precedents when it comes to criticizing institutions within foreign countries.
with little, or less than needed knowledge, to understand politics and animals in the US.
I think I have a fairly decent grasp of the politics behind the AKC’s push to be the registry of choice for puppy mill dogs, and that has little to nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with lucre.
Purebreds must be registered by the AKC, whether they are sold in pet stores or by breeders.
That’s absolutely false. The US department of agriculture, unlike the Canadian Department of Agriculture, has no regulations requiring purebred dogs sold as such to be registered. You can call them what you like, and label them purebred as much as you like, and no one can or will stop you. Selling pet store puppies with papers isn’t a requirement, it’s a value added enhancement, done to imply to the public that this product (ie; the puppies) are somehow superior to non papered puppies, with the AKC crowing that their papers are the bestest papers of all.
The AKC cannot legally denounce purebred status in pet store dogs and refuse to register them.
Sure they can. The AKC is a private registry, not a governmental body. They can decry or denounce anything they want, because once again we’re back to the issue of this being a free country and all that that implies. The AKC won’t, however, because above and beyond all else they are a money making machine, and pet store puppy sales = cash in the AKC’s pockets. The AKC could choose to refuse to issue papers to puppies sold via pet stores, but I’m not holding my breath for that to happen.
Now, run along and find a nice American blog to bitch about, and don’t let the virtual door hit you in the ass on the way out. I’m sure you have some more lovely Christian Stationary to work on.
The infuriating thing is that there is not a better alternative.
I’d like to get a group together to debate what would MAKE a better alternative, but I can’t imagine how to create a viable one.
The way some people talk, you’d think the AKC invented dog breeds, breed clubs, and dog shows, and that all that the entire dog fancy would come crashing down in ruins if they ever got reined in by anybody.
Give me a break.
the entire dog fancy would come crashing down in ruins if they ever got reined in by anybody
Well, that’s the impression they bank on.
I’m disturbed by this new ‘all or nothing trend’ – the one that tells people that if you’re PRO responsible breeding, and anti mandatory speuter, you also have to be PRO puppy mills, pro commercial breeding and PRO pet store puppy sales. I’m sick of hearing “well, we need to support the commercial dog lobby, because they’re fighting for OUR rights”. I don’t buy it. I don’t have to support bad treatment of animals to also support the ethical treatment of animals. It’s not all or nothing, black or white.
Hey, Deb, honey, you forgot to mention whether you run a pet store that sells puppies or whether you supply one.
Well said Carol and don’t forget that a substantial amount of those “AKC” registered puppies end up in our Canadian pet stores. Where the price is jacked up about 1000 %.
I think your critique of the AKC’s policy is spot-on. I was also heartened to read your comment decrying the “all or nothing trend”. I work for the HSUS, and during this year of puppy mill busts and proposed legislation in many states, it’s been frustrating to see how many reputable hobby breeders have been swayed by the scare tactics of large commercial kennels. Puppy mills give good dog breeders a bad name.
Hi Hillary —
I never make the mistake of assuming that just because someone works for an organization they espouse all of that organizations beliefs, but you have to understand that a lot of us believe that HSUS itself sees no difference between a small, ethical hobby breeder, and big commercial puppy farm with 2,000 dogs.
I’d personally be HAPPY to see the HSUS come out and make a statement clarifying the difference, and, if they’ve done so, I’d love to see it.
(Oh, and please stop advocating for the death of Pit Bulls, because that really just sucks the bag, and makes you all look like jerks. Kthanx.)
Check out what we have to say about finding a reputable dog breeder at http://www.humanesociety.or/puppy and see what you think. Gina Spadafori of the Pet Connection blog has recently given our good breeder checklist a thumbs up, and as you may know, she has often sparred with HSUS in the past.
Our organization does not support breed-specific legislation. If you’re referring to the concerns HSUS has expressed about placing pit bulls from dogfighting busts, you should know that we’ve recently modified our position after discussions with a number of groups including Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and Bad Rap. We continue to lead the charge in shutting down animal fighting operations (I believe all 50 states now have felony-level dogfighting laws – yea!) and are recommending that dogs seized in busts be individually evaluated.
As I think you’ve already indicated, lots of things defy easy categorization or black and white labels. The HSUS has many staff members with beloved pit bulls. In fact, my own goofy shelter mutt probably has some pit in him. Pit bulls are wonderful, amazing dogs, no question.
> I’m disturbed by this new ‘all or nothing trend’ – the one that
> tells people that if you’re PRO responsible breeding, and anti
> mandatory speuter, you also have to be PRO puppy mills, pro
> commercial breeding and PRO pet store puppy sales.
And I’m disturbed by the ongoing belief that someone that doesn’t breed the way “We” think they should is automatically a puppy mill. There is a difference between commercial breeding and puppy mills – *no one* supports neglectful, abusive practices; most people don’t agree with or support large-scale breeding, but the intelligent ones realize that if you draw the line for “acceptable” breeding practices based on numbers, it won’t be long until you find yourself on the wrong side of the line. Care and conditions should be the guiding factors, not numbers.
You must realize that there are many, many people who would consider *you* a puppy mill, because you’re having three litters in one month. (The HSUS and PETA are the first among them – the HSUS considers anyone with a website to be a “commercial breeder”, as first evidenced by their “Virginia is for Puppy Mills” campaign a couple of years ago, and PETA believes that “There’s No Such Thing As A Responsible Breeder”.)
The AKC does the most policing of its registrants, the most DNA testing, the most kennel inspections of any other US dog registry. There will always be pet-store puppies and people who buy them – unless you outlaw breeding entirely, which of course is where the HSUS is trying to go – so isn’t it better for both the dogs and the people buying them that they are at least subject to the rules and regulations of the best-run registry body out there? AKC is far from perfect, but at this point nobody is doing it any better than they do.
And I’m disturbed by the ongoing belief that someone that doesn’t breed the way “We” think they should is automatically a puppy mill. There is a difference between commercial breeding and puppy mills – *no one* supports neglectful, abusive practices; most people don’t agree with or support large-scale breeding, but the intelligent ones realize that if you draw the line for “acceptable” breeding practices based on numbers, it won’t be long until you find yourself on the wrong side of the line. Care and conditions should be the guiding factors, not numbers.
I never make the mistake of equating commercial breeders with puppy mills – I reserve the term for those who’ve earned it. That said, I still don’t “have” to be pro pet store puppy sales, or pro puppy mills, no matter what terminology you use. I simply refuse to feel that I’m selling out the rights of ethical breeders by being against pet store puppy sales. It’s not an all or nothing equation, you know – and putting it into those terms is doing us all more harm than it does good.
I’m not talking here about HSUS or PETA, either – I don’t equate them with AKC, and neither do I hold them to same standards, simply because I expect HSUS and PETA to be staffed at the upper level by nutjobs, just like I (perhaps wrongly) expect the AKC to be staffed at the upper levels by people who get the differences between an ethical show/performance breeder, and someone who pumps out 400 puppies per month for re sale through Hunte.
This is what gets us all into trouble – this insistence that we MUST align ourselves with 1000+ dog commercial breeding operations, or we’ll all be doomed. You know what? We’re not the same. Not. At. All. The public has the right to not want a 1000+ commercial kennel next to their subdivision, and we let ourselves down by not doing more to make sure lawmakers know that there’s a difference between a hobby kennel and huge commercial puppy farm. We’re shooting ourselves in the foot by aligning ourselves with commercial kennels on all of these issues, by saying “Oh, there’s no difference between us and them” – because there damn well should be a difference, if we’re doing our jobs right.
A friend of mine lives in a semi rural area. She’s allowed to own a few chickens on her property. Does this mean she should be allowed to open up a giant commercial hatchery in her backyard, because there’s “no difference” between her three free range laying hens and a barn full of 10,000 chickens?
And please – do not try to feed me this crap about “All shows will end and woe to the world of purebred dogs” if we all take a stand against pet store puppy sales, or expect the AKC to take one. If the only thing keeping AKC dog shows afloat are the sales of puppies in pet stores, and no thanks – I don’t want any of it.