akc letter to Oprah

[linda44]

http://www.akc.org/pdfs/press_center...rahWinfrey.pdf

[mojo]

Cool. Thanks for sharing that.

[Nancy1999]

Another great reason to support the AKC. Everyone please register your eligible dogs!

[yorkiekist]

Thanks for posting that informative letter!! As usual, AKC is heads and tails above the rest of the other alternative registries!!

[Tink's Mom]

Good! Glad to read that.

[jeanief]

2) As already discussed, USDA licensing does not guarantee humane treatment of the dogs in mills. Also, remember that the USDA licenses and oversees factory farming. What the USDA considers acceptable in factory farms outrage and horrify many people who are made aware of what exactly goes on behind the closed doors of the industry. The animals in these situations are treated as product, and are not given the consideration they deserve. Humane treatment and quality of life are not factors deemed worthy of attention. The situation at puppy mills is very similar. The dogs are merely treated as money-making items.

3) The sales pitch, "AKC registered" has been used repeatedly by the puppy mill/pet shop industry and has duped the public into believing that if a dog bares the AKC registered title, it must be of quality. The fact of the matter is that the American Kennel Club (AKC) is merely a registering body. "Papers" on a dog mean that the animal is certifiably purebred. It does not guarantee anything else. There are no requirements necessary in order for a dog to be registered other than having AKC-registered parents. Health, temperament, or where a dog came from, have no bearing on the matter.
I would say that AKC is a better club than most. However, mills and USDA breeders can register with AKC and do. Petstores sell AKC dogs. Large USDA breeders can pass AKC inspections. We need to find a way that to change the laws so dogs are not governed by the sames laws for treatment as cattle !

[laurenr]

Originally Posted by jeanief

2) ..........
I would say that AKC is a better club than most. However, mills and USDA breeders can register with AKC and do. Petstores sell AKC dogs. Large USDA breeders can pass AKC inspections. We need to find a way that to change the laws so dogs are not governed by the sames laws for treatment as cattle !

Double ditto that! I could not have said it better myself!
Lauren

[cockerduchess]

Originally Posted by jeanief

2) As already discussed, USDA licensing does not guarantee humane treatment of the dogs in mills. Also, remember that the USDA licenses and oversees factory farming. What the USDA considers acceptable in factory farms outrage and horrify many people who are made aware of what exactly goes on behind the closed doors of the industry. The animals in these situations are treated as product, and are not given the consideration they deserve. Humane treatment and quality of life are not factors deemed worthy of attention. The situation at puppy mills is very similar. The dogs are merely treated as money-making items.

3) The sales pitch, "AKC registered" has been used repeatedly by the puppy mill/pet shop industry and has duped the public into believing that if a dog bares the AKC registered title, it must be of quality. The fact of the matter is that the American Kennel Club (AKC) is merely a registering body. "Papers" on a dog mean that the animal is certifiably purebred. It does not guarantee anything else. There are no requirements necessary in order for a dog to be registered other than having AKC-registered parents. Health, temperament, or where a dog came from, have no bearing on the matter.
I would say that AKC is a better club than most. However, mills and USDA breeders can register with AKC and do. Petstores sell AKC dogs. Large USDA breeders can pass AKC inspections. We need to find a way that to change the laws so dogs are not governed by the sames laws for treatment as cattle !

[Nancy1999]

Here is some information on AKC inspections, while they do not have the power to close down a kennel,

"If an inspector finds minor deficiencies, the issues are noted and discussed with the breeder, and AKC expects the issues to be taken care of before the next inspection. While the AKC does not have penal or regulatory authority, breeders who have major kennel deficiencies may lose AKC privileges (ability to register dogs or compete in events). In some cases, fines will be imposed, AKC privileges may be suspended and appropriate law enforcement authorities contacted. "

Furthermore:

" AKC automatically imposes a 10-year suspension and a $2,000 fine on anyone convicted of animal cruelty involving dogs. "


Does any other registry do that? It may not be perfect, but it's the best thing we got going. For further information: http://www.akc.org/about/depts/investigations.cfm

[yorkiekist]

Originally Posted by jeanief

2) As already discussed, USDA licensing does not guarantee humane treatment of the dogs in mills. Also, remember that the USDA licenses and oversees factory farming. What the USDA considers acceptable in factory farms outrage and horrify many people who are made aware of what exactly goes on behind the closed doors of the industry. The animals in these situations are treated as product, and are not given the consideration they deserve. Humane treatment and quality of life are not factors deemed worthy of attention. The situation at puppy mills is very similar. The dogs are merely treated as money-making items.

3) The sales pitch, "AKC registered" has been used repeatedly by the puppy mill/pet shop industry and has duped the public into believing that if a dog bares the AKC registered title, it must be of quality. The fact of the matter is that the American Kennel Club (AKC) is merely a registering body. "Papers" on a dog mean that the animal is certifiably purebred. It does not guarantee anything else. There are no requirements necessary in order for a dog to be registered other than having AKC-registered parents. Health, temperament, or where a dog came from, have no bearing on the matter.
I would say that AKC is a better club than most. However, mills and USDA breeders can register with AKC and do. Petstores sell AKC dogs. Large USDA breeders can pass AKC inspections. We need to find a way that to change the laws so dogs are not governed by the sames laws for treatment as cattle !

I have noticed that the mills, byb'rs, the USDa breeders and the pet store suppliers are ditching AKC as fast as possible. Could that be because of the increasingly tighter inspections?

[Itspuppyluv]

I'm not buying it and I doubt the rescue people that were on Oprah would either. The AKC makes far too much money from puppy mills. JMHO

http://network.bestfriends.org/truth/news/24329.html

http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com...and-naive.html

[missdeeliciouz]

Very interesting read - I like to stay informed of these kinda things..

[yorkiekist]

Originally Posted by Itspuppyluv

I'm not buying it and I doubt the rescue people that were on Oprah would either. The AKC makes far too much money from puppy mills. JMHO

http://network.bestfriends.org/truth/news/24329.html

http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com...and-naive.html

Well, I dont know what its like in your neck of the woods, but out here, almost every dog in the commercial pet stores are not
AKC anymore. And more and more bybrs that advertise in the local paper every Sunday are also not AKC anymore.

And, yes, AkC makes $$ on registrations as well as all the other "registries"do. But isnt that what they are: a REGISTRATION/RECORD KEEPING organization? Their business is registering dogs as accurately as possible. They are not the police, vice squad, animal control or the swat team. And if AKC was so concerned about loosing $$ because of inspections and DNA/frequent sire programs, they would not be doing it at all. AKC does more positive dog programs than any other kennel club while the alternative registries do absolutely nothing. It sounds to me like some are blaming AkC for the mills when blame should be pointed only at the puppy millers, the brokers, the big chain pet stores and the un-educated people who buy these dogs, keeping the puppy miller in $$$$$$$.

[Itspuppyluv]

Originally Posted by yorkiekist

Well, I dont know what its like in your neck of the woods, but out here, almost every dog in the commercial pet stores are not
AKC anymore. And more and more bybrs that advertise in the local paper every Sunday are also not AKC anymore.

And, yes, AkC makes $$ on registrations as well as all the other "registries"do. But isnt that what they are: a REGISTRATION/RECORD KEEPING organization? Their business is registering dogs as accurately as possible. They are not the police, vice squad, animal control or the swat team. And if AKC was so concerned about loosing $$ because of inspections and DNA/frequent sire programs, they would not be doing it at all. AKC does more positive dog programs than any other kennel club while the alternative registries do absolutely nothing. It sounds to me like some are blaming AkC for the mills when blame should be pointed only at the puppy millers, the brokers, the big chain pet stores and the un-educated people who buy these dogs, keeping the puppy miller in $$$$$$$.

This thread isn't about how much better AKC is compared to other registries. It's about them contacting Oprah after a show trying to raise awareness of the horror of puppy mills and the link to pet stores. If it wasn't such a sad subject, it would almost be funny. They help support these mills. Many people won't buy a dog unless it's AKC registered and they are sold in pet stores. Yes, you can find them in my neck of the woods. New registries might be cutting in on some of the action but you can still get AKC registered puppies from stores.

Perhaps I'm just misinformed (and maybe it's just NJ). Does the AKC register puppy mill dogs or not?
If they do, how can they profit from the mills, supply the papers for puppies sold to stores and yet be considered blameless?

[PROLINKer]