First off let me say, I believe the AKC is a top registry for dogs but they also have their down side. I suppose I was pretty naive when I first got into rescue and thought that any organization that benefited from dogs would also help to protect these animals. I was mistaken.
The AKC has signed a contract with Petland Discount stores to get them to register the dogs they sell as AKC animals. That's right -- the AKC is making the sale of pet store puppies a core part of their business plan.
The AKC business plan is that the stores will charge the AKC registration fee at the time of sale and register the puppy online. My understanding is that the Board of Directors of the AKC voted 12 to 1 to enter into this contract.
http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com...and-naive.html http://www.thedogpress.com/SideEffec...&Hunt.10.3.asp http://www.nopuppymills.com/index.php?page=hunteletter
Here is a very interesting report from AKC in regards to high volume breeders:
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/about/specia...VBC_finalA.pdf
I would be thrilled if some of this information is outdated and AKC is protecting the dogs not just the pedigree’s.
Also I am really struggling with the math on this information:
“In 2007, our team of 15 inspectors visited over 5,600 kennels throughout the country. AKC spends over $6 million each year to inspect our customers, thereby ensuring the integrity of our registry and the proper care and conditions for dogs registered with us.”
$6 million dollars for 15 people to travel the country and is 15 inspectors enough? Keep in mind they are only looking at kennels that have 7 or more litters a year.
The AKC is a non profit organization but look at their 2006 Annual Report:
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/about/annual...2006report.pdf
Total revenues of $72.3 million in 2006 were comparable to 2005. Core registration revenues for dogs and litters were $2.3 million lower than the prior year. Royalty and sponsorship income was higher by $1.3 million or 21% due to the success of AKC’s licensing programs. Recording and event fees rose by 9% primarily due to increased entries in Agility and Rally. CAR’s enrollment revenues declined by $1.1 million or 25% from 2005. Revenues for 2006 and 2005, respectively, include $3.9 million and $3.2 million for the approximate values of in-kind contributed services received primarily in the form of donated advertising on television, radio stations, and in print, which is included in operating costs related to public education. Interest and dividend income for 2006 increased 41%, primarily due to higher dividends received from investments. Operating expenses of $69.1 million increased by 6% from 2005. Payroll and related benefits rose by 5% over 2005, primarily due to changes in actuarial assumptions associated with the pension and other postretirement benefit plans. All other operating expenses increased by 6.6% to support program costs.
I also struggle with this comment: “Our commitment to health research continued in 2006 with a donation to the AKC Canine Health Foundation of $1.2 million, bringing our to-date total contributions to $15 million. Our $170,000 donation to the AKC Museum of the Dog helped preserve the history of the purebred dog.” AKC was started in 1884 which means it has been in existence for 124 years but yet they have only donated 15 million for health research.
I do believe AKC is better than all the other registries in the US but in my opinion they have a long way to go to protect the dogs.