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Originally Posted by wnalegria Question to all- If your dog was shown and colored without your consent- and you found out -what would you do if he won points in the show ring? Do you smile and take those points or do you contact the registry and tell them what was done. If no points were won would you still contact them. Would you take the chance on having your dog disqualified for life? |
I was intrigued by this ethical dilemma but avoided answering it right away because of my lack of experience in this area. Everything I know about showing dogs I learned from your post.
However, since you posted the question to "all" and no one has weighed in, here's my .02. (I realize your question is hypothetical. Any references to "you" are just for lack of a better word):
The person in that position would have to spill the beans, if for no other reason than the alternatives are worse.
1. The owner fires the person who did it. They seek retribution and spread rumors how the owner consented and won points by cheating.
2. The owner doesn't fire the person who did it. He or she becomes a willing participant in the deception, making him/her every bit as responsible for cheating. And if that person has done it once, they might as well do it again. Also, it gives the person who did it reason and motive to do it again, to yours or another dog that might be competition.
The downside is you don't know how officials are going to react. Maybe the owner or their dog will be disqualified for life, and that's not a just penalty for the honesty and class it takes to "come clean." But I think the owner would have to take that chance, if for no other reason than the owner and the person who cheated (and whoever they decide to tell) will know that you knew about it and did nothing.
I think the circumstances would be the same whether you won points or not. The person who did it should be exposed. However, if you can't prove it, then you shouldn't slander anyone in public. Tell the judges it happened and you don't know how and take the heat yourself. And fire the hell out of the person you think did it.
Not being in that position, I don't know that's how I'd react. But I like to think so.