I believe mixed-breeds should be allowed in all performance events. They allow animals with ILP numbers as it is. I believe we would see better adoption rates in our animal shelters. Also, I believe less animals would wind up there because their owners would be active with them. Samantha ----- Original Message ----- From: "Laurie Pruett" <pruett@xxxxxxxxx> To: <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 9:29 PM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] AKC and mixed breeds in performance events.... > I understand the suspicion with which many of the fancy view AKC's ideas = > for generating additional revenue. Partnering with pet shops was NOT a = > good idea. However, I think this idea is worth pursuing. UKC has = > incorporated mixed-breeds in their performance events successfully and I = > think AKC can as well. > > My reasons are as follows: > > (1) Unless AKC is financially healthy, the sport of pure-bred dogs won't = > thrive. Expanding their focus from the pure-bred dog alone to dogs in = > general will, IMO, require a change in mission statement, but doesn't = > necessarily need to negavtively impact the "pure-bred dog segment" of the > = > the AKC's business. In fact, revenues from the "mixed breed" business = > could very well subsidize the pure-bred side of the house. Like it or = > not, AKC is a business, non-profit or not, and must remain in business in > = > order to support what we all love to do. > > (2) I agree with Cathy Murch that is could be a way to bring all dog = > owners into the fight against the Animal Rights movement which is intent = > upon eliminating all pet ownership. J Q Public just doesn't get it or AR > = > organizations coffers wouldn't be as full as they are. Let's face it -we > = > need all the help we can get. > > (3) I am reminded about an academic discussion that I participated in = > years ago while pursuing my MBA. We were discussing the railroad = > business and how their business deteriorated when they failed to recognize > = > that they were not in the "railroad" business - they were really in the > = > "transportation" business. So, they had blinders on when the interstate = > highway system and the rise of the trucking business stole a huge share of > = > their railroad business. I think the AKC is rightfully expanding the = > definition of the business they are in in order to remain viable longterm. > = > Going in this direction is a direction I can live with. > > I have to admit a personal bias - for years I taught dog obedience classes > = > for our local shelter. Many of our participants were former shelter dogs > = > and their owners. I know many of those folks would have been happy to = > have been able to participate in performance events in local matches and = > shows. I don't see how that hurts what we do. And, it exposes them to = > the pure-bred world of dogs and may actually be a feeder system to our = > conformation events when some of these folks get hooked on dog shows. We > = > need more participants in order to keep our clubs and their events alive = > and well. I think we'd find some of those folks in the ranks of the = > mixed-breed dog owner/lover. > > As always, this is JMO, > > Laurie Pruett > Windy Acres > > > ============================================================================ > POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the > original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or > FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the > original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. > > ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY > MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS > PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY > FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL > BE PROSECUTED. > > For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx > > VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org > ============================================================================ > ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================