This was written by Nancy Babyak. She put into words what I think so many of us feel. I have her permission to copy it to our list. SueT What is most disturbing about this course of events is the "appearance" that all of us as responsible breeders will now be considered by the public as being on the same plane as Pet Land. Certainly it sounds pretty neat that the AKC's educational materials will be available at Pet Land. Still let's be "real" here. How many people looking for a puppy will call or email a Pet Land store to talk to someone to find out about a breed? How many Pet Land puppy purchases are impulse - "hey kids let's go look at the puppies . . ." Who does Pet Land employ - certainly not breeders with breed knowledge. Will employees screen prospective puppy buyers - doubtful. Are Pet Land employees going to be trained by the AKC, or have any kind of experience in AKC events? Is my own 20 years in a breed, and over 30 years in dogs, of less benefit than that of a Pet Land employee? Will a Pet Land employee say to a customer, "No, I am afraid this breed is not for you?" Will Pet Land refuse to sell puppies during the holidays or to people who want to give a puppy as a gift? To all of us who spend hours screening our puppy inquiries, who follow-up with our puppy families, who have contracts which guarantee we will always take back a puppy/dog for its lifetime, who make all the efforts on health testing, who spend time educating and talking dogs with our puppy families . . . this is a slap in the face. How can anyone explain that an hour or so a family may spend in Pet Land compares to the hours, weeks, months, even years many of us spend with our puppy families? There is no intelligent explanation for any of us (as breeders) to deserve to be placed on the same level of AKC endorsement as Pet Land. Hysteria - hardly. For the AKC to endorse a national pet store chain - and to hear this move supported under the guise of education - is an insult to every hard working and conscientious breeder in this country. Do any of us merely hand out brochures and a receipt, and the vital registration slip It has been my experience that few of my "pet" puppy families care about registering their puppy. Yes they want to see a pedigree, and indeed it is important that they see the AKC papers; however when questioned, many families have told me they don't see the "need" to register a pet that will not be shown or entered in performance events, will be neutered, and be a loved family member. Over the years I have sent in and paid for the registrations myself. Realistically, and only judging from my experience, I can't see the AKC gaining a landslide of money unless Pet Land puppy purchasers are forced to register their puppies or perhaps the registration will be built into the price of the puppy? And if so, then let's call it for what it is - financial. So what really is driving this latest move? And when buyers remorse sets in, where will these AKC endorsed pet shop puppies end up? Nancy Babyak Kidwelly Cardigan Corgis ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2006. 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 - URL temporarily deleted due to AOL issues ============================================================================