We finally have someone at the helm of AKC who gets the
ARs!
-----Original Message-----
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
-- Defending Our
Rights --
New York, NY - For years, animal rights extremists have focused
on attacking
the health of purebred dogs based on what they determined were
improper
breeding programs, and have indiscriminately discredited dog
breeders with
unsupported anecdotal stories as opposed to facts. We all know
the
unsubstantiated accusations all too well.
Unfortunately, the
rather gullible media simply accepted these allegations
without objective
investigation. A case in point is the untruthful story
about Bulldogs
published in the New York Times Magazine. Interestingly,
while we supplied
significant factual information about the health of
Bulldogs, as did the
Bulldog Club of America, the article was selective -
which is just a nice
word for "biased" - in the utilization of those facts.
In the end, the story
was simply propaganda, not journalism.
But starting last year, there was
a subtle, yet very noticeable shift in the
communication tactics of the two
largest animal rights organizations.
Previously, for the most part, they had
practiced a strategy of either
ignoring or dismissing the AKC. Simply put,
they did not see us as an
organization of any concern to them in their quest
to eliminate dog
ownership through the elimination of breeders. As they have
made very clear,
their stated goal is "no new puppies" - a goal they intend
to accomplish
through legislation and ballot initiatives to mandate
spay/neuter and
restrict breeders to the point of oblivion.
So, what
changed? We did. In the past few years all of us - you, your clubs,
and the
AKC - have become more aggressive, more organized, more vocal, and
more
visible in legislative matters.
The tipping point last year appears to
have been our proactive approach to
the proposed APHIS rule changes, which
included both a well-documented,
reasonable, and thorough review of all the
issues with suggestions to make
the intent of the regulatory changes
achievable without unnecessarily
damaging hobby breeders, and a petition of
support signed by over 75,000
concerned dog owners. Our response to APHIS
caught the extremists completely
by surprise and sent them into a whirlwind
of activity that amounted to
nothing. Most likely, their evaluation after the
storm was that the AKC
needed much greater attention from them.
But
the proactive plan around the APHIS rule changes was just the tip of
the
spear the AR extremists have been feeling of late. The AKC
Legislative
Department, led by the pleasantly indomitable Sheila Goffe, has
made our
presence, knowledge, and commitment felt on a myriad of legislative
issues
around the country. Last year, Sheila's department monitored more than
1,500
pieces of legislation. Contrary to what the AR extremists would have
people
believe, we are a respected resource in dog legislation for
legislators and
governmental organizations charged with animal care
oversight. Our Care and
Conditions of Dogs Policy is accepted as an
intelligent and fair standard.
Our careful analysis of proposed legislation
helps reveal unreasonable
requirements buried in a bill that would make it
virtually impossible for a
legislator's constituents to be in compliance. Our
individual financial
support of legislators' campaigns has made new and
strong friends for the
AKC and our mission.!
And your clubs, and the
hard-working AKC legislative liaisons at both the
state and local levels,
have made significant inroads in protecting our
rights to own and breed our
dogs responsibly.
Today, the AKC is neither being ignored nor dismissed
by the AR extremists.
Instead, those organizations are now attacking us using
the same propaganda
tactics of lies and innuendo. I believe our position as
squarely in the
sights of the AR extremists is a status and a challenge we
should accept
with resolve and great pride.
As a former ad guy, I am
reminded of a 1915 magazine ad for Cadillac
considered one of the greatest
print ads of all time. It only ran once - in
the Saturday Evening Post. I
believe that ad, titled "The Penalty of
Leadership," captures the essence of
the American Kennel Club and the
challenges we face from AR extremists. The
ad explains why companies that
honor "standards of excellence" become
"targets of the envious."
Here are a few pertinent sentences:
"In
every field of human endeavor, he that is first must perpetually live in
the
white light of publicity. The reward is widespread recognition;
the
punishment, fierce denial and detraction. When a man's work becomes
a
standard for the whole world, it also becomes a target for the shafts of
the
envious few. If his work be merely mediocre, he will be left severely
alone.
If he achieves a masterpiece, it will set a million tongues
a-wagging.
The leader is assailed because he is the leader. The follower
seeks to
depreciate and to destroy. If the leader truly leads, he remains -
the
leader."
How are we leading in this fight for our
rights?
First, we are proactively taking our messages of the Good Things
We Do (the
Parent Club rescue network, AKC kennel inspections, AKC CAR, and
our
collective commitment to improving the health of dogs) to the public; we
are
telling the facts about purpose-bred dogs and the desirability of owning
a
well-bred purebred as the family dog; and we are telling the stories of
the
passionate commitment of our breeders to protect, preserve, and
improve
purebred dogs. We are doing that through a combination of an
aggressive
public relations strategy utilizing every media opportunity
imaginable to
get our story told correctly and in its entirety. In addition,
we now have
an expert in social media, which gives us the ability to tell the
narrative
of the AKC throughout the world of social media. For the first
time, we will
have a constant and consistent platform to reach the general
public every
day.
Second, we will always be aggressive in responding
to AR propaganda posing
as media stories. The difference in our response to
the Bulldog story and
the response to the New York Times attack on the AKC is
a demonstration of
our new commitment to act quickly, broadly and
emphatically.
While the cost to have a day-in and day-out public outreach
program and an
immediate response program is significant, we can afford it.
In fact, we
can't afford not to have it.
With Churchill as
inspiration, our mantra now is this: we will fight with
growing confidence
and growing strength; we will defend our rights, whatever
the cost may be;
and we will never stop fighting.
Your comments and suggestion are most
welcome
mailto:atk%40akc.org.
Sincerely,
Alan
Kalter
Chairman
Stop P.U.P.S! Contact your Representative and Senator
at this link:
http://the-cavalry-group.rallycongress.com/9441/stop-pups-acts-395hr-847/It
is quick and simple...Do it today to save your right to breed and raise
pets.