Thursday 26 March 2009

Cavalier Attitude


The political drama continues in the world of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It seems that at yesterday's club AGM a motion was raised to amend the Club's code of ethics to include a recommendation that all dogs used at stud be tested by MRI for syringomelia. Logical? You would have thought so. Dog World newspaper reported on the meeting:

"At first the motion was passed by 25 votes to 15, with nine abstentions. But a little while later discussion became heated when members demanded that this vote should be taken again. Some said they had not heard what was said and thus not known what they were voting for.
"Under some pressure, Mrs Jupp agreed that a vote could be taken on an amendment to remove the SM recommendations from the code. This was carried by 37 votes.
"It is understood that the treasurer’s report showed that the special general meeting held to oust Mrs Carter from the committee had cost the club £2,082. There was an additional expenditure of £1,147 which paid for the committee to be trained on how to deal with questions from the media following the SGM."

Club Chairman Lesley Jupp released this statement following the event:

A BENCH MARK WEEKEND Before the AGM last Sunday, Simon Swift, Cardiologist, gave a talk to members to inform us of the present situation, current research and to update us on the new BVA/KC heart testing scheme that involves a number of breeds including cavaliers. His talk was attended by about 25 members, including the committee, out of a current total UK membership of 1050. At the end of his talk Simon had difficulty in leaving the room for the throng of other members waiting outside for the AGM, chatting and drinking coffee, whiling away the time until his talk was over. So much for breeders’ interest in, and concern for heart problems within the breed. The AGM then followed, attended by 63 members. The agenda contained a proposal from the committee that the Code of Ethics should include the recommended breeding guidelines for SM. These are not mandatory rules, merely recommendations, and would have been in line with Hearts and Eyes breeding guidelines, which have been in place for some years. These proposals seemed to me to be innocuous and reasonable. However, the proposal was substantially defeated by the meeting. This was a triumph by the members present over neurologists and geneticists, and of course, over the committee. It would seem that cavalier club members continue to progress, like lemmings, towards mandatory breeding regulations that will surely come, as surely as night follows day. There are many members who are still not prepared to health check their breeding stock, and of those who do, it would appear that many would not hesitate to breed from affected animals. I have tried my utmost to defend and support the breed and the club. This weekend was proof, if proof is needed, that there is no point in deluding myself, or others, that self-regulation is possible. Mrs Lesley Jupp

If there is a rational explanation for all of this chaos I would love to hear it. It was only a recommendation for goodness' sake. These people need to wise up and realize that if they don't get their house (and beloved breed) in order, they will harm themselves, their breed, and the interests of the sensible, caring breeders and exhibitors in the UK.

5 comments:

  1. Well, having spoken on a few topics on this blog, everything i have said has just been proven to be true for this breed and many,many others
    Show Breeders in general DO NOT CARE to be told what to do, they do not wish to even listen to the geneticist and scientists, in fact they simply WISH TO CARRY ON BREEDING AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE DEFECTIVE ILL DOGS TO SELL THEIR SURPLUS SHOW STOCK TO PET OWNERS, so please dont try to tell me the majority of breeders care because it has been obvious to me after 25 years exhibiting that its the MINORITY that put health before rosettes.
    This sad bunch of individuals are indicative of the apathy and stupidity of the majority and when they are eventually overuled by other bodies and forced to put health first in whatever form the regulations may come in then I for one will applaud the likes of Jememia harrison and Beverley Cuddy and say THANK GOD someone somewhere puts the DOGS FIRST !!!!!!

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  2. I've just spent over £600 having 3 of my bitches MRI scanned. Please don't tell me that I carry out defective breeding practice without any care to my dogs' welfare. I devote nearly all of my free time to ensuring that my dogs are healthy happy and well cared for.

    Your comments are ludicrous and inaccurate. Surely if you have exhibited dogs for 25 years you would know that there are great breeders out there providing a worthwhile service to their animals. You sound bitter and angry, but how about directing that energy to offering solutions and encouragement that we can all benefit from.

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  3. Which parts are inaccutate ? I did say show breeders in general, I also said there are wonderful breeders out there trying to do the best for their dogs, obviously you are one of them, in which case you should be as angry at this latest turn of events and the lack of useful action by the KC as i am. My statement simply said they are the minority rather than the majority. I so wish i could say otherwise but i know many breeders at the top of the game who use less than ethical tactics to cover up their health problems. The majority dare not speak out as they fear the consequences, understandable maybe.
    I am neither bitter or angry just frustrated, and beleive me many many hours of my time is directed towards solutions to health issues.
    Sorry if you have taken this personally but i stand by everything i have said

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  4. I'm with the first Anon. on this one. I too have been breeding and showing for 25 years or so and I am ashamed of the way many breeders dismiss health as not being their problem! They continue to breed with show success as their pririty, culling non-show stock to the pet market without enough thought to health and longevity. I don't think it is a concsious act, it is plain ignorance in many cases. I wish that these breeders would take time to start learning about the implications of never ending line breeding and realise the mess they are getting their breeds in to.

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  5. I too do all my breed's requisite health checks and am active in a breed where the MAJORITY of breeders are passionate about breeding healthy dogs.

    I do find it interesting that these anonymous breeders who both - astonishingly - have 25 years experience don't even have the balls to put their names to their posts. Mind you..... if I was spouting that level of crap then I would probably want to remain anonymous too!

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