GDCA - AKC - Petland

GDCA - AKC - Petland

DATE: September 20, 2006

TO: Dennis Sprung, President & CEO, American Kennel Club

FROM: Tom Sandenaw, GDCA Delegate

Few actions of the AKC Board since I became the Great Dane Club of America’s Delegate to the AKC have invoked the ire of the fancy as did the Board’s entering into a contract with Petland. In an effort to obtain more information, I did contact Jim Crowley who responded promptly, and provided me with the Petland Fact Sheet. Unfortunately, this position statement does not eliminate the concerns felt by the GDCA, concerns, which I am confident shared by numerous other parent clubs. Among those concerns are the contents of the contract in question. I would request that this information be shared with the Delegates and their parent clubs at your earliest convenience so that informed opinions may be shared. 

The GDCA is working diligently to provide comprehensive information to educate breeders, current and prospective owners regarding the appropriate care of our gentle giants. We have looked to the AKC in the past as a partner in these endeavors. Although we feel the recent actions of the AKC Board have betrayed that partnership, we are heartened by the fact that staff is continuing to review and communicate with the AKC core constituency. Additional information that a meeting including selected delegates will be held prior to the October Board meeting to discuss issues, and the Board of Directors will again discuss the topic during the October Board Meeting gives us encouragement that the delegates and parent clubs are being heard. In that vein we would request that the Board reconsider the Petland contract and include the delegates in that reconsideration. With the strength of the collective input we are confident that acceptable solutions to the AKC financial problems can be found.

It is our hope that we will be kept advised of the AKC’s treatment of the concerns being expressed by those impacted by this action. Hopefully, AKC will move rapidly to address these concerns, which will take precedence in the ongoing evaluation of the contract with Petland, and will temper any consideration of entering into similar contracts in the future. 

For additional information or comments, please contact Tom Sandenaw at: lgltas@zianet.com

Sincerely,

T. A. Sandenaw, Jr.
T. A. Sandenaw, Jr.
Delegate, GDCA

At the September Delegates Meeting AKC reported that we had reached an agreement with Petland in order to facilitate the registration of dogs that are already AKC registrable. 

AKC's Board of Directors and management believed that this agreement would have helped to further the mission of the AKC. Promoting responsible dog ownership to new puppy owners, implementing our care and conditions policies, and exposing more dog owners to AKC educational programs and services would have had even greater reach. 

In the past few weeks we have received many comments about this agreement, both positive and negative. We have listened to the concerns and because this issue has become so divisive, we believe it is in the best interest of our sport and the American Kennel Club not to go forward with this initiative. 

Ron Menaker, Chairman of the Board 
Dennis B. Sprung, President and CEO

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