AKC AT THE AUCTIONMany people remain unaware of the extent of involvement of the AKC in the puppy mill industry. While we rail at people making money off the backs of dogs, the AKC still manages to come off looking like they have no choice and no voice in the mistreatment of these dogs. After all, it's the USDA that is assigned the task of inspecting and licensing the "kennels" which we clearly know are puppy mills. It's time for AKC to be questioned regarding their involvement which allows the mills to continue and the industry to be sanctioned in the eyes of the public.The public believes if the dog out of the mill has AKC papers, the mill must be all right. I attended a puppy mill auction in Wheaton, MO on May 26, 2001. While there I witnessed the AKC representative in action and stood in on the talk to the "breeders" about their role in AKC's registration of their dogs. Every breeder needed to be at their dogs' cages so that AKC could read the microchip or tattoo. If the microchip or tattoo did not match the paperwork (beginning with the cattle tag tied with twine around their neck), the dog could not be auctioned. That happened with several of the dogs. What you need to know is that AKC handled dogs to read microchips on animals missing teeth, without a tail, missing an eye, dogs that clearly had cataracts and couldn't see and dogs that had been bred so many times that at age 4 or 5 they looked to be 18. Dogs had scabs, sores and scars, but if they had a microchip, the paperwork could go through. We hear about how the AKC can't control the puppy mill situation. I say if they can read a microchip on a dog in that condition, a dog that has obviously lived it's life in a cage to provide an income for a human, the AKC should either take responsibility for the dogs they're registering or step out of the puppy mill industry all together. Their choice to remove themselves from it would add significantly to the legitimacy of their organization instead of adding legitimacy to the mills, an unjustifiable business. In addition to what I have just described, the situation in Wheaton, MO on May 26, 2001 got even worse. You might wonder how that could possibly be. I ask you to read my copy of a letter of complaint sent to AKC on June 15.
AKC Dear Ms. Krista Wolf: I am writing regarding the behavior of an AKC representative at the auction sale in Wheaton, MO on May 26, 2001. I do not have the woman's name, but I trust that would be in your records from that day. The representative in question was a large woman with blonde hair. She was middle aged. She was most definitely with AKC and explained to the breeders about the process of scanning for microchips and comparing them to tag numbers before the dog went on the auction block. The conversation I heard which leads to my complaint took place at the end of the afternoon when all the scanning had been completed. I was checking out the Kerry Blue Terriers. Their cage was next to the Havanese. The AKC representative initiated the conversation with one of the puppy mill breeders who was standing in the area. (You may not choose to use the word "puppy mills". Anyone who has walked through a mill or an auction, however, will most distinctly know that is the correct terminology.) Please note that the AKC representative started the conversation. The puppy mill breeder did not solicit it. AKC: {while gesturing towards the Havanese} "These are niiiiiice dogs! Great temperament!" The miller looked at the Havanese pups and said, "They look like Lhasas!" AKC: "Yes, but they don't ~~~~~~~"(I couldn't hear the words. The Kerry Blues and Yorkies were barking.) Miller: "Are they the same size as Lhasas?" AKC: "No, they're bigger." (Of course this is not accurate.) Miller:"They sure are cute. I can see how you'd sell them just cuz they're cute." AKC:"But what's really nice is their temperament. These are great dogs." The AKC representative spoke with this same man and his wife later on outside. Because the wind was blowing, most of that conversation was unable to be heard, but a pet store was mentioned by the AKC representative as were the words, "What they don't know can't hurt them." I'd like to think her behavior and references would be in support of animals, but given her behavior within the "barn" portion of the auction building with that same puppy miller, I have serious doubts. I see a distinct difference between AKC being present to scan dogs and assure that their registration process is accurate and an AKC representative happily mingling and offering opinions to puppy mill breeders. I don't agree with AKC's presence at all, but I accept that it's how things are. You're a registry. But when a representative "sells" a breed to a puppy mill breeder I find it unconscionable. I have informed the Havanese breed club of what happened. I would like to be kept informed of what action you as an organization take.
Sincerely, Within an hour and a half of receiving my letter, I heard from Steve Robinson of the AKC that "the matter has been investigated by AKC supervisory personnel and appropriate action has been taken." Amazing how quickly they were able to investigate and resolve this matter. My request to be kept informed was met with "As your complaint is a personnel matter, the AKC maintains confidentiality regarding the actions taken toward investigating and resolving these issues." I responded with the following letter: Dear Mr. Robinson, I have reread your post to me several times. Here is my interpretation of what it says and means. I witnessed grave misconduct on the part of an AKC representative at a puppy mill auction. Supervision of this individual was either missing entirely or woefully inadequate (thus the behavior I observed.) Now I am to assume that the same institution that placed this individual in that setting without the supervision has taken a complaint I made and "investigated" it and "taken appropriate action" within hours of me having sent it, but I am not to be informed of your action or the outcome. I have great difficulty understanding why I am to trust anything has taken place at all. Why should I not post my letter of complaint to every breed group and editorial news page in the country? I believe more good would be done for people to know what is happening in the mills and AKC's presence there. And I certainly want other people who are attending mill auctions to keep a very close eye on the behavior of AKC representatives in that setting. I'm very frustrated at this point. You've provided me with nothing but platitudes and sought out nothing further from me to lead me to believe my complaint is being taken seriously. If you can offer any explanation as to why I should believe otherwise, it would be appreciated.
Sincerely, This time it took 5 business days before I received a response. I have been informed that "I have responded to you regarding your complaint against an American Kennel Club representative at the Wheaton, Missouri dog auction on 26 May 2001. In that response I provided you with all the information you are entitled to receive relative to internal actions relating to personnel complaints. In response to your question about the AKC sanctioning puppy mills, as you referred to the auction, I am providing you with the AKC policy which applies to Dog Auctions. The policy states, "The American Kennel Club considers auctions and raffles not to be reasonable and appropriate methods to obtain or transfer dogs. The AKC's inspection program includes kennels/individuals offering dogs for sale at auctions. Additionally, AKC requires that dogs sold at auctions, regardless of age, be permanently identified by either readable tattoo or microchip prior to being sold at auction. Dogs sold at auction without the required identification will become ineligible for registration and shall be placed on permanent referral." It appears to me that AKC's policy towards auctions is akin to a parent telling a child it is wrong to steal or shoplift. And then to tell that same child that when they do shoplift they should always carry ID. Two letters from Wisconsin obviously do not impact or concern the AKC. I suggest that if you have concerns about AKC's presence in the mills and auctions and the behavior that was observed on May 26, 2001, please write to the AKC and voice these concerns. Further, it would be of benefit to everyone, particularly our dogs, if you have members of a group who are willing to attend auctions to monitor AKC's behavior at auctions. The representative may have been "selling" the Havanese breed there that day, which is reprehensible, but she may be selling the breed that you love and live with next time. AKC's presence in the puppy mills does not improve the dogs' fate, treatment or lives. It merely adds legitimacy to the mills. Tell the AKC that the removal of themselves from this industry will add legitimacy to their organization instead.
Sincerely,
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