A REVELATION!

[Richard Crowe]

We all know that puppy mills are terrible and cruel places and that they are the major suppliers to mall pet stores...

https://www.google.com/search?q=puppy+mill+images&es_sm=93&...

What most of us don't know is that many of the puppy mill puppies are registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC).  That is why the AKC fights against any ordinance which will stop the sale of puppies from pet stores.  It will cut into their AKC registration profits.

The AKC also put pressure on the producers of the Westminster Dog Show television coverage to stop the commercials that were aimed at "Don't buy, adopt!"

I am so happy that our doodles are not connected with that organization that spouts "We are organized for the good of the breeds!" yet their actions show different motives.

We have an AKC champion Maltese who has all the attributes for AKC championship.  He is a beauty and beat the pants off all competition in the shows in which he was entered.  Unfortunately, his genes produce puppies with liver shunts! When he sired his third litter with a liver shunt puppy in each litter, we had him neutered and he is a pet now.  We received complaints from many AKC breeders saying, how dare you neuter a champion who produces such beautiful puppies.  They still wanted to breed to him despite the certainty of one pup from each litter dying and the high possibility that his puppies that survived might carry the gene for future liver shunts... So much for the good of the breed.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Well, unfortunately, the AKC is the AMERICAN Kennel Club and in America it is all about money (sorry, I just had to add my personal politics to the conversation).

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sad.

[Carol and Banjo]

Richard, I hope everyone on DK takes a minute to read this. Thanks for sharing!

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Thanks Richard! My MIL has an AKC registered "poodle" that actually looks nothing like a poodle. I keep telling her it is some sort of terrier mix but she insists that she has the papers to prove she's a poodle.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

This is new to me.  I knew the AKC's kennel inspection system was a joke but I didn't know they actively fought against ordinances to stop pet store puppies. Sadly, it doesn't surprise me.  When I was just out of college (and knew nothing about selecting a breeder), I purchased an inexpensive "malamute" puppy from a backyard breeder with AKC papers.  Sun was a wonderful dog but as he grew up, it was clear he wasn't a pure malamute.  I suspect a poorly bred german shepherd got into the mix.  I had no intention of giving up Sun (he was a super dog) but I contacted the AKC to let them know about the misrepresentation and was asked if he had blue eyes?  Apparently if he had blue eyes I might have a case to have the litter's papers recalled because it meant he was mixed with husky.  I sent photos and it was clear that the only thing right on my sweet flop eared, slightly built, german shepherd coated malamute was his markings and eyes! They basically said "our papers but not our problem."  So much for the AKC.  Thanks for keeping us posted, Richard.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks for informing us, Richard.  I really look to doodlekisses posts to keep me up on the politics in the dog world.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

wow. this is new information for me.

I hope they change their tactics because they could really do so much to benefit all breeds

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

It's quite disheartening because the AKC could really be a force for the good of all dogs if they chose to take a different path.