Fort Lauderdale Dog Club,Inc

U. S. SENATE PASSES RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB'S 125  YEARS OF GOOD WORKS FOR ALL DOGS

 - Senate Resolution 393 Joins Earlier House of Representatives
 Resolution 160 -

 New York, NY - The American Kennel Club(r) (AKC), the
 nation's largest and only not-for-profit all-breed dog registry, is pleased
 to announce that in honor of its 125th anniversary, the United States
 Senate passed S. Res. 393 yesterday in recognition of AKC's many years
 of contributions to responsible dog owners and breeders across America.

 Introduced by Senator Kay Hagen (D-NC) and Senator Richard
 Burr (R-NC),  this measure has now passed both the House and Senate,
 giving formal national and congressional recognition to AKC and
 dedication to its mission of promoting responsible dog ownership through
 public education programs and protecting the rights of all dog owners for
 continued enjoyment of their companions.

 Representative David Price (D-NC) pioneered a similar
 resolution supported by 53 co-sponsors in the House of
 Representatives, H. Con. Res. 160, which passed on a roll call vote of     419-0 in conjunction with AKC's 125th Anniversary - Sept. 17, 2009.   

"We feel incredibly privileged to be recognized by the United States
Congress for the work we've been doing for more than a century," said
AKC President and CEO Dennis Sprung. "The AKC plans to
continue its good works, most recently donating $25,000 from the AKC     CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund - which has given out more than $3 million to date - to the United States Police Canine Association in support of the search and rescue K-9s that saved lives in Haiti."

 AKC and its state federations support reasonable laws that
 protect the rights of dog owners and breeders while ensuring the
 integrity of the purebred dog and the welfare of all dogs. The AKC's
 policies and  positions are well-publicized and include inspecting its
 own breeders; zero tolerance for neglect and abuse; and recognizing the
 obligations of dog owners to abide by clean-up ordinances, leash laws,
 nuisance laws and other reasonable regulations. For more information
 visit: www.akc.org

 U.S. Senate Resolution 393:
  RESOLUTION

 Recognizing the contributions of the American Kennel Club.
 
Whereas the American Kennel Club (AKC), headquartered in
New York City, with an operations center in Raleigh, North Carolina, was
founded in 1884, operates the world's largest registry of purebred
dogs and is the  Nation's leading not-for-profit organization devoted      to the advancement, study, responsible breeding, care, and ownership of dogs;
 

Whereas the American Kennel Club approves, sanctions, and
regulates the  events of its 609 member clubs and monitors more than 4,000 licensed and  sanctioned clubs throughout the United States who hold events under  American Kennel Club rules and regulations;

Whereas in 2008, the American Kennel Club sanctioned or
regulated 22,630 sporting events that included breed conformation, agility, obedience,  earthdog, herding, field trial, retrieving, pointing,
tracking, and  coonhound events;

Whereas the American Kennel Club honors the canine-human
bond, advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances    canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners, and promotes responsible dog ownership;
 
Whereas the American Kennel Club promotes responsible dog
ownership and  breeding practices and supports thousands of volunteers and teachers from affiliated clubs across the country who teach
responsible dog  ownership and safety around dogs;

Whereas the American Kennel Club founded and supports the
AKC Humane  Fund, which promotes the joy and value of responsible pet
ownership by supporting breed rescue activities, educating adults and
children about responsible dog ownership, and assisting human-services
organizations that permit domestic abuse victims access to shelters with
their pets;

Whereas the American Kennel Club trains and employs kennel
inspectors and conducts over 5,200 kennel inspections each year;

Whereas the American Kennel Club promotes responsible dog
ownership,  care, and handling of dogs to over 21,000 youths ages 9 to
18 years old  enrolled in its National Junior Organization;
 
Whereas the American Kennel Club is the largest purebred
dog registry in  the world and the only registry that incorporates health
screening  results into its permanent dog records;

Whereas the American Kennel Club offers the largest and
most comprehensive set of DNA programs for the purposes of
parentage verification and genetic identity to ensure reliable
registration  records;
 
Whereas the American Kennel Club created and supports the
Canine Health Foundation (CHF), which funds research projects focusing on the genetics of disease, the canine genome map, and clinical studies,
and has donated over $22,000,000 to the CHF since 1995;

Whereas the American Kennel Club created and operates
DOGNY: America's Tribute to Search and Rescue Dogs, which supports canine search and rescue organizations across the United States;

Whereas the American Kennel Club annually awards $170,000
in  scholarships to veterinary and veterinary technical
students;
 
Whereas the American Kennel Club has reunited more than
340,000 lost  pets and their owners through the AKC Companion Animal
Recovery (CAR) program;

Whereas the American Kennel Club established the AKC Canine
Good Citizen program, which certifies dogs with good manners at home and in the community;
 
Whereas the American Kennel Club maintains the world's
largest dog library and the Museum of the Dog in St. Louis, which
houses one of the world's largest collections of dog-related fine art and
artifacts, both of which are open to the public; and

Whereas the American Kennel Club celebrates its 125th anniversary this
year: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate honors the American Kennel Club for its service to dog owners and the United States public.

AKC Memo on the Grand Champion Title

 This memo is to address anticipated exhibitor questions and to clarify the Grand Champion judging procedure.

 Who is Eligible for Grand Champion competition?

The following categories of dogs are entered in this competition:

1. Dogs that are Champions of Record competing in Best of Breed or Best of Variety class.
2. Dogs transferred to Best of Breed/Variety which according to their owners’ records have completed the requirements for a championship but whose championships are unconfirmed. (The showing of dogs whose championships are unconfirmed is limited to a period of 90 days from the date of show where a dog completed the requirements for a championship according to the owners’ records.)
3. Champions that win Non-Regular Classes and become eligible for Best of Breed competition. (Altered or spayed CH veteran class winners at independent specialties are eligible.)
4. Winners Dog and Winners Bitch are not eligible for Grand Champion competition.

 At the judge’s discretion, Grand Championship points may be awarded to:

1. Best of Breed or Variety
2. Best of Opposite
3. Select Dog
4. Select Bitch

 Grand Champion competition will not continue beyond Best of Breed competition and in breeds that are divided into varieties, Grand Champion Competition will not continue beyond Best of Variety competition.

 What are the requirements to earn the Grand Champion Title?

1. 25 Grand Champion points.
2. A minimum of 9 points won at 3 shows with ratings of 3 or more points (Major wins) under three different judges, and one or more of the balance of points won under a 4^th judge.
3. At least one Champion of Record was defeated at three of these shows.

 How are Grand Champion points computed?

1. Grand Champion points are only to be awarded to dogs the judge considers deserving.
2. Grand Champions points awarded to the Best of Breed/Variety shall count all dogs of both sexes competing in the regular classes and in Best of Breed/Variety competition.
3. Grand Champion points awarded to Best of Opposite Sex shall count all dogs of their sex competing in the regular classes and in Best of Breed/Variety competition.
4. Grand Champion points awarded to Select Dog/Bitch shall count all dogs of their sex defeated in the Best of Breed/Variety competition as well as the dogs of their sex in the regular classes. (i.e. one less than the total entry in that sex)
5. The entry of non-regular classes are not counted for computation of Grand Champion points to be awarded.

 Judging Procedure

1.    Choose BOB, BOW and BOS

2.    If quality warrants, choose a Select Dog (SD) and Select Bitch (SB) from the remaining Champions in the BOB ring (Do not consider BOW, WD or WB)

3.    Annotate the judge’s book certification as to the eligibility and quality of the Grand Champion points being awarded or withheld.

4.    Award BOB, BOW, SD and SB ribbons if determined to be of eligible and deserving of the Grand Champion title.  See: http://www.akc.org/pdfs/judges_sheet_conformation.pdf for example of the revised judge’s book form.

 Administration

1. On May 12, 2010 Grand Champion competition will be included in all shows offering BOB or BOV competition.
2. Premium lists – Other than prize listings, there is no requirement to address Grand Champion competition in the premium list since it is included in all shows that offer BOB or BOV.  However, there is no restriction should superintendents and secretaries want to bring attention to the new competition.
3. Judging Schedule – No additional information is required.
4. Ribbons – BOB and BOS do not require an additional ribbon.  Light blue & white ribbons for SD & SB.   Flat ribbons or rosettes are equally acceptable.  “Select” is acceptable wording however “Grand Champion Select” is acceptable and more descriptive. 
5. Ring Markers – Just as with BOB, BOW and BOS, there is no AKC requirement to have SD and SB placement markers.  These markers are provided as a service by the club or superintendent.