The Animal Rights/ Animal Control/ Humane Society people have lined up against the dog people to create what they view as a solution to the dog/cat overpopulation problem.  In fact the group I represent don't wish to be lumped in with the backyard breeders and commercial market breeders.  We are a group of dedicated, responsible hobbyists, much akin to the hunting dog people.  We wish to be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.

The solution to the Animal Control and overpopulation problem lies not in legislating responsible hobbyists out of their hobby, but in making a distinction between the careless indiscriminate puppy producer, and the responsible Show or Field exhibitor.  Most legislation specifically excludes the hunting dog people.  This exclusion is because the dogs are used recreationally, kept fenced when not under the owner's direct control, vaccinated, and too valuable to end up a ward of Animal Control.  All of these same conditions apply to the showing fancier who typically spends money and time on and with their dogs.  They contribute significantly to the revenue of their respective states. 

Look at a typical dog show exhibitor.  They either have a motor home or stay numerous weekends a year in local motels, they eat at restaurants, buy gasoline, enter events and buy products at dog shows in their state.  Most are property owners, all vaccinate their pets, most keep older retired dogs until they die, they breed seldom and place puppies carefully.  They all keep their dogs fenced for security.  These are not the people creating the animal control nightmare, they are the law abiding citizens who will be harmed by restrictive and all inclusive legislation.

I see this not as dog people against Animal Control but rather as a triangular issue.  One side being Animal rights and Animal Control, a second being the hunting or exhibiting breed fancier, and the third being the backyard breeder and the mass producers.  In many communities the Animal Control people and the fanciers are strongly aligned and are of significant help to each other.  For example, every breed has a rescue committee that will take dogs of their breeds from shelters, spay or neuter, and place them in homes.    In well over 40 years as a dog show and obedience trial exhibitor I have never met a fellow dog show exhibitor that didn't fence their dogs, or otherwise confine them.  I have also never met one who didn't vaccinate for rabies.

As dog people it is our responsibility to educate the legislators about Issues WE know.  The AR people work mightily to push thru legislation in many states and it sounds fine if you don't truly understand the situation.  To this end, and hopefully to improve the situation of the showing fancier, I would ask you to cut and paste the 3 paragraphs above to any and all discussion groups to which you belong and to as many dog people as you know.

Showing Fanciers of America is a group dedicated to helping in a positive way to educate the legislators without being viewed as breeders.  The simple word Breeder, to us as hobbyists a proud title, is viewed by AR and AC people as the bad guy.  The only way to differentiate ourselves and be seen as different from the backyard breeder or puppy miller is to label ourselves differently.

Tam Cordingley, Foxridge Fox Terriers www.trainthedog.com