Head of the UK Kennel CLub Ronnie Irving, who was so unbelievably arrogant and obnoxious in Pedigree Dogs Exposed but then claimed that was all due to unfair editing and worked hard, with strict PR management, to offer a kinder, gentler self afterwards, has shown his true colours in his quite extraordinary end of year address. In this astonishing bit of prose he calls all those who work on behalf of animal welfare and 'do-gooders' and the media who highlighted the issues facing the KC, "terrorists" and actually opens his piece by regretting the 'greater interference from the outside world".
"The outside world"?!? Does he mean the annoying little people who actually buy the puppies that enable his club members to in some cases, make a substantial living, and also, nicely finance their hobby of travelling around the country showing dogs? :sl*p:
How truly annoying for the Kennel Club that some of the more malodorous practices of some dog breeders, especially in the area of cavaliers, was exposed to that puppy-buying public! How annoying that "do-gooders" have now "interfered" in this closed little secretive club with its strictly controlled membership by demanding better health provisions for breeds that truly suffer, and which the KC itself has publicly acknowledged, truly suffer... (or maybe that is just because they were forced, in the face of an angry public, to at least admit SOME suffer...).
Caring, health focused breeders who actually have a regard for dogs and dog breeding and who truly enjoy dealing with the public who give their puppies loving homes, must pray for the resignation of this idiotic man.
There's more. too.
I see Ryan O'Meara is on the case:
http://www.k9magazine.com/viewarticle.php?sid=105&aid=1238&vid=0&npage
Who points to Irving's own little embarrassments:
Why aren't the breeders who are the 'shareholders' of the KC demanding his silly head on a plate? If the KC were a public company he'd have been fired long ago.
Let's all hope 2009 is a better year for the breed we love.
"The outside world"?!? Does he mean the annoying little people who actually buy the puppies that enable his club members to in some cases, make a substantial living, and also, nicely finance their hobby of travelling around the country showing dogs? :sl*p:
How truly annoying for the Kennel Club that some of the more malodorous practices of some dog breeders, especially in the area of cavaliers, was exposed to that puppy-buying public! How annoying that "do-gooders" have now "interfered" in this closed little secretive club with its strictly controlled membership by demanding better health provisions for breeds that truly suffer, and which the KC itself has publicly acknowledged, truly suffer... (or maybe that is just because they were forced, in the face of an angry public, to at least admit SOME suffer...).
Caring, health focused breeders who actually have a regard for dogs and dog breeding and who truly enjoy dealing with the public who give their puppies loving homes, must pray for the resignation of this idiotic man.
There's more. too.
I see Ryan O'Meara is on the case:
http://www.k9magazine.com/viewarticle.php?sid=105&aid=1238&vid=0&npage
Who points to Irving's own little embarrassments:
In 2008 the Kennel Club has been lead by someone who has overseen the greatest demise in the organisation’s 100 plus year existence. A year which has seen its flagship dog show removed from TV, has lost the support of the major animal welfare and veterinary charities in the UK, has had more negative press than Garry Glitter, has lost its major commercial sponsor and has shown itself to be utterly incompetent in dealing with any of these problems from a public relations perspective.
Why aren't the breeders who are the 'shareholders' of the KC demanding his silly head on a plate? If the KC were a public company he'd have been fired long ago.
Let's all hope 2009 is a better year for the breed we love.