Members thwart Cavalier health plans
25 Mar 2009 08:59
A BID by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club to halt the spread of syringomyelia (SM) in the breed has been thwarted.
At last weekend’s AGM, the committee wanted to include a clause in its code of ethics – similar to those concerning heart and eye-testing protocol – recommending that breeders MRI scan dogs before using them at stud.
An initial motion was passed, but later members asked for the vote to be taken again because they felt there had not been enough discussion and that some people had not understood the proposal.
This was agreed and this time the motion was lost by a heavy majority.
Under scrutiny
The breed has been under scrutiny since the programme Pedigree Dogs Exposed showed Cavaliers suffering from the painful condition SM.
After the AGM, chairman Lesley Jupp said the committee had been ‘very disappointed’ by the outcome of the vote.
At the start of the meeting it was reported that Margaret Carter – who featured on the BBC programme talking about SM – had been the only person nominated to join the committee, but that she had withdrawn her nomination. Three vacancies have still to be filled. This was followed by the committee’s proposal to add the SM recommendations to the club’s code of ethics.
Under new rules, the Kennel Club has drawn up the code and allows each breed club to suggest additions. At first the motion was passed by 25 votes to 15, with nine abstentions. But a little while later discussion became heated when members demanded that this vote should be taken again. Some said they had not heard what was said and thus not known what they were voting for.
Under some pressure, Mrs Jupp agreed that a vote could be taken on an amendment to remove the SM recommendations from the code. This was carried by 37 votes.
Afterwards Mrs Jupp said: “We wanted to bring in a clause in our code. We have guidelines for eyes and hearts and we wanted to include them for SM. Breeding stock is supposed to be MRI scanned – these are recommendations, not stipulations. It would be in line with our eyes and heart recommendations.
“We are very disappointed that this was not passed – and by such a considerable majority.”
Asked why such a recommendation would be so unpopular, Mrs Jupp said: “Anyone could hazard a guess.”
Mrs Carter, now a controversial figure within the club’s membership, was present at the meeting.
“I didn’t speak. I wasn’t going to act as a catalyst for anything,” she said on Tuesday. “Anything that happened was not initiated in any way by me.
“The committee was wholeheartedly behind the motion and the chairman said it was important that owners health-check their dogs and it was their responsibility to do so. To be fair, the committee is trying to take things forward but it is being beaten.”
Media training
It is understood that the treasurer’s report showed that the special general meeting held to oust Mrs Carter from the committee had cost the club £2,082.
There was an additional expenditure of £1,147 which paid for the committee to be trained on how to deal with questions from the media following the SGM.
I breed and show dogs, not the Cavalier. I am SICK AND TIRED of Cavalier breeders bringing dog breeding and showing into disrepute!! Ok, what if SM is not confined to the Cavalier??? using this as a reason not to MRI scan Cavaliers is illogical!!! MRI scaning is the best tool breeders have at the moment - use it!! I have many friends in the show world and the words Cavalier breeder leave a bad taste in their mouths also. CLEAN UP YOUR BACKYARD AND DO US ALL A FAVOUR!!!!!!!!!
Posted at 14:49 on 25 Mar 2009 by
Loveslife | Report as inappropriate
5
In addition to the above post... I realise some Cavalier breeders do scan, THANKYOU, I don't want to 'tarnish you all with the same brush' my apologies to those who do.
Posted at 14:58 on 25 Mar 2009 by
Loveslife | Report as inappropriate
6
I agree that the cavie people have just managed to vindicate everything that Jemima Harrison said about them. What does this say to the public? If this gets into the national papers they will have a field day and I for one am mad at the cavie people for not taking this seriously. We are trying to promote ourselves as responisble breeders and they are just trashing the good work that has been carried out so far. Mrs Jupp should have stuck to her guns and stated that if they had really not heard what was being said they should have spoken up at the time not later after all I would imagine that the discussion had happened prior to the first vote. As Beckyess said they should be ashamed of themselves.
Posted at 15:01 on 25 Mar 2009 by
hounder | Report as inappropriate
7
Doubt that they know shame,they'll hold their heads high and keep trying to shove SM under the table. Where is reality for them? The sweet CKCS will be taken care of by dedicated breeders not by these shams.
Posted at 16:14 on 25 Mar 2009 by
Patz | Report as inappropriate
8
Agree totally with the above comments - it seems that people are happy to let their dogs be used at stud, take the money and to hell with the consequences. On another "point of procedure" - surely once a motion has been carried that is it - is it allowed to go back and have a revote? If that is the case there could be an election for a post of say secretary, and then if the members didn't like it they could keep having another vote until they got the person they wanted!!!!! It seems totally bizarre that a re-vote was allowed. If the members had not liked the wording they should have proposed an amendment immediately - then they would have voted on that. The amendment having been carried would then become the "proposal". Perhaps someone can correct me if I am wrong.
Posted at 16:23 on 25 Mar 2009 by
Downstream | Report as inappropriate
Yes, Karlin, another opportunity lost for Cavaliers and more evidence for me that reform of dog breeding will not come from within the current system. I applaud the Cavalier Club Committee for proposing that the MRI screening for SM be added to the Code of Ethics, but it seems that there are others who will always put their own interests before the health and welfare of dogs and the future of the breed.
What a shame this happened. It must be so embarrassing and demoralizing to the many health focused breeders and the committee to have their actions overrun by that shameful group.
A BENCH MARK WEEKEND
Before the AGM last Sunday, Simon Swift, Cardiologist, gave a talk to members to inform us of the present situation, current research and to update us on the new BVA/KC heart testing scheme that involves a number of breeds including cavaliers.
His talk was attended by about 25 members, including the committee, out of a current total UK membership of 1050. At the end of his talk Simon had difficulty in leaving the room for the throng of other members waiting outside for the AGM, chatting and drinking coffee, whiling away the time until his talk was over. So much for breeders’ interest in, and concern for heart problems within the breed.
The AGM then followed, attended by 63 members. The agenda contained a proposal from the committee that the Code of Ethics should include the recommended breeding guidelines for SM. These are not mandatory rules, merely recommendations, and would have been in line with Hearts and Eyes breeding guidelines, which have been in place for some years.
These proposals seemed to me to be innocuous and reasonable. However, the proposal was substantially defeated by the meeting. This was a triumph by the members present over neurologists and geneticists, and of course, over the committee. It would seem that cavalier club members continue to progress, like lemmings, towards mandatory breeding regulations that will surely come, as surely as night follows day. There are many members who are still not prepared to health check their breeding stock, and of those who do, it would appear that many would not hesitate to breed from affected animals. I have tried my utmost to defend and support the breed and the club. This weekend was proof, if proof is needed, that there is no point in deluding myself, or others, that self-regulation is possible.
Mrs Lesley Jupp
24th March 2009
Mrs. Jupp's public statement is so poignant. The use of the word "triumph" is excellent in characterizing the activities of these bullies-loud and ignorant. The defense mechanism is alive and well as they continue their attacks on M.C. and Karlin as if they caused this vote-what a spin . Can anyone ever question their motives-it's not about the dogs, it's about them. Sad,sad day for progress in the Club.