A Progress Report on the United States Canine Registries
Early last fall, a historical meeting took place in Kalamazoo, Michigan. For the first time ever, the nation’s dog registries came together and got to know one another. It was a little awkward at first, as can be expected with a room full of business competitors, but in just a few hours the room began to fill with a spirit of cooperation. By the next day, the United States Canine Registries was formed. Its goal is to work together in the areas of canine legislation and canine health.
While every registry was invited, those who accepted all had one thing in common: they were tired of individuals from competing registries bashing one another, and knew that working together could make the sport stronger. We still have one or two more registry converts to make, but at this point, we can report that we have the vast majority of the most respected and longest-running registries in the country working together for the first time in history.
The initial meeting was followed by a spring 2007 meeting in Virginia. Our third event will be a conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring four of the most important presenters in dogs. The first day will include two speakers with a focus on canine health. Eric Johnston, Senior Manager, Operations, of MMI Genomics, Inc., where United Kennel Club has its dogs DNA processed, will speak, as will Eddie Dziuk, Chief Operating Officer of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the group that is famous for its work in hip dysplasia, and whose services now include many other areas relating to canine health.
The second day will feature Patti Strand, Co-Founder and National Director of the National Animal Interest Alliance. Her presentation on how to counter the radical animal rights organizations is internationally recognized. Lt. Col. Dennis Foster, Executive Director of the Masters of Foxhounds of America, will be speaking on how the animal rights extremists want to take away your right to own and hunt with your dogs. His work to preserve hunting rights is famous throughout the world.
Plans for the November 14 and 15, 2007 United States Canine Registries Conference are going extremely well. The conference fee of $65 (if registered by October 30), or $85 paid upon arrival, includes two days of luncheons. USCR has made this an affordable way for dog owners, hunters, and breeders to come learn about the individual registries, the USCR group, and the most important and current topics of legislation and health that affect us all.
A blog is available, as is an on-line registration service, at www.uscanines.org for attendees. We hope you are planning on attending, and look forward to writing a report on how it all went in a later issue. Let’s hope this is another big step in fostering a new culture of cooperation among the nation’s dog registries.
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