I received the following e-mail from Russ Arend and after reading George Szoka's letter in www.bracebeagling.com, receiving numerous phone calls and talking to many beaglers in the last few weeks, I think that Russ is right-on!!!
A STORM IS BREWING-AKC VS BRACE BEAGLERS
I JUST COMPLETED A TRIP TO THE MIDWEST TO COMPETE IN SEVERAL LICENSED BRACE TRIALS. WHILE WE ALWAYS HAVE ISSUES WITH OUR SPORT, THE NUMBER ONE TOPIC AT EVERY TRIAL WAS THE AKC'S SAMPLE BYLAWS THAT WAS SENT TO EACH CLUB PRESIDENT WITH A COVER LETTER REQUESTING THAT THE SAMPLE SHOULD BE SIGNED AND RETURNED BY SEPTEMBER 1, 2006.
MOST BRACE BEAGLERS FEEL THAT THE AKC NO LONGER HAS ANY INTEREST IN OUR SPORT AND ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO CURTAIL IT. I DONT KNOW WHETHER THIS IS TRUE, BUT I DO KNOW IT IS THE PERCEPTION IN THE FIELD, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
IF SOMETHING ISNT DONE TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION IN A HURRY, BRACE BEAGLERS ARE GOING TO REVOLT AGAINST THE AKC. THE AKC APPEARS EITHER NOT TO UNDERSTAND OR CARE HOW BEAGLERS WILL REACT TO SOME OF THEIR ACTIONS. NO ONE LIKES TO BE TOLD TO SIGN A SAMPLE WITHOUT HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT.
I, PERSONALLY, AM WILLING TO WORK WITH OTHER BEAGLERS TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE AKC IF THIS CANNOT BE WORKED OUT. I URGE ALL BEAGLERS TO WRITE TO THE AKC BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
RUSS AREND