Transcription

1

2

3

4

5 Dear Shirley I have now discussed the situation with our President, Vice Chairman and WUSV Co-ordinator and I have been asked to reply to your letter dated Thursday 15 th September and your subsequent phone calls to me. In 1968 a group of GSD clubs within Europe created the WUSV, the BAGSD were part of that group and as a founder member signed an undertaking to abide by their agreed constitution. WUSV Section 7 states Members can be and shall be all associations and clubs, which are responsible for German Shepherd Dogs in their respective countries. This applies especially to associations and clubs, which are already recognised by the respective canine breeding parent authority. The provisions which are in force in the respective countries as laid down by the Kennel Club responsible do not stand in the way of acceptance insofar as these do not contain provisions in contradiction of the statutes and orders of the WUSV. Only non-profit clubs may become members in the WUSV. The aim of the WUSV is membership of only one specific Shepherd Dog in each country. If in any country there are several Shepherd Dog associations, then as far as possible, unification of these should be the aim. With the above in mind, we have evaluated your correspondence with interest and would ask you to further clarify your concerns in the letter and valid reasons as to why you continue your quest in the BSE (British Sieger Event): Number one: Although the Breed Council are not a member of the WUSV, they are a very big part of the GSD framework within The Kennel Club, currently representing 30-registered GSD societies including your organisation the GSDL and therefore play a major part in the BSE. The current interpretation of WUSV rules in the BSE and published in the schedule and entry form has been agreed by all three organisations and conforms to the WUSV guidelines. We have no record of the GSDL abstaining or voting against them and ask that you submit these to us. The Breed Council have been in absolute agreement to all regulations concerning WUSV classes and therefore are not in conflict with our obligations, we appreciate there has been discussions and disagreements over classes which do not come under the WUSV regulations, however these have never been challenged apart from the Baby Puppy classes, which are more about education than placing as they cannot be graded. Two members of the Breed Council who sit on the BSE have been more active and certainly more successful in Germany than those of the WUSV working group delegates and have always supported the WUSV guidelines and health tests. The Chairman of the Breed Council John Cullen has been the most successful kennel at WUSV events and also owned a top VA dog in Germany; he continues to promote the correct GSD at Kennel Club shows and therefore is surely an asset to the BSE?

6 Concern number two: Both the BAGSD & Breed Council have the best interest of the GSD here in the UK and decisions are made to enhance the future of our breed, we recognise that the British Sieger Event is now in it s twelve year and each year has been an improvement. We are disappointed that the GSDL could not share in our success this year, both judges comments were again very favourable, yes disappointed in our working classes but these comments are no different from previous years. Unfortunately we are unable to address your request regarding the inclusion of votes from the Regional Groups, they are nonregistered organisations apart from those that are part of The Breed Council or GSDL and therefore have a platform to speak from. Interestingly you mention under this concern the benefit of 50 more people inclined to assist with this event, we would be interested to know who the 50 people are and why they have not wanted to be involved over the past twelve events? In the event agreement cannot be reached: We have no intention of alternating this event, we have continually left the door open for you to return and continue to execute the best British Sieger Event year on year as we have done for the past twelve years. We will if necessary consult and take legal action against the GSDL, we are aware of your situation with The Kennel Club and understand your possible deregistration if you do not conform to their requests. You have also advertised a 2017 Sieger Show and confirmed your judges even though you are under suspension and requested not to do so by the Kennel Club. Yet again we find ourselves in an embarrassing situation where you have blatantly advertised and contracted two SV judges prior to sending this letter where obviously you had no intention of working with us. More disappointingly and one I am sure you will have to deal with is the request from your members at your last AGM, they requested just one Sieger Show, you quickly changed that event into a spectacular which must have been very frustrating for the two SV judges contracted. Again you have gone against your member s votes and advertised an event in 2017 without their permission on your Website calendar and on several show event sites. It would be interesting to ask your approximate 700 members you stated you had at your AGM (which was questioned with an indefinite answer) as to why you did not do, which they voted on and again put the GSDL in an awkward if not embarrassing situation. This letter has also been sent to the WUSV, The Kennel Club and other recipients who have been included in your correspondence. We know the

7 KC General Committee have a meeting soon as we need to sort this situation out with immediate effect. We will also be contacting the WUSV and explaining there are many more principles within the GSD than just conformation, the BAGSD have 43 clubs training either Obedience, IPO, Working trials, Search & Rescue, Agility, Flyball all activates that make the GSD the wonderful breed it is today. We are fully aware that the Kennel Club have had thousands of complaints regarding our noble breed and it is imperative that we work with them to unite and bring our breed back to the statue it belongs, this in essence means we need to work together and not divide like your organisation is trying to do. With regards Bob Honey BAGSD Chairman

8

9