Second Thoughts...

I must tell you that when I first heard that the scoundrel Lloyd Levine had succeeded, after failing to get a majority vote, into browbeating the two Democratic assemblywomen from Long Beach

into voting for his bill, I went wild. I e-mailed several members of the Concerned California group, saying, “I, for one, would boycott both the Long Beach hotels and restaurants the weekend of Great Western, Long Beach, and Beverly Hills.” I was that upset. But as the days passed and I learned more about what had gone on and what was to occur in the future with regard to this bill, I've recanted—for the time being at least.
First of all, both the mayor of Long Beach and the Better Business Bureau fought hard to stop the bill. The California House is known to be quirky at best, and the Senate seems to temper a lot of its actions. The bill itself had been amended and watered down five times, and the likelihood is strong that the Senate will water it down even further, if not totally kill it. Then there's the governor's veto, which could come into play if the Senate and House agree on a new version. I decided that, certainly for the June 23 weekend, I was better off working within the system than outside it. Furthermore, unless you stayed in the Huntington Beach area, the surrounding areas, such as Torrance, all voted for the bill anyways.
Next comes the December “Invitational” run by AKC/Eukanuba. Should that contract be cancelled as a statement of holding true to our principles? I guess technically you have to say yes. But practically, not only does one add fuel to the sponsors of the bill's fire, but you are costing AKC over $800,000 in contractual damage violations. I say fight the good fight while this is on the Senate level. Indeed, if it does go back to the House, go after those Long Beachlegislators tooth-and-nail, as deceitful as they seem to be. Make them push for a totally toothless bill! Furthermore, use the show in December as a national statement, wherein we can all rally to defeat this kind of legislation in all the United States! Use the AKC/Eukanuba show for more than a competitive get-together, and get every group and every kind of concerned dog-related organization to rally the cause! Parade through Long Beach and tell that city, California, and the world where we stand. Don't let the AR's get the upper hand by our using a boycott. Turn this event into a positive and strong rallying force against PETA and all those who oppose our rights to breed and own dogs. Make this a positive and creative rallying place in support of our position. Don't hightail and run; use the event to rally and support our people and our dogs.
I felt badly that Cindy Cook lost her Delegate seat, but her conflict was comparable to Andrew Hunte being seated as a delegate. Really, in the middle of Petland, the organization she consults for requested that people stop registering dogs with AKC and use that registry instead! Is that what a person should do—get paid by an organization, telling people not to register dogs with AKC and be allowed to be a Delegate too? I think not. However, I was pretty surprised by the fact that the great majority of Delegates voted for her to keep her seat. They wanted to override the Board's position. While I was relieved they could not muster the two-thirds vote (it fell short by only 20 or so votes), if ever there was a case in point why the Delegates should change the two-thirds vote overall, it was here. If the majority is so strong, they should have the guts to amend AKC's Constitution and the Bylaws overall. Don't you think?
Fewer than half the Delegate Body showed up for the Las Vegas meeting. Isn't it time to reconsider and overturn the concept of holding meetings on a rotating national basis? I mean, isn't it time to stop seeing the U.S. at your club's expense. When their clubswouldn’t pay anything, it would appear over 275 Delegates stayed away from this meeting! How's that for an operational “club of clubs?” •