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You'd have to have your head buried in the sand to not know that "bloodsports" are under attack by the animal rights whack-0s, and their politically correct sympathetics.
We are particularly vulnerable. The whack-0s could easily paint our activity as merely a "sport" or "game" and then accuse us of killing birds for "a game."
Joe S. wisely mentioned on another thread that the sporting retriever groups (AKC HTs & FTs, UKC/HRC, NAHRA, NFRA, etc.) need to get their act together pre-emptively, and put up a united front.
I can see that happening especially under the auspices of the USSA -- http://www.ussportsmen.org/ -- they have already been working to get sporting dog groups to unite.
I can see that happening all the groups uniting, EXCEPT for the AKC! The AKC does not want to admit other groups exist. And they already have their own legislative arm, which they use to battle breed specific legislation, as well as other issues facing dog fanciers.
But if push came to shove -- Would the AKC defend the use and killing of live birds by FTs and HTs?
Personally, I don't think so. The AKC membership is populated mostly by conformation clubs, made up of dog fanciers who are by and large "animal lovers." I can easily imagine the majority of whom would not mind seeing our use of live birds pass by the way side.
And this has me worried. That the AKC, the 900 lb. gorilla, might not be willing to work with other groups to defend us, and worse might not be willing to use its own forces defend us!
What say you?
We are particularly vulnerable. The whack-0s could easily paint our activity as merely a "sport" or "game" and then accuse us of killing birds for "a game."
Joe S. wisely mentioned on another thread that the sporting retriever groups (AKC HTs & FTs, UKC/HRC, NAHRA, NFRA, etc.) need to get their act together pre-emptively, and put up a united front.
I can see that happening especially under the auspices of the USSA -- http://www.ussportsmen.org/ -- they have already been working to get sporting dog groups to unite.
I can see that happening all the groups uniting, EXCEPT for the AKC! The AKC does not want to admit other groups exist. And they already have their own legislative arm, which they use to battle breed specific legislation, as well as other issues facing dog fanciers.
But if push came to shove -- Would the AKC defend the use and killing of live birds by FTs and HTs?
Personally, I don't think so. The AKC membership is populated mostly by conformation clubs, made up of dog fanciers who are by and large "animal lovers." I can easily imagine the majority of whom would not mind seeing our use of live birds pass by the way side.
And this has me worried. That the AKC, the 900 lb. gorilla, might not be willing to work with other groups to defend us, and worse might not be willing to use its own forces defend us!
What say you?