The New York herald., 1920-01-18
Kennel News, Views and Gossip of the Dogs
on Benches, at Home and in the Field
Barriers Should Be Strengthened
Against Admitting Unhealthy
Dogs to Shows.
By FRANK F. DOLE.

| 6Y ENAINh Es
With the approach of the forty-fourth
annual dog show of the Westminster Ken
mel Club it is timely to call attention to
the laxity of the rules for the inspection
of the exhibits before they are benched.
This is done in theory. but as fact the
custom is more often honored in the
breach than in tho observance. The fault
is to a degree the fault of the veterina-
rans. for if they compelled a higher
standard of examination and demanded
fees commensurate with the responsibility
involved the situation would soon right
itself.
Not long ago . Western exhibitor told
me he had been forced to withdraw his
string from the shows on account Of some
'of them contracting distemper (of course,
from infected and Improperly passed en-
tries) at one Of the leading Eastern shows.
1T is now doubtful that this exhibitor will
be able to get his dogs into shape for the
Westminster fixture. yet II the rules re-
garding the inspection of the dogs before
they are benched had been enforced this
mans string would never have become
infected with the dire complaint.
l lay down two axioms that should be
absolutely followed. First, the dogs should
be inspected by the veterinarian outside
of the show, as they are in Great Britain.
and have a clean bill OF health before
being bcnched among the other dogs.
This rule is strictly followed in Great
Britain, and there would be no exception
permitted. nor any waving of strict
ft,A a
Queen were making an entry. royal
entry would fare no better than any other
dog under the British veterinarians. At
American shows the reverse is often the
case. There are a dozen means by which
an influential owner, If so minded, may
dodge close inspection OF sick dog.
The reason Is that the show veter-
inarans--if there are more than one on
duty--have too much to do and are SO
scantily paid that they have little real
advance interest in the affair. Often they
await until the dogs are all benched be.
fore making their cursory examinations
To weed out the i'll ones by such an
examination Is unfair to the we'll dogs
and, indeed. the mischief is usually done
before the belated inspection.
Hold Veterinarians Responsible.
One remedy, which brings up my second
axiom. would be to hold the veteTinarians
morally responsible for any losses in
a kennel due to the dogs becoming in
fected at a show. And by paying the
veterinarians a fee of generous proper
tons. the amount being based on the mum
Der of dogs at the show, their financial
responsibility would be fully established
A veterinarian, for the good name anC
higher repute of the profession, when ad
mitting dog to show as healthy ant
sound, should be willing to insure the
other dogs from the possibility of any
mistake having been made by him.
At many shows the only actual return
to the veterinarian who stands sponsor
for the health of the dogs is the value oi
the advertisement on the catalogue an
nouncing that he is the authorized vet
erinarian. If the fees were raised ant
standardized the profession would be ad
vanced in public regard. 1t would in
crease the value of the free advertise
ment. too, to have the public know tha
the veterinarian is also in receipt Of {
proper fee. Under these circumstance:
the jobs would be sought after instead o.
being lodged. or sidcstepped. as they nov
often are.
The American Kennel Club rule is no
exact enough. Rule II reads:-''The regu
larly appointed veterinarian shall deter
mine the physical condition OF dogs dur
ing the show When appealed to by th'
Judge, or when giving an opinion on ;
protest to the show committee, he shal
Immediately render his decision in writ
ing. A dog that is blind, deaf, lame. cas-
.trated. spayed, dyed or faxed shall b'
ineligible to compete at any show, excep
in the case of lameness. when the veteri
marian is satisfied that 1t Is only tenn
porary."
Inspect the Dogs on Arrival.
However. to cover the point woulc
make, the rule should read:-"The rcgu
larly appointed veterinarian shall de
tcrrnine the physical conditions of dog
before they are admitted to the show.
The time for rigid inspection. in my
Judgment, is before dogs are admitted e
the show building. among other dogs, anc
this should be done as soon as they ar
rive and in a room aloof from the Other
dogs. There should be no question OF the
costs involved; the dogs sent TO show
in good health should be absolutely safe
guarded from infection from dogs not II
good health.
Every man or woman who benches dog,
| is able to supply more than one instance
| of an unhealthy dog getting past the vet
| erinarians. and the money lost to owners
Of healthy dogs through diseases con
| tracted at a show will aggregate a vas
sum. How often do we hear the remark
"All my dogs have had distemper since
benched them at such-and-such show.
There should be a change in rule IL tc
make IL compulsory TO inspect dogs be
fore they are admitted to the show. Ths
American Kennel Club has the power &c
make the change demanded by present
conditions in this rule. Perhaps. however
to gain the best results, the veterinarians
should petition the American Kenne
Club to exactly define the duties and the
emoluments of an authorized show vet
erinarian. II would add dignity to the
position, Increase the earnings OF show
veterinarian and. as consequences en-
hance his usefulness. while a revision O
the rules on the lines | suggest would
be boon to exhibitors who have at al
times the best interests of dogs at heart
An Iowa Entrant at Pekingese Show.
/ ~ nr...la Z nirzirnr- of Burlington