PRO'S REPORT ON THE MEETING HELD AT THE GEORGE, MARKFIELD
LEICESTERSHIRE ON SATURDAY 13TH March 2004
Before opening the meeting the Chairman called for a minutes silence in memory of two great Stafford gentleman, namely Fred Ward and John Monks.The Chairman opened the meeting at 11.00am with 13 constituent clubs present:- East Midlands, North Eastern, Notts and Derby,
Potteries, North of Scotland, The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club, Southern Counties, East Anglia, North West,
Alyn & Deeside, Morecambe Bay, Northern Counties, and the Scottish Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club. Apologies were received from Downlands, Northern Ireland, South Wales, Western, and from Foyle and Sperrin who are associate members.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Following the elections for the position of Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer and Public Relations Officer, Patrick McGlynn,
Jaci McLauchlan and Veronica Brown were re-elected respectively for a two year term of office.CRUFTS.
Following two very unfortunate incidents involving the Dog Judge at Crufts, the Breed Council voted unanimously to back any necessary action that the dog judge deemed appropriate to take concerning these incidents.
FREE DISCUSSION PERIOD.
Concern was expressed at the incidences of bad temperament that is creeping into the breed, unfortunately many of these coming through rescue. It was stressed again that the ever increasing amount of puppies being bred by irresponsible breeders who have no thought for the breed only the money involved, were in the main mostly to blame. The concern that has been expressed by Battersea Dogs home was mentioned. It was felt that it is back to the basic principles of offering any help deemed necessary and to make the public as aware as possible of the correct avenues for purchasing a puppy.
METABOLIC DEFFECT – L-2-HYDROXYGLUTARIC ACIDURIA
The Animal Health Trust in Newmarket has produced an extremely well written and informative leaflet on the above subject. A copy of this leaflet has been sent to all Breed Club Secretaries for information should anyone require a copy and it is also possible to obtain a down load from the AHT site by logging onto www.aht.org.uk/index.html, click on the site map then on the neurology (which is a subheading under introduction and research and Development) it takes you into the basic neurology research page and a reference to L2HGA in SBTs.
HC/DNA UPDATE.
Samples are being actively sought from HC affected dogs from abroad, and it is hoped that these will be imminent. These samples are not closely related to the families where the majority of the UK based samples have come from to date. There are still occasional cases of PHPV being reported in the KC Breed Records Supplement. As PHPV can be diagnosed as early as 6/8 weeks then early screening is a good option for breeders to take advantage of. Most cases of PHPV cause no trouble for the dog but they can be affected by secondary cataracts in later life, and should not be bred from. It is obviously important for breeders to be aware of these facts.
The KC/BVA Eye Test scheme report form has been modified by the inclusion of the wording “ Information regarding the scheme and appeals procedure are contained in the leaflet EPWPI. Any appeal against the results specified below must be made to the BVA”
There is also a check box that the panelist must tick confirming that “Information for owners/appeal leaflet (EPWPI) issued” which intends to ensure that the client is made aware that he/she can appeal against a diagnosis. This matter was discussed with the Chief Panelist after the last BC meeting.Date of the next meeting Saturday 13th November 2004.
Veronica Brown, Public Relations Officer,
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Council of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland.
