PRO’s REPORT ON A MEETING HELD AT THE GEORGE, MARKFIELD,
LEICESTERSHIRE ON SATURDAY, 6 JULY 2002
The Chairman opened the meeting at 11.40am with 16 consituent clubs present - Alan and Deeside, Downlands, East Anglia, East Midlands, Merseyside, Morecombe Bay & Cumbria, Northern Eastern, Northern Counties, North of Scotland, North West, Nottsand Derby, Potteries, SBT Club, Scottish, Southern Counties and Western. Those Clubs without representation were North of Ireland and South Wales. The meeting was therefore quorate.
MATTERS ARISING
Following a vote of no confidence the present secretary resigned and Miss Jaci MacLauchlan was voted on as temporary Secretary/Treasurer.
It was proposed that the Breed Council Meetings be reduced from3 to 2 a year owing to the wide geographical distribution of the clubs, this was voted on and carried.
FREE DISCUSSION PERIOD
Serious concern was expressed at the recent spate of dog biting incidents which have been highly publicised, with particular reference to the 4x4 programme featured on BBC1 on 1.07.02. Although there was only a brief reference to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier it was felt that non of this adverse publicity is helping the breed. Most of the dogs featured in the programme were cross breeds.
The Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the impact it is having on the breed was discussed at length, because of the name association, although this breed of dog has evolved as a result of cross breeding, was the Pitbull type with a new name to overcome the DDA.
It was felt that education was the way forward, to encourage people to buy from responsible breeders, not from advertisements in the paper, pet shops or even the internet, comment was passed that whilst the price of Staffordshire Bull Terrier Puppies remained high irresponsible breeding would never be eradicated.
A Code of conduct was briefly discussed and sounded out. A delegate then suggested that perhaps we should show the way, and accept less for our puppies, hoping that it may influence irresponsible breeders, and help to put them out of business, as it was agreed that the right home is more important than money. A delegate mentioned the knockon effect of puppies being sold to the wrong homes and the affect it is having on rescue, which it was felt was not good publicity.
A brief discussion was held regarding an article written concerning a new metabolic defect that has been identified in 2 or 3 young Staffordshire Bull Terriers. The KCBLO pointed out that as no reference had been made to it being hereditary, there was not need to pursue it yet without knowing its cause.
The International Forum scheduled for Crufts Weekend 2004 was discussed and a change of venue is being investigated. The Sub Committee are meeting to view an alternative venue, the Pear Tree Inn. Investigations are being made with a view to possible sponsorship for this event.
A proposal was made that all Referees should be Staffordshire Bull Terrier specialists at General Championship Shows. This will be discussed at a later meeting, but the KCBLO will take the matter up with the Kennel Club.
A proposal was but forward that all clubs should try and co-ordinate and hold a Stafford fun day to raise public awareness of the many virtues of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. This it was felt would be of enormous value.
The KCBLO made the meeting aware that the list of dangerous dogs in Lower Saxony has been overturned in court, which means hopefully that this will be taken up in other states and used in Spain.
EYE SUB COMMITTEE
Ivor Keyes was unable to be present at the meeting but his latest report was read out. He stated that the AHT are busy carrying out the research proper to indentify a genetic marker for HC in the Breed. The time element involved with this research is rather an unknown quantity, as the AHT could hit on a link very early in the research or it could be later on in the mapping process.
The Breed has pretty much done it's job for the research having supplied enough samples for the AHT to be confident of a result, but we still need to keep eye testing.
He then stated that from his most recent discussions with the AHT and KC that the project proposal should be reviewed by the KC Charitable Trust towards the end of end of August, and he believes that we can expect a substantial contribution from tjo&alanhem. Ours is one of four project proposals put forward by the AHT to the KC Charitable Trust. The AHT proposal will outline the scientific information about the research involved, which is very strong for our project along with the estimated amount of money that the Breed has so far collected. His information is that we can expect the KC to settle the balance for our project, which is great news, but stresses that until the KC Charitable Trust have made their decision we won't know for certain.
Date of next meeting Saturday 16th November 2002.
Veronica Brown, Public Relations Officer,
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Council of Great Britain & Northern Ireland
15th July 2001.
