Statistics sometimes serve a valuable role of putting "reality" into focus, and I was very interested in today's news story showing the AKC's annual list of the most popular dogs (as ranked by AKC registration). My main interest was from the perspective of The American Sporting Dog Alliance, in order to better understand where sporting dogs fit into the entire picture of American dog ownership.

For 2007, three sporting breeds ranked among the top 10 - Labrador retrievers were in first place on the list, golden retrievers were fourth and beagles came in at fifth. Cocker spaniels came in 17th (most of these dogs are pets, but some also are used for hunting and trials), German shorthaired pointers were 18th, springer spaniels were 27th, Brittanys were 29th, Weimaraners were 30th, vizslas were 42nd, Irish setters were 66th, German wirehaired pointers were 70th, Gordon setters were 91st, English setters were 93rd, and pointers were 106th. Individual registration data was not available on the AKC website.

Exact American Field (Field Dog Stud Book) data could not be located, but they reportedly register in excess of 11,000 pointer and setter litters a year. The FDSB also registers smaller numbers of several other breeds, and a growing percentage of FDSB-registered dogs also are cross-registered with the AKC. Data for the UKC and NKC registries was not available at this writing.

Here are AKC's actual LITTER registration numbers for 2007. The number in parenthesis is the actual number of 2006 individual registrations of dogs (2007 data was not available): 

In 2007, there were:

Labs - 41,132 litters ( 123,760 dogs registered)

Beagles - 15,969 litters (39,484 dogs registered)

Golden retrievers - 14,885 litters (42,962 dogs registered)

German shorthaired pointers - 3,550 litters (12,822 dogs registered)

English springer spaniels - 3,017 litters - (8,205 dogs registered)

Weimaraners - 2,816 litters ( 7,720 dogs registered)

Brittanys - 2,456 litters - ( 7,560 dogs registered)

Vizslas - 1,049 litters ( 3,509 dogs registered)

Those are just a few of the breeds used for hunting that are registered by the AKC, but you can see that a lot of sporting dogs are registered each year. That translates into a lot of people!

In terms of political clout, that force has not been successfully mobilized...but the potential is there! In spades!

It is arguable that animal rights activists will be turning to local government more often in the future to accomplish their anti-dog agenda. Here is an example from West Palm Beach, FL, that was sent to me this morning by an American Sporting Dog Alliance member. The article comes from the Sun-Sentinal newspaper's Jan. 17, 2008, edition. Here is part of the article:

WEST PALM BEACH - Palm Beach County commissioners on Tuesday tentatively approved a controversial ordinance to encourage more dogs and cats to be sterilized.

The decision came over protests from dog breeders and veterinarians who said the measure won't reduce the number of pets destroyed at the county's animal shelter and who said it interferes too much in their businesses.

Republican Bob Kanjian was the lone dissenter in the 6-1 vote, arguing that the measure is unconstitutional.

Before the measure can take effect, it must be voted again by commissioners at another public hearing, likely in February.

Under the ordinance, breeders would be mandated to obtain a breeder permit, which some could receive for free. They would be banned from breeding more than two litters of puppies and kittens each year, and would be required to give county officials the names, addresses and phone numbers of the people who buy the pets.

Breeders would have 90 days to register with the county. After a 90-day grace period, a breeder permit would cost $150, and $75 per animal for an unaltered license tag. If found in violation, breeders could lose their permits and face fines.

Breeders, veterinarians, animals-rights activists and others testified to commissioners at Tuesday's hearing.

But there is some good news, too!

The newspaper polled its readers, and the vast majority opposed this measure.

Do you agree with the Palm Beach County Commission's idea of banning animal breeders from breeding more than two litters of puppies and kittens each year?

No (1260 responses) - 86.7%

Yes (167 responses) -11.5%

Maybe (26 responses) - 1.8%

1453 total responses

Those numbers show clearly what is really happening with animal rights issues. The vast majority of people don't want animal rights laws passed, but a small but vocal and wel-organized minority is imposing its will on the rest of us.

PA Tail Docking Legislation

Will Kill Thousands of Dogs

By John Yates, Director

The American Sporting Dog Alliance

http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org

Draft legislation in Pennsylvania to require proof of tail docking by a veterinarian would result in the needless and cruel deaths of thousands of dogs a year. The American Sporting Dog Alliance strongly opposes this legislation, which would shut down rescue groups for breeds of dogs with docked tails and make these breeds of dogs ineligible for adoption from animal shelters.

The legislation would make it illegal for a breeder to dock the tails of newborn puppies, and requires people who own dogs with docked tails to either prove that the work was done before the law takes effect, or prove that a veterinarian performed the procedure. Dog owners who cannot provide this evidence would be guilty of a summary offense under the state’s Criminal Code simply for possessing a dog with a docked tail.

Many recognized breeds of dogs traditionally have their tails docked shortly after birth, including poodles, Yorkshire terriers, vizslas, Australian shepherds, weimaraners, Brittanys, Airedales, schnauzers, doberman pinschers, German shorthaired and wirehaired pointers, and cocker spaniels. Some of these breeds of dogs are among the most popular and numerous in America. Many thousands of Pennsylvanians own dock-tailed breeds.

Unfortunately, this also means that these breeds of dogs are among the most numerous in rescue shelters, and with pet rescue groups. These dogs would be sentenced to death if the legislation becomes law.

Death would be the only choice, as the law prohibits people from adopting these dogs in the absence of proof that a veterinarian performed the docking procedure or that the docking was not done prior to the law’s passage.

People who find a stray dog with a docked tail would be afraid to help the dog or even take it to the local animal shelter, because the mere possession of the dog would make them guilty of a criminal offense. We see the potential for – quite literally - thousands of stray dogs to slowly starve to death and endure incredible agony because people would be afraid to help them.

The legislation turns compassion into a crime.

In addition, dogs born with naturally short tails, or dogs that have lost part of their tails through an injury, also would be sentenced to death if this legislation is approved.

Animal rights groups who support this legislation believe that dogs are better off dead. These groups, such as The Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, oppose the private ownership of animals, even for companionship. PETA, for example, kills close to 2,000 dogs a year at its “shelter” in Virginia alone.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance (ASDA) urges the Pennsylvania Dog Law Advisory Board and the state Legislature to soundly reject this cruel legislation that would send thousands of innocent dogs to their death every year.

ASDA fully supports the rights of dog breeders to make their own choices about docking tails, and to retain the right to choose to use a veterinarian or do the work themselves. Tail docking is a risk-free and painless procedure. Most experienced breeders of dock-tailed breeds are well trained about performing this simple procedure, and there is no evidence that any problems have resulted from it.

Please join us to help fight this legislation. Sporting dog owners truly need your support.

http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org

Pennsylvania Draft Legislation

Puts Clamps on Tail Docking

A proposed revision of the Pennsylvania Animal Cruelty law makes it illegal for anyone to own or possess a dog or puppy with a docked tail, unless the person can prove that the tail was docked by a licensed veterinarian or has filed an affidavit of proof with a county treasurer that the procedure was done before the law goes into effect. This draft legislation will be presented to the Dog Law Advisory Board this week, prior to being published in The Pennsylvania Bulletin and submitted to the state Legislature.

The proposed law also would apply to nonresidents of Pennsylvania who are passing through the state, or who participate in field trials, dog shows, performance events or hunting here. Several sporting breeds routinely have their tails docked, following breed standards designed to prevent severe tail injuries while hunting, including Brittanys, German shorthaired pointers, cocker spaniels, various breeds of terriers and several others. Many other breeds that customarily have their tails docked are as diverse as Australian shepherds, Yorkshire terriers and rottweilers.

Animal cruelty statutes carry criminal penalties, and in Pennsylvania are enforced by Humane Society officers, county animal control officers and police officers. The proposed legislation also grants power to state dog wardens to enforce all animal cruelty statutes.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance (ASDA) is actively working to oppose this legislation. We need your support and membership right now to show Pennsylvania lawmakers that sporting dog owners are united in opposition to this arbitrary infringement of our rights and breed traditions. Please visit our website to learn about us and join our fight to protect your rights: http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org.

This legislation will be introduced to accompany a major 80-page-long revision of Pennsylvania’s kennel laws. Both bills are supported by Gov. Ed Rendell. ASDA will be issuing commentary about the tough new kennel legislation in the near future.

ASDA maintains that this legislation quite literally would create chaos and result in stiff fines for many thousands of law-abiding dog owners every year. While licensed kennel owners may be informed at some point, few pet owners would have a way of knowing about the law until a dog warden shows up at their door with a citation. Perhaps the most vulnerable people would be pet owners and hunters who own one or two dogs, but don’t participate in events or organizations that would inform them of this law. We see the potential for millions of dollars in unfair and unjustified fines to be sucked out of the pockets of law-abiding private citizens to feed the greedy jaws of government.

If passed into law, this legislation also would have a devastating impact on field trials, performance testing and shows for many breeds that are traditionally exhibited with docked tails. Nonresidents simply would not be able to comply with a requirement, which would require having a veterinary certificate or registering the dog with a county treasurer in Pennsylvania.

Most people who buy a dog or puppy have no way of knowing if a veterinarian has docked the tail, but simply have taken a breeder at his or her word when proof has not been required by law. They also may not be able to contact someone else’s veterinarian many months or years after the fact to obtain proof. Some people also may be trapped by this law if a veterinarian has retired, moved or died, or if the dog’s breeder cannot be located. Even after being cited, these people would have no way to come into compliance in the future, and would be given the painful choice of either facing increasingly stiff penalties in the future or euthanizing their beloved pet and companion. This legislation would turn thousands of law-abiding people into criminals, at the stroke of a pen!

In addition, some dogs lose part or all of their tails through accidents and injuries, and sometimes as newborn puppies. This can happen to a newborn puppy if its mother steps on it or accidentally hurts its tail cleaning it up after birth. Older dogs can get their tails caught in doors, or break them by accidentally cracking them against hard objects. Owners of these dogs would have no defense against being charged with animal cruelty.

The legislation also would seriously impact both Pennsylvania and out-of-state trainers and handlers, who would be virtually prohibited from bringing a dog with a docked tail into the state for a field trial or to be trained. Dog wardens literally could pass out hundreds of criminal citations at any dog show or Continental breed field trial in Pennsylvania. Also, many Pennsylvania residents also would be effectively prohibited from buying a dog or puppy from a breeder of their choice from out of state, even if the breeder was completely in compliance with the laws of his or her own state.

Even travelers passing through Pennsylvania with their pets would be subject to a criminal citation under this legislation.

Some conscientious and experienced breeders dock the tails of puppies, after having been advised to do this and trained by their veterinarians. This practice would be prohibited by the legislation. Many veterinarians report that newly born puppies show no signs of pain or discomfort from docking procedures, and some even sleep through the procedure. ASDA strongly supports a breeder’s right to make this decision for him/herself.

A particularly onerous aspect of this legislation is that it places the burden of proof on the person who owns a dog or is in possession of it, rather than upon the state. This flies in the face of the entire American system of jurisprudence, which is based on the presumption of innocence for anyone who is accused of violating any law. These vital protections to individual liberties are enshrined in the constitutions of the United States and most states. No crime of any kind is more serious or dangerous to American society than comprising the integrity of the Constitution and basic human rights.