AWDF in Crisis: Unforeseen Consequences
The ongoing American working dog crisis, in the aftermath of the expulsion of USCA from the AWDF, may seem to have come out of the blue. Many are perplexed as to why this has come to pass, yet seek not a nuanced historical perspective but rather validation of their comfortable status quo, a reaffirmation of the prevailing world view among their friends and peers. Glossary
Broadly speaking there have been three primary long term causative factors:
First, the foundation of the AWDF was from the beginning seriously faulty, did not provide representation for the interests of the broad base of actual trainers proportional to their numbers, the rank and file vulnerable to manipulation and abuse by a very small, self-serving minority. The membership of USCA, seventy percent or more of the trainers, putting on six out of seven annual trials, has exactly the same representation as an inactive breed club putting on no trials at all, an empty hulk dead in the water.
Second, inclusion of a regional subdivision of a European organization, the DVG, is inappropriate, contrary to regulation and law here and within the FCI, and thus seriously destabilizing.
Third, USCA has over time been hijacked by the SV for the promotion of the pathetic SV show dogs to the benefit of SV breeders rather than American trainers or the breed itself. The ever increasing cash flow necessary to feed this cancer and provide subsidy for the commercial interests and elite amateurs has come from the confiscation of funds from the rank and file of club level trainers. A primary reason for the $100 surcharge was to stem the flow of cash due to use of other scorebooks, even by those showing primarily in USCA trials.
So much for the long term causes.
The proximate cause of this debacle was that Anne Camper, president of both the AWMA and AWDF and Annetta Cheek, known primarily as a Pit Bull advocate and longtime DVG insider and former president, currently AWDF vice president, thought they saw an opportunity to use their AWDF leverage to avenge perceived old grievances and advance the AWMA and DVG agendas by expelling USCA. Adding insult to injury was the big lie, that by so doing USCA titles and the organization itself had been rendered invalid in the eyes of the FCI.
The FCI smack down was inevitable. An emasculated AWDF has thus been left slowly twisting in the wind.
Why this came to pass is a perplexing question, requires explanation of an inherently irrational act predestined to ruin and failure. Why did Anne Camper chose to use her presidency to promote the short term interests of a small group of Malinois insiders, the opportunity of conducting qualification trials to their own advantage, engaging judges and helpers to favor friends, rather than serving the community as a whole? Why have Annetta Cheek and the DVG insiders refused to grow up, to relinquish a childish, debilitating relationship with Germany? It seems apparent that the stars aligned and presented a cabal of second rate dilatants with the opportunity of impulsively, irrationally striking out. That they had no idea of the likely consequences is evident by their ongoing silence.
From a broader perspective the apparent expectation was that by pretending to an actual FCI affiliation they could expel and thus discredit and delegitimize USCA internationally. By claiming FCI authority to invalidate USCA titles they apparently expected an avalanche of USCA clubs defecting to DVG or AWMA. The key word here is of course "pretending." The immediate FCI smack down—reaffirming direct recognition of USCA scorebooks, judges and titles entirely independent of the AWDF— obliterated the credibility of not only the AWDF but also Camper, Cheek and the rest of the conspirators.
Interestingly enough this may very well breathe new life into Mr. Alloway's proposed new national organization, for if the AWDF does not find some way to walk back their expulsion and remedy USCA issues it may very well come to reality.
Arrogance, avarice and cognitive deficiency—so characteristic of this AWDF leadership—has led to totally unforeseen consequences. The silver lining, for those actually concerned about the breeds and the dogs as more than sports equipment, is that this provides an opportunity for a new beginning.
We need to make the most of it.
GAWDF Moving Forward, the Short Term
Meltdown in America
Glossary
Orginizations and Conflicts
Legacy Lost, the Other Breeds
The Americans