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North Carolina Federation Of Dog Clubs (NCFDC) September 2005 Raleigh Debate
Cindy Cooke, J.D. Statement
This past July, I was invited by the North Carolina Federation of Dog Clubs to
participate in a debate with Dr. Jim Holt on the issue of the proposed Pet
Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS, S. 1139). Last night, I was told that Dr. Jim Holt
has pulled out of the debate. Here is what happened in between.
When the Federation invited me to the debate, they described a fairly typical
modern debate. Each party would present his side for a limited period of time;
each party would get another block of time for rebuttal; and each party would
submit 10 questions for a moderator to ask the other one. At the end, the
audience could ask questions. It sounded fair and I went to work.
On Friday afternoon August 19, John Schoeneman, Vice-President of the Federation
received the following unsigned fax from Bob Peters, President of the
Federation:
The Fall 2005 TarHeel Labor Day Coordinator [Mrs. Pat Babuin] from the Raleigh
KC is rescinding her approval for the use of the Jim Graham Auditorium Facility.
It is noted that there is no authorization from the NC Fair Grounds Management
to sell admission tickets. This is a mandatory requirement of the Fair Grounds
Authority. Audits would have to be made.
Also, after due consideration and looking at the potential size of the activity
being offered, it is felt that it is not in the best interest of the Clustered
circuit, to permit another activity. Further, with the scheduled all-breed match
by the Cary KC, it would cause a potential overload and possible disruption of
the circuit activity. The TarHeel Labor Day Circuit has as their prime
responsibility quality support to this show fancy who will be attending this
clustered event.
Below the typed text was a handwritten note from Mr. Peters advising Mr.
Schoeneman to look for another venue for the debate.
When I was notified of the loss of the venue, I called Mrs. Babuin to see if we
could solve her problems and retain the use of the Jim Graham building. During a
very cordial discussion, Mrs. Babuin listed the following problems.
First, she said the Federation should not be charging admission. I told her that
perhaps we could find expense money elsewhere and the Federation could refund
the money already collected. After all, the Federation was only charging $5.00 a
head so we weren't talking about a lot of money.
She then complained that the Federation had opened the debate up to the
"public." I pointed out that the dog show itself was "open to the public," but
that I doubted anyone other than dog fanciers would spend their Saturday night
listening to Dr. Holt and I discuss federal regulations.
She complained that the Federation had sent notices to "organizations." I told
her that to my knowledge, only organizations made up of dog fanciers had been
notified. I also asked if any objectionable organizations had been invited. She
admitted that she did not know.
She then expressed concern that the activity would be disruptive. I explained to
her that I am a 58-year-old, slightly overweight retired Air Force officer and
attorney, that I am a director of the Kalamazoo KC and a former director of the
Scottish Terrier Club of America, that I am the current AKC Delegate for the
Kalamazoo KC, the author of a book on Scottish Terriers and winner of a DWAA
award-in other words, a fairly typical and altogether respectable member of the
dog fancy and unlikely to be disruptive. When she assured me that I wasn't the
problem, I pointed out that Dr. Holt was equally unlikely to be disruptive.
She agreed, but then said the issue was moot since she had already promised the
room to another organization. When I asked the name of the organization, she
said it was the Cary Kennel Club. I then told Mrs. Babuin that I had spent many
hours preparing for this debate and that I had entered a dog in three shows of
the cluster. I asked her whether the cluster might consider reimbursing me for
the time and money I had expended in reliance on her promise to make the
building available, and she said that I should take it up with the Federation. I
pointed out to her that the Federation intended to honor their agreement and we
ended our discussion. A lawsuit was never threatened.
Later that same afternoon, Federation members located another venue but, because
of the club constitution, could not come up with the rent money in time. A
gracious member of the dog community put up the required $1100. and the
Federation prepared to go forward with their plan.
I tried to call Dr. Holt during this time and AKC refused to give me his phone
number. A courteous young lady in the Legislation office told me that they were
being "protective" of his number because "of what's going on right now." She
said she left a message for Dr. Holt to call me, but he never did.
A representative of the Federation finally reached Dr. Holt to tell him about
the change of venue. At that point, Dr. Holt said he did not intend to
participate in "that circus." Truth be told, I didn't believe that Dr. Holt used
the word "circus" until I saw his e-mail on this list. Since I have been in
almost daily contact with the Federation for the past 10 days, and since Dr.
Holt has been somewhat less accessible to them or me, I can only assume that
someone has greatly exaggerated to him the ordinary trials of hosting an
educational event in conjunction with a dog show.
The dog community is hungry for reasonable discussion of this issue. They are
tired of what they perceive to be propaganda and hysteria from both sides. I am
very disappointed that we have lost this opportunity for two reasonable and
respectable members of the dog fancy to debate this issue in front of our peers.
Permission to cross-post is granted.
Dateline Sept. 2, 2005
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