AKC VISITING JUDGES POLICY : COMMUNICATION OF THE FCI
8/4/2013
In 2012, the Board of Directors of the AKC approved a controversial amendment to
their Visiting Judges Policy which stated that visiting judges invited to
judge (breeds and) groups which contain breeds not registered in their country of
origin, may apply for, take the test for and pay a $25.00 fee for each breed. These
breeds are: Boykin Spaniel, American English Coonhound, Bluetick Coonhound, Plott,
Redbone Coonhound, Treeing Walker Coonhound, Toy Fox Terrier and American Eskimo
Dog, all of them being breeds not recognized by the FCI.
This new policy would not allow FCI judges to officiate as group judges in
any AKC event. This new policy, adopted by the AKC, confronted opposition from judges
around the world and from the most recognized judges from the AKC.
Mr. Rafael de Santiago, FCI Vice-President, started a round of meetings with key
AKC Board members and judges, looking for support to derogate the amendment to the
Visiting Judges Policy. The FCI stands behind the Letter of Understanding between
the FCI and the AKC signed on November 8, 2008, and requested, by letter, the AKC
Board of Directors to reverse their approved amendment in order to maintain the
reciprocity in the recognition of licensed judges.
At the AKC Board of Directors meeting, held in February 2013 the Visiting judges
Policy was brought back to discussion and was amended in order to allow visiting
judges to judge groups. The $25.00 fee and test to be allowed to judge FCI
not recognized breeds is optional for the judge who decides to judge the mentioned
breeds.
The FCI will continue to respect the signed Letter of Understanding with the AKC
and continue sharing the common goals of promoting and protecting purebred dogs.
Y.De Clercq
FCI Executive Director
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