The AKC And Manifest Destiny

by Herman L. Felton

From the archives of The Canine Chronicle, The Annual, 1996-97

Editor’s Note: This article was written during the heated battle at AKC over the proposed move of their headquarters to Raleigh/Durham. We all know how it turned out, but the idea was not only brilliant but, in retrospect, something that would probably be beneficial to the operations of today’s American Kennel Club.

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven – Ecclesiastes III

            In the evolutionary progress of any organization there occurs certain defining moments of major significance to its future. The move of AKC’s headquarters, library, museum and other activities to a single location in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area of North Carolina is one of such happenings. It is in keeping with the manifest destiny of the AKC.

            This move represents a coalition of time, location, philosophy and action that is very meaningful. What could be better for the future advancement of our sport? The new location, when completed, would serve as a monument, almost a shrine, to the purebred dog and to dogs in general. It could develop into a national and international mecca for the purebred dog aficionados of the world. Additionally, it could become a base and a basis for substantial publicity and public relations activities.

            Some of us had been advocating such a step for more than a decade. Dogs are and have been an integral part of the daily lives of most Americans and this fact deserves national attention and recognition which could best be gained by a headquarters outside of New York City.

            Staying in New York made sense when the AKC was smaller and much more elitist, had a more restricted agenda and its board of directors and officers came almost entirely from that small area of the country. But the situation is very different today. Registrations and related affairs are already being handled in Raleigh, the Dog Museum is in St. Louis and the very expensive offices in New York are crowded.

            I am not down-talking New York City. Judy and I were born and spent our early years in the metropolitan New York area and we remember it fondly from nicer, gentler, less harried times. It is THE center for the theater, music, the arts, museums and other intellectual and artistic activities, as well as international finance and big business. But it is also an overly intense, hurried, expensive, tension-filled place in which to live and work.

            In New York, the AKC constitutes three floors of offices in a multi-storied building that is one of thousands of similar structures in the proximity. In the overall scale of things, it is almost a non-entity. In North Carolina, the AKC would be a fairly prominent, distinct and recognized entity–an honorable and noteworthy member of the community.

            As is true in so many decisions that have to be made, we were not faced with absolute “good” or “bad” alternatives. In this instance the choice was between “much better” or “much worse.” In addition to the arguments already made consider this: In New York we expend large sums of money (rent) for just the occupancy of office space. In North Carolina the money spent would apply toward ownership of the property for a permanent home.

            This is not a matter of political pressures and personalities. It is a thoughtful objective determination of what is best for the future of the AKC.

            After the move to North Carolina has been completed, all the major AKC activities will be concentrated in one campus-like site. The roomy 100-acre campus of the “University of the Purebred Dog” will be located in an area which also contains the internationally famous Research Triangle; Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State Universities; a nice climate and a pleasant cosmopolitan life style. An enticing prospect indeed.

            I can envision a future national or international visitor landing at the Raleigh/Durham airport, which is being served by several major airlines. A relatively short ride by taxi or other vehicle takes him to a motel (operated by a “for profit” corporation spun off by the AKC or, more likely, some management company) where a comfortable room at a reasonable price is assigned. The visitor then arranges to talk to the appropriate AKC staff people in the building housing the executive and administrative offices, then proceeds to a seminar in one of the meeting rooms.

            Having some research to do, the visitor goes to the roomy, well-stocked library where the desired reference material is available. He then has dinner with other fanciers in the dining room.

            The next morning, he attends a specialty show on the close by show building, after which he concludes his meeting with the staff. Then he spends an hour or two in the adjacent Dog Museum before departing for the airport. No fuss, no hassle. An interesting and productive two days for all concerned.

            New York City will still remain as the venue for those activities it handles best. The Westminster KC show and all the related events would continue unabated and, probably, be better than ever. The Top Banana of dog shows belongs in the Big Apple of Show Biz.

            The Sport of Dogs, overseen by the AKC, has grown almost exponentially and will most probably continue to do so in the future. Planet Earth is small potatoes when compared to the universe, but to us, its inhabitants, it looms very large indeed. So, it is with our doggy sport in the galaxy of sports in America. Relatively small, it is all-encompassing and all-consuming, a vital part of our lives. We have even named a favored food at sporting events after it.

            To those who are still inconsolable about the AKC leaving New York, I can only recommend sending each of them one of the small, fragrant, coniferous needle-filled pillows from the Adirondacks which proclaim “I pine for you and balsam.” That and a sympathetic pat on the back should suffice, except for the extreme cases. To them we could say “Tough Love” – a genteel and not too literal translation of the “TS” phrase commonly used in the military (at least in the World War II years) for such situations. And, to the very few truly in extremis concerning this development, we can supply Dr. Kevorkian’s phone number.

            May the AKC and Sport of Dogs (and all those connected with it) continue to grow and prosper! Despite some differences among us, we are all bonded by a common interest in and love for purebred dogs.

            …….

            Vignettes From The Past

            Judy and I are having dinner in a nice, quiet upscale London restaurant in the mid-1970s. We have rented a car and plan to drive the next day to Desvizes, a small town near Bath, where an Afghan Hound Specialty is to be held. We will tour Cornwall (King Arthur territory) en route.

            Nearby in the restaurant is a table with six men seated around it. They are clearly having a good time and we can hear snatches of their conversation. They obviously are able to hear us.

            We are discussing the proper pronunciation of “Desvizes.” Suddenly one of these men, a bearded bloke, rolls his chair back and toward us and, in a normal conversational manner and with no preface or introduction, says: “I will tell you how you will never forget how to pronounce Desvizes.” Then he recites:

            “There was a young lady from
Desvizes
Who had breasts of two
different sizes,
One was so small, it didn’t
matter at all
The other so large it won prizes.”

            With that he moves his chair back to his table. He was right, we have never forgotten. Talk about your reserved Englishmen!

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