By Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, Esq./Mediator The world of AKC dog shows seems to be ruled by contracts. We enter into oral or written contracts to buy, handle, register, breed, show, and co-own our dogs. A contract is an agreement entered into freely by two or more legally competent parties who have the capacity to exchange […]
by Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, Esq./Mediator Originally published: September 2014 For those of you reading this article, raise your hand if you are able to do one thing at a time to completion? Impossible? I am not so sure, but we believe we must multi-task to get everything done in a day. However, it does take […]
“Why do we breed and show dogs?
It is certainly not to get rich.”
When you look around the dog show arena how many people in your breed are friends? How many people outside your breed do you know? Will you be able to count on all or most of these fellow competitors in an emergency? The camaraderie that comes with this sport knows no bounds. If I am on an airplane and hear someone talking about their show or performance dog I turn around and say hello. We are kindred spirits. I probably don’t know them. They may have a different breed of dog. However, there is this unspoken connection which enables you to engage in a conversation. We both speak a language and take part in a sport few people understand.
Nothing has captured the attention of the dog show world quite as effectively as social media…
It is an invaluable tool for keeping in touch with fellow breeders and owners/handlers who have our dogs. The quick and easy exchange of information on ring timing, assistance, emergency coverage and engaging immediate help for a dog or person who goes down, is invaluable. Many a life has been saved due to the quick actions taken via a post or directions obtained off Google+!
Social media also supports, for better or worse, the dissemination of misinformation. Difficult and unkind discussions, intentional or unintentional, are often publicly broadcast via chat rooms, breed groups, judges lists, and a myriad of other social media dog sites. These sites can carry this misinformation globally in a matter of seconds. Several dog show exhibitors have been victims of general social media gossip or worse.
Mediation is the art of conducting a discussion, voluntarily and confidentially, among participants in dispute. A mediator acts as a neutral third-party and facilitator in the room. Mediators allow the parties to tell their respective stories without interruption.
The title of this month’s article is in response to unexpected things now occurring at a dog show. It could also be titled, Prepare for the Unexpected.
Many readers of this column may also follow Pure Dog Talk hosted by Laura Reeves. This podcast focuses on topics of interest to the purebred dog community.
Recently, it seems that whenever a report on the sport of purebred dogs appears in the news it is often negative. A post on the Warwick Watch Facebook page showed a good samaritan reporting and filming the rescue of several fully groomed show dogs which were being taken out of their dog show van by the police. The van, with dogs inside, was left outside a mall in Warwick, Rhode Island. It was a hot day and the windows of the van were closed.
Wait, What and Life’s Other Essential Questions is the title of a new book by James Ryan Dean of The Harvard Graduate School of Education. It is also a statement made by many young people as they begin to tune in to what their parents are saying; especially when they hear the words, “You are grounded” or “You cannot use the car.”
Our words transmit information on two levels, intent and impact. Webster’s Dictionary defines Intent as, “The state of mind with which an act is done: volition* and impact as, “To have a direct ef- fect or impact on: impinge on.** The intent and impact of the speaker may not be how the listener receives the information.
