05/28/2015
This is what I sent this morning; [email protected] and copied Senior Vice President Todd Kellam [email protected]
I will be phoning them on my lunch hour to confirm receipt of my letter, and to enquire as to the usefulness of hard copy with signatures smile emoticon I will let you know when I post again.
May 28, 2015
Tanya Raab
President
United Kennel Club
100 E. Kilgore Rd.
Kalamazoo MI 49002-5584
Dear Tanya Raab:
I am writing to request that you re-instate the judging license of Jeannine DePalma #6881, with full judging privileges, effective immediately.
This is a person who works tirelessly in the promotion of the UKC as an entity (I and many other people have been introduced to the UKC show world; or have been encouraged to participate by Jeannine’s belief in the Total Dog program) and also promotes the UKC tenet of “Our Dogs Do Stuff”.
Back in 1999, She was responsible for introducing the Central Asian Shepherd Dog (CAS) to the UKC registry, she has spent many years defending the breed, rescuing other breeders cast-offs, titling and training her dogs from her kennel and encouraging new CAS owners to participate in UKC events. She will extend a helping hand to ALL CAS owners; whether they have dogs of her breeding or from other kennels, extends the same hand to people who own other breeds and is supportive of all people who have a love of dogs and treat their dogs well.
The only time I see Jeannine get upset; is when someone is not taking care of a dog properly. She understands and respects the various methods of dog husbandry (kennels, chain set ups, Livestock Guardian Dog run-ins); but when dogs of her breeding (who are under contract to be returned to her if they need rehoming) are threatened with death and in fact, actually killed; by people who are lacking in the care and husbandry department; she gets angry. In my book; rightfully so.
I WANT to support breeders who care that much about the dogs they bred; that they will drive 10 hours or more to pull a dog from a self-professed trainer (A.A.) who threatens the dog with euthanasia in 48 hours; unless Jeannine picks up the dog. I WANT to support breeders who get upset when owners (P.G.) go against their contract and kill dogs, perfectly rehomeable dogs (I met the dog that was killed, she would have been fine removed from the abusive situation that she was living in, but she never got the chance).
I am afraid the UKC Dog Events Department has allowed itself to become embroiled in a personal vendetta against Jeannine DePalma. There is a faction within the Central Asian Shepherd dog community that are intent in bullying and harassing her; and up until this point in time; Jeannine was dealing with the events as they came along; on a personal level.
To bring claims to the UKC Dog Events Department and to have Jeannine’s judging ability suspended; puts not only a strain on Jeannine herself (she is a capable and popular judge, which could be discovered by contacting the clubs she judged for in 2014 and this year) but puts a strain on the clubs who were informed yesterday that she was suspended. They have asked for her to contact them when she is re-instated; they WANT her to judge for them.
I frankly think that if the UKC is going to respond and reward the petty thug techniques employed by the various individuals and their cronies (who have a personal vendetta against Jeannine), that the stature of the UKC will be diminished.
People choose UKC because it is a club that supports “Real Dogs for Real People”, not because it encourages the political machinations that are typical of other clubs.
Please Ms. Raab, rise above these antics, see through to the truth of the matter and reinstate Jeannine DePalma’s judging license, immediately and without penalty.
I will be following up this letter with a telephone call, to confirm receipt.
I thank you for your time and attention to this matter,
Sincerely,
Jennifer Sider
