I think AKC needs to establish a policy to prevent folks from feeling that they are above reproach. Please review the need to keep such a person in the sport! Disgraceful!
Are you people out of your minds? You allow this to go un checked what kind of message are you sending?Its ok to steal a dog breed it a few times even if you get caught you are still ahead a few thousand dollars!!!!!And the AKC won't stop me from doing it again in the future.
Why does this not surprise me? The AKC will Suspend/Fine an individual for tampering with “The AKC Registry” or the same for conduct unbecoming of an exhibitor at/during a dog show, yet, it will NOT suspend an individual for stealing a fellow exhibitors dog “at an AKC sanctioned event”, not to mention keeping it hidden for 19 months, having it neutered in the process and being charged and found guilty of a felony? Excuse me, but even the most common of individuals, lacking in education and money have the intelligence to figure this one out, why can’t the AKC…and your point is? I agree with Lori Goodroad above, this is Not Brain Surgery and my signature is gladly given in support of this petition
I find it appaling that the AKC does not think that the theft and nuetering of AKC registered show dogs is not detrimental to the sports involving AKC registered purepred dogs. I guess went out and stole a top shoe competitor and had it nueterd, making it ineligible to compete, the AKC would not think that was detrimental to the sport. Amazing!
This was not an over night deal. Why didn't AKC make a stand on this theft months ago? Did this person co-own this dog? If so, how many litters were bred and registered illegally? Why was she not suspended immediately after the theft and conviction?
Ms Hedlund was found guilty of a felony offense. What will it take to have the AKC suspend her membership? She should never be allowed to show any dog again. AKC please reconsider this decision and do the right thing.
If AKC does not take action to suspend Ms. Hudlund's AKC privileges for a minimum of 2 years....(I personally believe it should be for life) then AKC does not deserve our patronage with registry, or showing of our animals at their events. After all, a person only has to steal your animal and neuter it....to squash the competion....AKC is saying it will do nothing to the offender. I believe that AKC needs to rethink this carefully.
A court found Hedlund guilty, of a crime committed at an AKC sanctioned event. The AKC, by not terminating the privileges of Hedlund, is condoning the criminal, and allowing this person to continue their nefarious activities. SHAME
As an attorney and a dog owner, I am appalled at the AKC's complete lack of backbone in enforcing basic ethics and honor in the world of purebred dogs. They claim to protect and promote the sport of showing such dogs, yet they let something like this heinous act go unpunished in AKC-world. The AKC manifests a cold-hearted interest only in collecting money from owners in the form of registration and transfer fees and entry fees. The AKC is paying only lip service to protecting purebred dogs. The old adage that "Actions speak louder than words" certainly rings true in this case! Shame on the AKC for their dereliction of duty to dog-owners and purebred dogs by not making an example of Clover Hedlund for her actions! It truly is a sad day for us all. I suppose we now have to hire security guards to protect our dogs at AKC events now that every criminally minded person who attends shows will know that they will not lose their rights for any evil-minded act they commit against a fellow exhibitor's dog. Would the result have been different if the perpetrator had also killed this dog? Probably! I have lost what little respect I had left for the AKC with this result.
This just adds to the belief that the AKC is just organized crime. There is only one solution. Ms. Hedlund is a criminal and a thief and should be held accountable for her actions not just by the justice system but also by the AKC. She should be banned for life from any and all AKC privileges. Wonder what 20/20 or Dateline would have to say about this mess...hmmmmm, maybe if the AKC had some of THAT kind of publicity they would change their tune.
If AKC doesn't suspend Clover Hedlund, they are sending the message to any & all who want to do away with their comptition by the same mean's. How many time's is this going to have to happen before AKC does what is right to the rest of the owners & competitors? Come on people get with the program!
As a Breeder and Handler I think this is an outrage of catastrophic proportions for the AKC. AKC has a responsibility to the purebred dog world that this kind of behavior is not tolerable. The decision held by the a US court found Clover Hedlund guilty of stealing and neutering a dog of whom had a promising show and stud career in the AKC governed show ring. If this is not considered maiming and cruelty to the human who owns the dog I don't know what is. If they do not suspend Clover Hedlund for this act with evidence of contempt supported by our legal system with a guilty charge, it gives the license of other exhibitors to pick off their competition by simply steeling and desexing the animal.
This type of crime should not be ignored by AKC. Why give a criminal privileges they don't deserve! This is not showing good sportsmenship. If this type of behavior is allowed to go unpunished, we all could face a simular incident. Please help by punishing offenders!
The courts have found Ms. Hedlund guilty of felony theft. What else is it going to take for AKC to wake up and suspend Ms. Hedlund for life. Suspension only is not enough punishment in my book.
AKC, according to your own webpage, your mission is to "Take whatever actions necessary to protect and assure the continuation of the sport of purebred dogs." Put your money where your mouth is, and protect those who follow the rules and suspend Clover Hedlund.
Assuming there IS a judgment against Clover Hedlund, the AKC should take action. This must be one of the reasons that the AKC has lost general esteem in recent years (registering sub-standard dogs is another reason). If AKC registration is to have any merit at all, it must be meaningful. Standards and policies should be upheld and enforced.
Please reconsider your policies, as well as your disciplinary (in)actions!!
This is a travesty of justice. I was always lead to believe the AKC was an upstanding orginazation. Now I wonder. What does this say to furture violators? What does this say to the current members?
II think the AKC better step up to the plate and take action in this case. Not only for their reputation but for justice for the owner.It's obviously wrong what that person did and they need to have something more than a slap on the hand.
So the courts are the only people who care about preventing this behavior in the future? The AKC is basically enabling her to continue this behavior. Doing nothing potentially hurts more people than it helps.
AKC is wrong in this if they choose to do nothing. They should at least suspend the theif!! If not permanently ban her. They cannot see the forest for thre trees... How sad.
This is totally rediclous!!! sickens me to know our system is like this. I pray to God above this never happens to you all. This is injustice for mrs Arlie! This thief needs her preveliges done away with. THIEF! Mrs Arlie is a good woman and DOES not deserve this.
AKC "is just a registry" This is the thought process out there concerning your organization, and you are continuing to prove that ideology to be correct when you fail to have the intestinal fortitude to back up court rulings when misconduct has clearly been established.
If AKC will not step up to the plate and defend along time breeder-participant of our sport, who will? Ms Alford was wronged in a huge way! The guilty person who caused harm should be suspended for life!
Why should someone who has committed and been convicted of a criminal act involving purebred dogs not be suspended by AKC. For AKC to not act is saying that such behavior is acceptable.
Anyone found guilty of commiting a criminal act in which dogs are involved should be suspended from AKC privileges. It can endanger others and their dogs who participate in the sport if such a criminal is allowed to remain in the Sport of Dogs. Strangely,if you dirty a motel room you can be suspended. If you swear or have an altercation with a judge you can be suspended, but steal a dog (nevermind neutering i too) and this is of no consequence. Unless maybe it is a judge's dog?
Having had the opportunity to put points on this dog personally and having wanted to breed to the dog - I feel the loss on a personal level. AKC should not condone theft and distruction of property (neutering in effect distroying Clipper's possible contribution to the breed). Shame on AKC
I truely believe that this person should be suspended of ALL privilages concering AKC. A fine and TWO year suspension is NOT ENOUGH. This dog was STOLEN and the OWNERS privilages have been SUSPENDED. FOREVER!Please suspend all further connections to AKC for this person. This is to serious to leave as it is.
How wonderful for the animal thieves of the world! Go to a show, pick up any Ch and take off. Next week go to a show pick up another...who cares! AKC won't do anything!
"Evil abounds when good men do nothing." By AKC's own inaction to exact appropriate punishment consistent with a 2 yr suspension to Clover Hedlund, AKC is acting irresponsible of enforcing the laws that insure its members are being held to a higher standard. AKC is equally guilty of gross negligence. Therefore, AKC is no less an accomplice sitting back and choosing to do doing nothing to Clover Hedlund's criminal act.
THIS INACTION BY THE AKC IS CONDONNING AND ENCOURAGING THE THEFT OF ANIMALS IN THE SAFE KEEPING OF A PROFESSIONAL HANDLER. WHICH I MIGHT ADD WE ALLOW TO TAKE OUR BELOVED KIDS IN GOOD FAITH, IF THEY ARE ALLOWED TO STEAL AND DO WHAT THEY PLEASE WITH OUR ANIMALS, WITH NO FEAR OF REPRISAL, WHAT KIND OF WORLD IS THIS AND WHAT KIND OF SHEPARDS OF DOGDOM ARE YOU!
