I am so appalled at such negligience from professional handlers. They should be barred and answer to the law. It was totally negligient to have allowed it to happen and completely unethical to lie about it.
My sympathies go out to you. I lost a dog many years ago and did the whole organized search, only to find he had been shot by a local farmer. I was devastated.
How sad, its hard to believe that people can be that irresposible. Accidents do happen but not on a grooming table. My sypathies go out to Jag and his family.
As a animal lover, my sympathies go to Jag and his family, I hope that these handlers are drummed out of the AKC and permanently banned from showing dogs in any sanctioned or non-sanctioned events. They should also be charged with animal cruelty and negligence, and be forced to pay for the replacement cost, (which does not obviously include sentimental value), of the dog, allowing for future possible wins in shows. Also a sentimental allowance should be added to any fines they are subject to.
My sympathies to Jag and his family.
Anyone with a little common sense would not require such a regulation. But there obviously are handlers, and others, who need it in print.
Personally, I feel that 10-20 feet is being generous.
Regardless of whether the accused is guilty or not, it is sad that such a tragedy had to occur - to bring about this need to create a regulation to cause people to think and to take responsibility. Whether or not the handler was negligent they were responsible - the owner entrusted Jag to their care. (and paid them well, no doubt).
This regulation may be difficult to police...but not impossible to enforce. If you take on the responsibility,,, then you should be held responsible.
I agree that dogs should not be left unattended on a table, or in a pen for that matter. However this rule would be almost impossible to enforce. First, many trailer sections at shows are off the official showgrounds. Also - who will enforce it? If someone doesn't step forward to report a situation then do we expect already overworked reps to wander the pro's trailers and police the area? People must remember that first and foremost AKC is a registration orginazation. As the supposed witness did not come forward right away (and I must wonder why not), there was no bench committee. Unless there is some proof and conviction of animal cruelty, most likely AKC's hands will be tied in the matter. And with only one witness and no evidence conviction seems somewhat questionable at best.
I do offer my sympathies to the owners if this awful scenario did indeed happen, but am also concerned because of the very nature of dog shows and the people involved - rumors and politics run rampant and from reading the petition signatures and comments people have thier minds made up without hearing all of the story. While I support the idea of clubs issueing warnings - much like the 'dogs in cars' notices in most premium lists during the summer, I am witholding judgement on the situation itself until the evidence is presented.
Remember, cool heads shall prevail.
Speaking as someone involved in showing/breeding since childhood, who has worked with a groomer, as a vet assistant, and as a handler and handler assistant.
How completely unbelievable that "professional" handlers could let something like this happen, but yet we see it all the time. My heart aches for Jag and his family.
This is a Sick and Disscusting thing, and should never happen to anyone's dog, besides the fact the the handlers should have told the truth in the 1st place!
I hope that there will be some kind of sanctions against these handlers. If they were off showing other dogs, why couldn't he have been in a crate? I know that they would have to touch up their grooming job, but the animal's safety should always be the most important issue.
My sympanthies to the the breeders, owners and lovers of this beautiful dog - Jag. I am sure that the sport of dogs will truly miss him. These "handlers" need to be severly penalized. Let this be a lesson for all of us.
My deepest sympathies over the loss of Jag. Unbelievable that a handler could do such a thing. Accidents can happen and this one was due to negligence and that was bad enough. But to cover it up and leave the family and volunteers to search endlessly with broken hearts when they knew very well the fate of poor Jag is inexcusable. I hope they are banned from all events for life.
I am so sorry for poor Jag and his people. It would be helpful if the "professional handler's" name was publicized so some other poor owner doesn't get victimized by this handler who is a liar as well as am idiot.
My deepest sympathies to Jag's family. As an owner/breeder that handle my own dogs, this is just another reason that they are always with me and never left unattended, no less on a table with a noose on their neck.
Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss of Jag. The hideous neglect amounts to the worst cruelty. God bless all our four-legged children over the Rainbow Bridge.
I've been "in dogs" for over 30 years, not really a conformation person, but obedience. I can't believe the stupidity of some of the "professional" people in the sport! Every summer there are announcements of dog in distress locked in a vehicle and other tragic things that can be prevented by vigilance and some common sense.
I have a break away hook that goes on my grooming table arm. If dog jumps or falls off, it breaks free.
The Jag Rule is a good one, BUT in my opinion--10-20 feet away from a dog on a grooming table is too far!! If grooming noose is on the dog, owner or handler should be right next to that table. I've seen dogs left on tables while the person in charge went for coffee or a potty break!!
God speed to Jag over the Rainbow Bridge and please think twice about leaving a dog unattended for even a second.
I am so sorry for your loss. I can not imagine the pain that you are going through. I personally think that the couple should be banned from the AKC and showing dogs for life. I do hope that the AKC will do something about the irresponisible handlers and how they treat the animals. Again, I am sorry for your loss.
I will miss Jag..I also have Goldens. He was an incredible boy. I am so tired of the irresponsible attitude of "some" professional handlers. I personaly have dragged dogs out of cars in intense heat and so forth. This shouldn't be happening anywhere..anytime. We are supposed to be in this sport for our "love" of dogs, not for our own personal gain...
