I decided to publish the letter I sent today to Atibox Presidium as consider the case to be very important.
Atibox President Prof.Dr Milos Lucic
Atibox Presidium members
Dear Colleagues,
I read with great surprise the letter from Prof. Dr Milos Lucic, President of Atibox, published on Facebook by Mr.Bernhard Knopek. It shows that Presidium of Atibox is going to unconditionally prohibit cropped boxers showing, at all events organized by Atibox. The comment published by Mr.Knopek on Facebook suggests that above mentioned prohibition will be introduced during imprecisely arranged meeting, which is going to happen together with Atibox WM nearest weekend in Italy. This kind of action should be rated as existing rules and good manners violation.
According to up-to-now existing practices, all new rules, critical for the breed and Atibox members (represented by national clubs), were introduced based on voting or joint decisions during General Assembly proceedings. Decisions, with so heavy consequences, when introduced only by Atibox Presidium or randomly collected people, can be understood as highly irresponsible and dismissive towards Atibox convention and club members rights.
Based on above mentioned issues, I allow myself to report formal reservations to initiative presented by Atibox Presidium and underline inappropriate methods of implementation.
If Presidium considers cropped/docked boxers showing ban as reasonable, appropriate proposal should be presented as a subject for discussion to representatives appointed by national clubs during General Assembly, which is scheduled, as per Atibox convention every 3 years, together with Atibox Show in Hungary in May, 2013. I would like to underline, that Polish Boxer Club was not informed about this initiative of the Presidium. So, Club was not able to evaluate this initiative and appoint representative to the meeting, while date and place are not known to the Polish club.
Atibox, as FCI Partner is obligated to follow the rules existing within FCI. At this point, I would like to bring to your attention circular FCI 85/2002. The Polish Boxer Club is in possession of written confirmation from Mr.Yves De Clercq, FCI General Director, that constitutes this circular as still valid and binding document. Circular approves superiority of the national public law against FCI regulations. Based on that, it is allowed to prohibit cropped/docked dogs showing at FCI dog shows organized by countries, where it is forbidden by public (not a kennel clubs or breed clubs) law. In case, there is no public law restrictions, FCI does not allow for any discrimination on this subject.
Point No 3 of above mentioned circular runs as follows: Countries where no ban on showing and breeding cropped/docked dogs exists: in this case, dogs of breeds customarily docked/cropped CAN BE SHOWN WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS, whether cropped/docked or not. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE STANDARD STATES ABOUT EITHER THE DOCKED/NON-DOCKED TAIL OR THE CROPPED/NON-CROPPED EARS, THERE CAN BE NO DISCRIMINATION, FROM THE JUDGES, BETWEEN CROPPED AND NON-CROPPED DOGS AND BETWEEN THE DOCKED AND NON-DOCKED DOGS.
Presented part of the circular gives doubts and challenges correctness of the initiative taken by Atibox Presidium.
I do believe, that above presented arguments and reservations will cause to change the method of the decision process and stop incorrect way of implementation cropped boxers showing ban. It should be also said, that there are no critical reasons and justification for such a big hurry. This subject can be evaluated and discussed during The General Assembly in next few months.
With Kind Regards
Anna Bogucka
http://www.facebook.com/anna.bogucka.9