Notices and Announcements

NOTICE

The attention of WCAC members is called to By-Laws Sections 12.1 (Identification (Eligibility and Procedures) -- Identification of Parental Generation Animals of Evolving Breed(s)) and 14.1 (Issuance of Certificates -- Parental Generation), as well as to subsection 14.1.(3). Anyone wishing to propose new Parental (P1) Generation animals to be added to the existing breeding population of the Seppala Siberian Sleddog should first familiarise themselves with the provisions of our By-Laws in this regard.

To summarise the above sections (although members should download the By-Laws and read them in detail for themselves), any new P1 animals must meet several requirements, including (a) submission of a three-generation pedigree and/or other evidence of eligibility by origin, to the satisfaction of the Breed Steward, (b) satisfactory evidence of performance proving, (c) examination and favourable report of the animal by the Breed Steward, and (d) certification of the animal by the Breed Steward as being free from disqualifying faults.

It should be noted that the Restricted Certificate of Identification is not issued to Parental Generation animals; they are eligible only for the Unrestricted Certificate of Identification (or the Limited Certificate of Identfication) and therefore must be of a minimum age of two years for females, three years for males, at the time of application.

Eligibility regulations for initial Parental Generation animals were set in 1998 by the Board as per the By-Laws; identification of new PG animals would similarly be administered by the Board in consultation with the Breed Steward as per Section 12.1.(4), using the same regulations.

In the case of autochthonous or "landrace" animals imported from the breed's country of origin, it should be noted that subsection 14.1.(3) specifically provides that progeny testing and other monitoring procedures may be adopted by the Board in consultation with the Breed Steward, and such progeny testing was mandated by the regulations adopted in 1998:

4. Animals not conforming to any of the above categories (as for example, stock directly imported from Siberia, performance outcross animals or other outcross stock) may be considered by the Breed Steward and the Board for approval on the merits of the individual case and the current needs and status of the breeding programme. In all cases under this category acceptance is subject not only to inspection and performance proof but to two filial generations of progeny testing before irrevocable approval is granted. The Breed Steward may require such documentation as he feels necessary to authenticate a candidate animal's origin.

Anyone contemplating the importation of stock for use in an SSSD breeding programme should be aware that full disclosure and consultation will be expected by the Board at every stage of any such enterprise, and that thoroughgoing documentation will be necessary. The acceptance of new PG stock is not automatic. Members are advised that the importation and proposal of new PG animals may be not only expensive but uncertain as to the final outcome. Detailed verification and proof of origin will be required, and multi-generation progeny testing will also be required before final full SSSD status can be granted. Please contact the Breed Steward for further information before making plans to import stock, in order to avoid possible misunderstandings and disappointment.