PCCI: Not just for show

If humans have family trees and blue-blood lineage, then canines have pedigrees. So if humans have birth certificates, then dogs must have something to prove their champion lines, right?

That’s why there is an organization that issues registration papers for dogs – a must if you want your pet officially registered or if you want proof of the champion lines of a canine you’re interested in buying.

In the ’80s, there were two groups which handled the pedigree papers of dogs: the Philippine Canine Club, Inc. (PCCI) and the Philippine Kennel Club (PKC).

"But it seems the PKC lost interest in its job. The PCCI stayed on. Today, it is the only registering group for dogs," says Fenny Friedlander, president of PCCI. We met with Fenny last Sunday during the "265th and 266th All-Breeds Championship Dog Show" at Riverbanks, Marikina City. She informed us that not only is the PCCI recognized internationally, it is affiliated with the Federacion Canine Internaccional and the Asian Kennel Union. She also talked about the club’s achievements.

"First of all, we have computerized our system. A person who registers his dog today can get his papers in two weeks. In the past, it would take a few months," Fenny says.

Owners of pedigreed dogs know the PCCI. When you buy a pup from a legitimate breeder, the pedigreed dog comes with litter papers. These are the pink or blue slips (depending on the dogs’ gender) which show the parents and owner of that litter.

For you to become the dog’s true owner, you will have to register the dog with PCCI, so that a transfer of ownership may be completed. It has the same procedure as buying a car.

"We are proud that we have around 7,000 showing and breeding members," shares Bernie Montiero, manager of PCCI.

"The number does not include people who purchase dogs, have them registered but do not become breeders or do not include their dogs in the shows," says Fenny.

Let's turn to the topic of dog shows, where various breeds, sizes and colors show off their discipline, good form and temperament in the show ring.

"Our goal is to have 24 shows this year. This means that every month we hold back-to-back shows," says Rolando Cu, show committee chairman. "We send out invitations to both foreign and local judges. We have noticed that there is bigger participation if there are foreign judges," he adds.

Fenny is of the opinion that there are more people who participate in dog shows with foreign judges because most dog owners want variety when they join a show. "If you enter a show with a local judge and your dog does not win, it’s natural that you would want to join another show with another judge. It’s also normal that different judges have different tastes. What’s more important is that your dog conforms to all the standards required of its breed," she says.

Fenny is quick to point out that the PCCI has stringent requirements for their judges. "We ask who are the top judges in different countries before we send out invitations. They have to be licensed. When we get judges from abroad, we screen them very well, making sure they’re certified and have good track records as dog show judges," she says.

Can breeders be judges?

"Yes, for as long as they pass the course for judges. They also cannot judge a dog they’ve sold until after one year it was purchased," Fenny clarifies. "But in fairness to the dog breeders who are judges, they might not even be aware that the dog they are judging is one they’ve sold. After all, the person who bought the dog usually enters a show a year or two after purchase," she explains.

Fenny also says that during a show, the judge only sees a number (which the handler wears on his arm), not the dog or the kennel it came from. In any competition, there will always be winners and losers. If owners don’t agree with the decision, they can always join the next dog show.

Beyond dog shows, the PCCI is working on a website which can be accessed by members for information, as well as to follow-up papers online. In November, the PCCI will publish its first quarterly publication of activities.

"Our bigger plan is to own our show grounds," says Fenny. Right now, the PCCI rents its venue and it’s hard to book a place big enough to house all these dogs and at the same time be accessible for everyone. "Getting our own place means raising funds and that is not an easy task," she adds.

The PCCI also plans to be more involved with the concerns and interests of pet owners – meaning non-breeders or those who buy dogs, not so they can compete in dog shows, but to keep them as pets. They see the wisdom in nurturing a more pet-friendly society.

"We would like to visit schools and talk to kids about responsible pet ownership. We also plan to work with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society to help educate people on the proper care of dogs," she says.

She concludes: "The PCCI should not only serve its members who show their dogs, we have to teach young people to love animals and to know that animals have rights, too."

"Arf-arf!" We bark in approval.

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