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Messages - glaciercreekkuvasz

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1
As far as KCA questioning the money spent on the rescue, my understanding is that certain board members are already doing so.

RUMOR! "My understanding" is a RUMOR.

 I don't know that anyone has a problem with money's allocation being questioned (I, for one, do not), but this is not the right time to publically ask for this. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>
You repeated a rumor then judged it, and by association the person/club, without knowing any of the details. By posting the rumor and your judgement on here, now you have swayed public opinion based on RUMOR. Since this is a public board, people are making decisions about this matter with no background and no substantiation . THIS is what I am saying is the kind of rumor spreading that keeps the negativity going and going.

2
[ and that I don't think anyone here is concerned with breed politics.
>>>>>>>>
well, it IS mentioned over and over again on here... Several times just in your response...Per sonality conflicts aren't politics and the record should be set straight.
>>>>>>

 If there are any rumors that I personally have spread that were not identified as potentially being rumors ("I heard...")
>>>>>>>
even by identifying them as rumors is still spreading rumors. When they are cut and pasted elsewhere the identifying remarks may not carry over with them. Then they become "facts" and incite people. Rumors repeated are still...rumors . Which can incite people and make them angry. Needlessly.
>>>>>>>>>>
 then I apologize in advance.  However, you failed to point out in your post any such rumors that we have spread here.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Why would I REPEAT rumors?  Rumors are unsubstantiate d comments and conjecture.  Which pretty much describes several comments on previous posts.  Go back through all the posts and see how many assumptions/assertions are not substantiated but repeated on here. Many from "elsewhere" or "I heard".  WHERE?  Have you ever played the whisper game?  Then you might see why I posted.  Posts on here can be cut and pasted all over the net as FACT. Just as they were taken off other lists and posted on here, out of context and unsubstantiate d.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

As far as KFA, NO ONE here has brought this issue up before, and, since this is obviously something about which you have strong opinions, I am not going to comment on that.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Actually, I have donated regularly to both KFA and KCA organizations in the past and have supported events from both organizations. Which demonstrates how drawing conclusions based on little evidence can be completely wrong. When rumors are being spread about "politics" then the unknowing public take it as against the club and I am on here to set the record straight that these rumors are without merit.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 However, if the AKC parent club (KCA) doesn't do rescue, why are you upset that the KCA board wasn't notified?  As you yourself point out, they don't do rescue.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There are many posts out on the internet that are blaming the KCA for this mess, and for "letting the dogs languish". As a member, I think this is extremely unfounded and unfair. If you aren't interested in any of the circumstances of what really happened, then I'm not sure why are you so negative about anything said to clarify any of the events that have been questioned?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
[The kuvasz owners around New York stuck their heads in the sand,
...
Do you know any Kuvasz owners in New York?  Do you know that they were aware of the situation and, if they were, did nothing? 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
yes, Personally. I have known them for years. I was stunned that they did not step up to the plate. There are many within a half a day or a day's drive and yes, they were very aware but never offered to go check on the dogs and evaluate them, which was desperately needed when they were released by the family.  Also, there are extremely well known breeders in Canada who live within a day's drive who also did nothing, and still have done nothing.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If not, then let's not pass the blame onto people we don't even know and who furthermore cannot even defend themselves on here.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Then I would advise the same thing of anyone posting on here about this rescue.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I don't know Mr. Wasson, but why wasn't he working with other rescue people to make the work more managable?  Why wasn't he delegating responsibiliti es so that EVERYONE who offered help in ANY way received at least a thank you note and some explanation of the confusion, that they would contacted later, or some such?  This part was clearly not managed well, and this is where I personally am annoyed.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Did you ask him personally?  Did you call him up?  Did you contact any of the other rescue organizations listed on the net?  Or did you just post on here how annoyed you were and make assumptions (rumors) about what was or wasn't done?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

However, this isn't Mr. Wasson's fault either.  To my knowledge, nothing like this has happened before, and so no one was prepared.  The reason I am annoyed, is that there could have been a better coordinated Kuvasz rescue organization by now, but for the infighting and politics seen all the time in the Kuvasz world. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No, that's not the case at all and THOSE are some of the rumors I am asking you to cease.  The lack of coordination came first and finger pointing by individuals came second.  THAT is the point of my whole post and I am not sure why you keep trying to perpetuate the negativity?  Why are you still spreading these rumors????  You are completely missing many of the points I made and choosing to be argumentative instead. Fact, there are a couple of people who like to poison pen on the net.  They like to say it's politics and point fingers.  It's NOT politics, it's personalities.  There's a HUGE difference.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Hopefully this situation will wake everyone up so that they will start working together for the dogs' sake.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I hope so, but some of these people can't work with anyone, yet they have kuvasz and a computer and lots of time to spread negativity. Because they have a kuvasz, some folks take them seriously and what they post at face value. Don't.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ms. Blank, you yourself pointed out that KCA doesn't do rescue.  Why are you harping on the fact that the KCA board wasn't kept in the loop?
>>>>>>>>>>>
Harping? I am addressing the many posts out in cyberland that have attacked the KCA for "letting the dogs languish" and others (such as over and over on here) that say that politics caused the problem.  Lack of communication did, pure and simple, but all anyone has heard was the other side about "politics and infighting". I keep hearing it over and over again and it simply isn't true on the part of the KCA.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Also if "there were no Kuvasz people in New York to help" (to use your own words), why did you earlier blame the Kuvasz owners in New York for having "stuck their heads in the sand"? 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
To use my own words, I stated there ARE kuvasz owners in New York as they stuck their heads in the sand, voila, no EFFECTIVE kuvasz owners in New York. There are over a dozen KCA members in that area, many more within a days drive, and MANY more kuvasz owners who aren't in the club(yet are on other kuvasz email lists). WHERE WERE THEY???
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 I don't think there are any KCA members on here, except for yourself. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
there are other KCA members who read. This is a public board. You don't have to join to read it. However, I was specifically referring to the rumors that were being spread and being repeated on here.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 Non-KCA members aren't going to know who to contact on the KCA board or even how to contact them for rescue. 

http://www.kuvasz.com.  They come right up on a google, and are directly linked to the AKC, as it is the Parent Club.

 Further, since the KCA doesn't do rescue, why should they be contacted at all?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
the KCA has a rescue fund.  We don't "do" rescue but we do help with expenses through the generosity of our membership.  None of the rescue folks out there (other than KFA) has the ability to raise funds. The KCA is a non profit, all funds are tax deductible.  We donated all of it to this rescue.  Hopefully no other dogs will be in need until generous people replenish the funds. If so, people need to submit specific expenses to the club to be reimbursed.  We will also work directly with the vets and shelters to pay for vet care on dogs in need.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I realize that people have their own personal lives to worry about.  That is why communication, coordination, and delegation of responsibiliti es is so important.

>>>>>>>>>>>
sounds wonderful, but as I said "no one" was in charge. Noe one WANTED to be in charge, other than possibly Dan, and I'm sure he was quite overwhelmed by the flood of emails offering good wishes (and not much else), and no worker bees to be found in the area.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I don't see how the heirs are responsible. 

THEY ran up the bills at the Humane Society.  THEY didn't have the dogs spayed or neutered. THEY didn't have licenses on the dogs, THEY didn't have rabies vaccinations. This is a huge chunk of money that "rescue" is paying for. THEY dumped the dogs onto rescue and walked away. Rescuers have to pay for the care they received while property of the heirs. A big chunk of change.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 
As far as KCA questioning the money spent on the rescue, my understanding is that certain board members are already doing so. 

 I don't know that anyone has a problem with money's allocation being questioned (I, for one, do not), but this is not the right time to publically ask for this.  Those who have doubts about the rescue's handling are free to not donate money, or, if they already have, to not donate any additional money.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I don't know the specifics you are talking about?  Please share with us the specifics and have you talked to the person to find out what they were asking? Where did you see this questioning?

 At this time there is no feedback to ANYONE on how many dogs have been taken off the farm, how many dogs have been spayed or neutered, what the vet costs were (IE, one dog had extra surgery for mammary tumors, does that change the total amount now needed?), what their status is (one dog died from her spay, several others have been adopted already and the adopters asked for donations back).  Without this kind of information, we don't know if all costs are now covered (at 3000 from KFA and $2500 from the KCA) or if we need to shake the bushes for some more. 

I agree that Lisa has done an excellent job in stepping in where many of the individual Kuvasz rescuers failed!  Bravo to her!!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Why would you say they "failed"? No one that was actually involved "failed".  And where did you get "many"?  There are some great KCA members on the scene who are helping to screen homes and transport dogs, and deserve a lot of kudos too. But they are few....(but legions more than the non-KCA kuvasz owners in the area). 

I understand the urge to help by chatting on here, but please be aware of how your posts can be taken.  Don't repeat anything if you haven't heard it first hand.  You are only adding to the problem of "infighting". 

I appreciate that you guys are so concerned about these dogs and I applaud the ones who have donated.  You've saved a life.   

Thank you.


3
I thought I would comment on some of the rumors being spread on here and elsewhere....

There is no official entity called "Kuvasz Rescue".  There is a remnant of an unofficial "club" called Kuvasz Fanciers (no board, no memberships).  It started back in the 80's as the pet project of some kuvasz breeders who supported "hungarian type" of kuvasz.  They used to put on fun matches and wrote a newletter called the Candle.  Now about all that is left is a web site with kuvasz information and is now non profit so is able to accept and donate funds for dogs in need with no rules and no board (so able to disperse funds easily). This is Gail's "club".

The Kuvasz Club of America used to have a Rescue committee, but due to liability concerns (Gail was one of the ones who brought it up), the committee was disbanded.  However, they still do have a rescue fund that can be used to REIMBURSE veterinarians, etc. There is not a position in the club that deals with rescue. There is a loose group that has an email list and they rescue.

The kuvasz owners around New York stuck their heads in the sand, or just simply didnt contact the KCA board even though they went to the farm.  Some now that are the most vocal (and you've seen their posts) purposely kept out of it until shamed into helping (although you wouldn't know it from their posts!).  Dan Wasson lives in Michigan and works very long hours full time.  He was getting hundreds of emails a day, and having to sort through them. He was screening homes, trying to arrange transportation, trying to find reasonably priced veterinary care, etc. The dogs were the property of the estate until the will was read a couple of weeks ago. Then the heirs signed them over to rescue.  Taking the dogs before then would have been stealing!

A New Yorker named Lisa Boyle ended up offering to help (but no one came to the KCA on her behalf with any details until later in the game when Gail started yelling at a couple of KCA board members for not sending money to her). Lisa works with a sanctuary and wanted to transport the dogs to her farm where they could be assessed,and rehomed.  No one in the KCA (the parent club) really knew who she was.  Gail, Dan and the rest didn't really explain who she was and how she could help. They didn't present a plan to the club on how many dogs there where, what the costs were, etc.  We never got a list of the dogs but still were all diligently screening homes to send to Dan and trying to arrange transportation, WHEN THERE WERE NO KUVASZ PEOPLE IN NEW YORK TO HELP. Lisa, through Gail, requested $100 a dog to spay/neuter, bail out of the HS and bring to her farm. However, the KCA has policies in place that they do not donate to individuals.  While the board was discussing all this (and remember, this is summer, people are out of town, kids are home from school and on vacation, etc), angry emails were flying around that the KCA was not stepping up to the plate by paying Lisa and "letting the dogs languish". We were not informed about the dogs being released by the family as a board, but only saw list serv emails at the very END of June that they were released, AND still had no idea who Lisa was or that there was a person in NY actually willing to take care of these dogs! Still, no one presented a plan to us with any details but we finally found out who the vets were and arranged payment methods with them.  Once the board was informed, it went to work quickly and offered up all of the $2500 in our rescue fund.

The KCA is its members. Many of the members prefer to spread rumors, like those on here, rather than picking up the phone and talking to a board member and helping out. 

So, please, this situation is difficult enough without spreading more rumors. It's easy to sit here and get "miffed" etc, but everyone involved has lives too.  They have health problems, money problems, time problems but the difference is they are in their working, either there in person or trying to fix the communication problems that have plagued this rescue.  People forget that the heirs are the ones responsible for this mess, but have not been held liable at all.  As far as politics goes, there will always be a difference of opinion.  People like to chalk that up to "politics". Majority rules, so you can never predict what it will say. If KCA questioned the money spent on any part of this rescue, people would scream "politics". I have people demanding the head of a KCA member who seems to have made people mad, but she is finding homes and charging rescue fees for the rehomed dog so that she is helping to fill this bottomless pit. Some politics!

I feel really bad for Lisa that this was handled so poorly by ALL involved.  She's done a great job for a breed that isn't even hers. 

4
I don't know any of the details, I'm in Alaska about as far from the situation as can be but I'm just trying to get the word out. Dan Wasson (email posted earlier) is the one who we're all getting our information on. 

The kuvasz bulletin board I mentioned was the one just like this on bigpawsonly.co m that is just for kuvasz. I guess I should have said the discussion thread or something.  I don't know why it was taken off. It's appropriate here and certainly there.

Debbie

5
Yes, this is the first anyone posted. The people dealing with this don't really know about this board.  So I posted. I also posted under Kuvasz bulletin board, but it was taken off this morning.  I don't know why.

This has been a saga because the will had to be read, the family had to decide what to do with the dogs and no one in "Kuvasz Rescue" actually lives in NY or could take time off work to go there and grade dogs.

Debbie Blank
Glacier Creek Kuvasz
http://glaciercreekkuvasz.com

6
Who did you talk to?  I haven't heard some of what you have heard and we've been getting reports straight from the Kuvasz Rescue coordinator (ie, the poor conformation, etc).
The biggest problem right now is that there are dogs in breeding pairs and they need to be spayed/neutered.

7
Kuvasz and GSD breeder Paul Kornitzky (Karpati Kuvasz)died recently.  49 Kuvasz of various ages from under one year to older adults are needing new homes. 15 of the Kuvasz have been taken to the shelter due to age or health concerns. The shelter is feeding and watering the rest of the dogs at the farm.

 The shelter prefers that Kuvasz Rescue
screen potential owners and place the dogs. The story of these dogs will be in the local news media and she hopes that it will generate some food and cash donations. They are a 501c/3.

Right now, we need to find permanent or foster
homes for some of these dogs. We need to arrange transport to these new homes. This will involve a Canine Underground Railroad style operation where dogs are passed from volunteer to volunteer across North America.

The shelter has only 35 runs and is overwhelmed by this effort. They will be burning through their funds pretty quickly.

Send donations to:

Broome County Humane Society and Relief Association
2 Jackson Street
Binghamton, NY 13903

Write Kuvasz Rescue in the memo field so that the money is applied to this effort. They are a 501c/3.

The dogs need to move to their new homes now. I have sent
the adoption application to
many of the wonderful people that inquired.
Please let me know if you were forgotten and/or are interested in adopting one of  these dogs.

There are some potential LGDs in the group. If
you would like to take a chance on one of these dogs as a guardian, this is an opportunity to discover a good dog.

Dan Wasson
danwasson@EARTHLINK.NET 




8
Rather than using scissors, use thinning shears. They work great.  Cut into the mat in several places and take your long toothed comb through it. Come right out without leaving a huge bald spot.  You can get thinning shears at any beauty supply place or pet supply catalogue (Sally Beauty Supply is a chain that has nice ones that are inexpensive)

Debbie Blank
Glacier Creek Kuvasz
http://glaciercreekkuvasz.com

9
Kuvasz Discussions / Re: Miracle puppies!
« on: August 25, 2005, 08:19:32 pm »
Hi, yes, we always keep from our litters, no other reason to do them if we wouldn't want to keep what we grow!  My cobreeders and I have been breeding combined for over 30 years....have bred/shown the last two Westminster winners, national specialty winners, top 10 winners--my own girl is currently #1 female--#2 overall, plus many flockguards/bear dogs (many bears here in Alaska, check out this story from today's paper near where I live--http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/anchorage/story/6856112p-6751904c.html) and of course family companions.  We've seen a lot of interest from the alpaca breeders lately, one of these pups is going to an alpaca breeder in Colorado.  I've got several others (including a nationally ranked Best of Breed winner) guarding arabians and one guarding goats!  Had some on sheep down in Texas years ago out of this male, they dropped the losses from coyotes to zero.
I just like them because I can go hiking and not worry about bears here in Alaska.  The sire of these pups, Shiner, comes from a wonderful family breeder in Brantford, Ontario who have been renown over the years for the great temperaments on their dogs.   http://www.brantwoodkennels.com/

Debbie Blank
Glacier Creek Kuvasz
http://www.mtaonline.net/~kuvasz

10
Kuvasz Discussions / Miracle puppies!
« on: August 24, 2005, 12:53:17 am »
This is so exciting, these puppies were born in June to an Irish import girl 3 years after we lost their father at age 13!  He produced the last Best in Show dog of our breed, but mostly he was just a fun loving guy who always wagged his tail and so do all these kids!  I get my puppy soon.  We just found out today that our 2005 Westminster Best of Breed winner is pregnant by him too.  She's a great showdog, but she loves to guard her pomeranians more.  We will take pictures of the kuvasz puppies growing up with the pomeranians    It's always so funny at shows because she ignores the big dogs and gets all silly when she sees a pom.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/northkuvasz/album?.dir=/a1af&.src=ph&.tok=phVXWdDBfs3ZkIpA

Deb
http://www.mtaonline.net/~kuvasz

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Kuvasz Discussions / Miracle Litter
« on: August 24, 2005, 12:49:57 am »
This is so exciting, these puppies were born 3 years after we lost their father at age 13!  He produced the last Best in Show dog of our breed, but mostly he was just a fun loving guy who always wagged his tail and so do all these kids!  I get my puppy soon.  We just found out today that our 2005 Westminster Best of Breed winner is pregnant by him too.  She's a great showdog, but she loves to guard her pomeranians more.  We will take pictures of the kuvasz puppies growing up with the pomeranians  :D  It's always so funny at shows because she ignores the big dogs and gets all silly when she sees a pom.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/northkuvasz/album?.dir=/a1af&.src=ph&.tok=phVXWdDBfs3ZkIpA

She's trying to sleep in the pom bed in the attached picture
Deb
http://www.mtaonline.net/~kuvasz
http://www.geocities.com/peachtreekuvasz[/img]

12
Go to www.akc.org and familiarize yourself with the breed standards.  Also, www.kuvasz.com has more information on kuvasz specifically.  Generally, the kuvasz is a leaner, more active dog with a wavier coat and a wedgier head with a higher earset and more alert expression. The kuvasz has front dewclaws, but NO rear dewclaws. The pyr has double rear dew claws.  Poorly bred kuvasz and poorly bred pyrs CAN nearly look alike. There was a time that kuvasz breeders bred dogs that were nearly identical to pyrs (heavier bodies and heads, long straight coat). Thankfully, those dogs are fewer and fewer in the show ring.  The hungarian standard does not allow straight coats/domy heads so perhaps the US show kuvasz is starting to be more true to the hungarian standard.

The kuvasz standard does not mention "aloof".  That is a trait many people use to excuse too shy dogs. The kuvasz standard says they should be suspicious and standing between you and any threat.  Lively is also mentioned.  A well socialized kuvasz can be outgoing and friendly in the show situation.  One with too many fear issues will appear aloof and afraid.

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org has videos of the breed winners from Westminster to show kuvasz and pyrs in action.

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