A Challenge for the new age

Modernisation, communications and innovation are now a reality and an integrated part of our everyday life at the office of the FCI. In response to the many solicitations that reach us daily from every part of the globe, we supply information and try to provide the best possible services to our member countries and to the world of organised dog-related activities.

In fact we continuously strive for excellence.

Suddenly the world has gone global in many respects and all of us feel the need to be in full and immediate contact at all moments. Consequently, the need to communicate within the major areas of our activities has increased and so have the demands for immediate responses. For this reason also, the requests that are forwarded to our Organisation at management level have increased tremendously and almost instantly.

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Carla Molinari
Treasurer of the FCI
Polish media report on a case of animal abuse

The FCI General Committee informs:

On July 20th, 2013 the Polish media reported a case of animal abuse involving a breeder registered with the Polish national organisation (ZKwP). The report exposed the shocking conditions in which many of the breeder’s dogs were kept. The dogs were filthy and in poor health. The animals were removed by the authorities and taken to an animal shelter for immediate care.

The FCI firmly restates its position against any cruelty towards animals: (http://www.fci.be/OfficialStatments/CrueltyToDogs.aspx)

The FCI firmly reiterates its mission statement and values:

The FCI is responsible for safeguarding canine health and international dog activities to enhance the relations between dogs and humans.

  • the FCI cares about all dogs worldwide.
  • the FCI considers the health, temperament and behaviour as the most important matters in dogs and their Breed Standards.
  • the FCI promotes dog activities and dog sports worldwide, which it considers beneficial to the dogs.

The FCI General Committee would like to remind that the FCI cannot take sanctions against any breeder, since the breeders are members of a national canine organisation and not of the FCI; breeders have no direct, official link to the FCI (the members of the FCI are the national canine organisations, not the breeders). We consequently urge our members, the national kennel clubs, to take actions in such important, serious and unacceptable situations.

In this regard, further to our investigation with our member in Poland (ZKwP, the Polish national organisation), please find their official release:

Statement from the Polish canine organisation (ZKwP)

A TV broadcast on 20 July 2013 (Saturday) by TVN and Polsat televisions showed the intervention of the Police and Animal Emergency in Łomianki near Warsaw, where several dozens of Yorkshire Terriers were found kept in shocking conditions. The intervention resulted in the dogs being removed from the breeder’s premises.
Therefore, ZKwP (Polish Kennel Club) started immediately the investigation:

  • on 23 July 2013 (Tuesday), the Committee of Management Board of ZKwP Warsaw Branch, called a meeting under a special procedure to get the explanations provided by the person concerned, who had come to the meeting on a voluntary basis. Mrs Katarzyna S., after providing explanations, resigned in writing from her ZKwP membership;
  • currently, the authorities of Warsaw Branch are continuing the intensive investigation to establish all the circumstances of this complicated matter. We are waiting for the reporting documentation from the intervention conducted by the Animal Emergency with a detailed description of the situation of the dogs removed;
  • simultaneously we are conducting an investigation within the ZKwP structures;
  • the information about the results of the investigations will be announced immediately.

At the same time, the Board of Directors of Warsaw Branch would like to express its indignation and absolute opposition to breeding dogs in such inhumane conditions, which is illegal and beneath animals’ dignity.

In the name of the Main Board ZKwP,

Jan Gajewski
President of Polish Kennel Club