YES, a product of frozen semen, was the top poodle at Westminster.
Miki broke the story on this blog which The New York Times missed, which is that top Standard Poodle at Westminster was not only sired from frozen semen, but that this long-dead dog has sired hundreds of dogs, as well as more than 10 that reportedly grew up to be dogs with Addison's disease, a serious endocrine disorder.
Does the sire of the top poodle at Westminster carry a genetic load that perhaps should not be passed on? Who knows? A case can be made that nearly ALL living creatures carry such a load, and that this is a very good reason not to inbreed dogs.
This idea is so fundamental that it was obvious to illiterate shepherds living in the deserts of the Middle East more than 4,000 years ago, which is why Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all have prohibitions on incest (see Leviticus Chapters 18-20).
So how inbred is the Westminster Poodle? Quite a lot!
The good news here is that the late John Armstrong, who founded the Canine Diversity Project, did the work on CH Eaton Affirmed (aka "Snapper"), the sire of the current Westminster Poodle winner, and he even drew out a family tree, which, as you can see below, twists back on itself more often than a cable-knit sweater,
The bottom line is that Snapper's 10-generation coefficient of inbreeding is over 30 per cent.
What does that mean? Consider this: In an effort to keep birth defects out of the human population (and to avoid the attendant social costs of providing care to the mentally and physically disabled), we ban marriages between First Cousins in this country.
- Marriage between First Cousins is a 6.25 percent coefficient of inbreeding.
- Having a baby with your Grandmother would result in a 12.50 coefficient of inbreeding.
- Having a baby with your Mother or Father would result in a 25% coefficient of inbreeding.
But Eaton Affirmed, the sire of the top poodle at Westminster has a Coefficient of Inbreeding higher that 30 percent!
Thirty percent!
And this dog has not only sired 150 champions (God Himself has no ides how many puppies he has helped shoot into the world) -- there are plans for him, even in death, to sire more thanks to the miracle of frozen sperm and artificial insemination.
In fact, as The New York Times makes clear, the owners of the current Westminster Winner, Ch. Randenn Tristar Affirmation (aka "Yes") are thinking of impregnating her with frozen semen from her own father!
Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. Doubling down on an already-inbred pup-sicle.
When will the madness stop?
Not any time soon, that's for sure.
In fact, the American Kennel Club, which is desperate for money due to a 53% decline in dog registrations over the last 15 years, is talking about cashing in on a "frozen kennel' program they call "The Future Program"
AKC President Dennis Sprung outlined the plan at the December 16, 2008 AKC delegates meeting:
How many of us have dreamed of breeding to Shirkhan, Ceiling Zero, Dictator or the Brat?
The first priority of the Future Program is the collection of frozen semen for the breeding of outstanding dogs. The second priority is to generate significant revenue for AKC and has four elements: 1. fully subsidize all program expenses; 2. fund an endowment to ensure its continuation; 3. be significantly profitable to AKC; 4. provide any residual income to benefit existing programs – for example: CHF, Museum, the Humane Fund and legislative initiatives.
Do you see any mention in there of health testing?
Any mention of limits on Coefficients of Inbreeding?
Any mention of self-restraint, or even a nod to popular sire problems in existing Kennel Club breeds?
No, of course not!
This is all about the Kennel Club making money.
What does the health and welfare of DOGS have to do with it?
Not a thing!
And so, it is "carry on to the apocalypse."
Why are people no longer buying Kennel Club dogs? It's a complete mystery to Dennis Sprung!
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