Paranoid

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After having been in the "dog game" for twenty years and more, I sometimes think that I've seen or heard it all. During this time I have undertaken extensive research into Canine Hip Dysplasia, written numerous articles on the subject for national and international dog publications, and was once appointed to the German Shepherd Dog Club of America's Ortho/HD committee. You'd think one could no longer be surprised by finding that, on a regular basis some new outrageous incident occurs or some unbelievable scam is uncovered. Never-the-less, I am constantly in awe of the complex schemes, fabrications and manipulations some people employ to help them sell dogs. These incidents continuously point out some very sad facts of life; the Fancy (and that means YOU - the buyer!) makes little or no effort to obtain any of the free information offered, and they make little or no effort to educate themselves by using any of the numerous and varied materials, methods and systems available. And so - in spite of the excellent systems existing for the protection of the Fancy - someone is going to find it easy to "get over" on you!

One such "get over" (regarding hip certification) was just uncovered and brought to the attention of the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), the GSDCA Executive Board and Ortho/HD Committee and the AKC, and is now in the process of being litigated. While the breed of dog or the "who's" involved are not pertinent to this article, the "what's" and "why's" need examination. The "what" in this particular case is the deliberate forging of an OFA certificate and alteration of information on another. The "why's" are obvious; money, sales, titles and prestige.

Given the facts that there is so much FREE hip-status information available to the buying public and that some buyers are aware that an OFA certificate is essentially proof of acceptable individual hip status, any reasonably intelligent seller realizes that it makes good business sense to show such proof.... Hence the seller's desire, or need, to produce an OFA certificate to enhance the value and price of the "merchandise." It is a fact that most buyers are either (1) Novice and unknowledgeable, (2) slightly experienced, but not extremely knowledgeable of pedigrees and OFA background, (3) Novice or slightly experienced, but gullible enough to believe anything told or shown them, (4) knowledgeable, but not familiar with OFA certificate format (how many of us can reconstruct an official valid certificate in our "mind's eye"?), and/or (5) too lazy to utilize available information systems to check for themselves.

Within just minutes of talking with (or corresponding with) prospective buyers, a dishonest seller can tell into exactly which category these buyers fall. The dishonest seller then tailors his sales "pitch" and "proofs" to meet the situation. In the forgery case referred to above, learning that OFA certification was important to the sale, the seller "created" the desired certification. The identification information on some othr dog's valid official OFA certificate was "whited out," and a false application number (from another breed entirely!), false OFA number, and an imaginary grading category was substituted (very poorly) as the information for the dog being sold. The forging of the certificate was SO poorly done, that one would think the buyer would have spotted it immediately as being false! Yet that did not happen. If another, totally different matter had not prompted the buyer to FINALLY request directly from OFA a verification of all the dogs in a subsequent pedigree, it is unlikely the forgery would ever have been detected.

In the same case, the same person altered a second, different OFA certificate. Alteration was made of the dog's actual OFA grading category as reflected both in the single capital letter (E,G, or F) contained in the certificate number, and in the spelling out of the word (Excellent, Good, or Fair) in the narrative evaluation. The seller merely "whited out" the original letter and word and then typed in the substitute letter and word grading. This particular "alteration" (still a forgery, no matter what other name it is given) was so good, that it was absolutely undetectable - at least in the xerox copy, which is what the buyer had been given.

In spite of all the information sources available to the buying public, it seems that turning to the OFA for verification of certification is still only a "last resort." I find this very difficult to understand or rationalize. For years, many breed parent club publications (GSDCA REVIEW included) have published the announcement that OFA certification verification can be obtained, FREE, merely by calling the OFA (573-442-0418) and providing the subject dog's AKC number. Of 27 breed parent clubs surveyed, most also publish official listings of OFA certified dogs as they are received directly from the OFA. Most of my articles have reiterated the same information, and for the last year I have also "pushed" the information that the GSDCA Ortho/HD committee can ALSO provide FREE OFA certification verification. A quick check with other individual breed parent clubs will tell you if they offer the same service. Direct and personal verification of certification by every buyer of every dog should be (or become) STANDARD PRACTICE.

On the whole, it is a fact that those breeders/sellers conscientious enough to care about using/selling OFA certified stock are not going to defraud the buying public. It is also a fact that there are dishonest people who will find a way to beat any system of protections or proofs ever devised. Outside the realm of overt dishonesty, there also exists the fact that honest mistakes are sometimes made in the reporting or recording of AKC registration numbers and/or OFA numbers - no "fraud," but it can sure mess up trying to find the dog in the system.

The point here is that it is the buyer's obligation to verify all information/assigned "numbers," etc., for every purchase! Every official agency involved in any type of "registration" or "certification" of dogs is every bit as eager as the buyer is to see that no mistakes have been made, or that no fraud is being committed. But these services and systems can only be offered for the buyer's use. Buyers cannot be made to use them. Dishonest sellers KNOW that, and capitalize on it.......What to do then?

In an attempt to protect the breed, and to protect buyers from their own lack of knowledge, carelessness or negligence, as well as to exercise some control in the very serious matters of hip dysplasia and other genetic problems, some breed parent clubs have taken strong administrative stands. The aforementioned survey of breed parent clubs confirmed the administrative use by some clubs of such protective/controlling measures as (1) requiring OFA certification on all dogs and/or parents of litters advertised in parent club publications, (2) requiring members to signing a code of Ethics AND specific pledge that they will not breed any dog with HD, (3) recommending that no dog be used for breeding unless 75% of its siblings are also OFA certified, and (4) requiring that OFA information be included on pedigrees. As is quite clear, all of these measures are designed to protect the breed and the buyers of that breed. What is not clear (at least to me) is why all parent clubs have not implemented these and/or other measures, and why there is so much resistance to implementation when it is suggested. Does the resistance come from the clubs' general membership? Or from their governing bodies?

Prior to 1989, as a member of the GSDCA HD Committee, I had never been "polled" or questioned by the governing body about my feelings on the subject of administrative ways and means to control genetic problems. I felt it was possible that there wouldn't be that much general membership resistance to the implementation of such methods, and that it was only the expectation of resistance that kepts such proposals from ever being made. In light of that possibility, I tentatively proposed (to my committee chairman) a few administrative methods of control parent clubs could exercise, which at the same time would enlarge or enhance breed and buyer "protective" resources and measures. Some of those proposals are listed below and some were actually implemented.

1. In cooperation with the OFA and AKC, implement the inclusion of an official OFA/Breed Club Hip Dysplasia hand-out with every individual registration certificate issued for the affected breeds of dogs.
2. Include a hip dysplasia "caveat" (similar to the one listed at the end of this article) in every parent club publication.
3. As a condition for membership, require signing a code of ethics and specific pledge not to breed dogs with hip dysplasia.
4. Require OFA certification information (name, age, sex, grading) on all paid advertising in parent club publications.
5. In cooperation with the OFA, publish an expanded version of the OFA Listing of Certified Dogs now in use. Include name of Sire and Dam of dogs certifying, and list names, AKC numbers, ages, sex, and hip status of all dogs whose x-rays were submitted but did NOT certify.
6. Eliminate from usage the all-inclusive misnomer "normal" (no such OFA category exists) when referring to OFA "certifiable" hip categories. Replace with the proper term, "certifiable," and the identification of the category as E-Excellent; G-Good; F-Fair.
7. If parent clubs reward outstanding producers by some "title" or award, or bestow conformation "titles" such as "Select" at National Specialties, require OFA certification as a prerequisite for such titles/awards of merit. Further, for awards based on producing merit, require OFA certification of 75% of the dog's "qualifiers" (progeny contributing "points").
8. For parent clubs whose members import foreign dogs with "a" stamps, require OFA evaluation of original x-ray and confirmation of "certifiable" hip status; or require re-x-ray and OFA certification before the dog is allowed to be advertised or receive "titles" and awards of merit.

These are but a few measures in the field of hip dysplasia control that could be implemented to better serve the breed, breeders, and the buying public. Most could be applied to any particular genetic problem affecting any breed, but it is not intended to imply they cover the entire realm of problem areas needing administrative "policing" or control.

While instances of deliberate fraud on the part of sellers, and non-use of available, reliable information verification methods on the part of buyers make a large contribution to the problem of hip dysplasia (and other genetic problems), there are all kinds of "misrepresentations" to contend with as well. Some are deliberate; some are due to discrepancies in information/certifying "systems," such as the one existing between the SV and OFA. I will discuss some of the far-reaching implications of this discrepancy in another article. For now, let it suffice to reiterate the warning that buyers cannot be TOO careful. Somebody out there really is "out to get you." YOU, the buyer, must protect your breed and your self by utilizing all the protection resources available to you.

To recap:
1. Do not blindly accept a seller's representation of a dog, his pedigree, individual hip or elbow status, or that of his ancestors.
2. Request verification of all information from the appropriate official registering or certifying agency.
3. Either postpone purchase of the dog until you personally get verification of all information, or have positive verification a condition of the purchase.
4. Contribute your own "resource material" to authorized agencies by the accurate recording and submission of individual dog information and pedigree, and by submission of hip and elbow x-rays to the OFA for evaluation and certification.
5. Work to foster and implement the use of breed parent club administrative controls (like those suggested) to aid in making breed information more public and useful, and to protect the buying public.