I am in process of organising a working lurcher & terrier show for our hunt.....and have come across a problem. If exhibitors should turn up with dogs docked since april (albeit docked legally) and we have a gate fee, then who is comitting the offence? Us as the organisers or the exhibitor??? Anyone know?

Hi Sam, the Kennel Club has advice here. Look almost to the bottom of the page under Q & A for Show Organisers

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=999

Dawn R.

You as the organisers!

I noticed that City of Birmingham Champ. Show say that they don't charge for entry does this mean that we could show a docked dog there then?

Yes.

I wonder if a number  of shows will start doing this then?  It's a shame that game fairs can't do it as they are the ones that are going to come to great harm in this, though maybe that's what the government really wanted to kill of the gundog/working community?

Actually no Perrodeagua, the following is a quote from my link.................

Any offence, if it has occurred, would have been committed by the exhibitor - not the show society.

Dawn R.

But if the society knowingly accepts an entry, which they will knowling do if it's a puppy class, surely they should have some responsility especially as many of the GP wouldn't even know about the ruling.  It's not as though it's been on every TV station like the no smoking law.

How would they know when they accept the entry they ahve no way of knowing if the exhibit entered is docked until it arrives in the ring.

I think the way around the gate charge will be to charge extra for parking for non exhibitors.

I thought that entries for these were on the day?

Yes you're right, in this case the entries are on the day. Another more complete quote..

''There is no obligation under the various Acts for the Kennel Club or the Show Society to check whether a dog is lawfully docked or not. Any offence, if it has occurred, would have been committed by the exhibitor - not the show society.''

It's all in the link. :)

Dawn R.

Absolutely correct Dawn.  It is recognised that show secretaries et al cannot enforce such legislation.  It is entirely the responsibility of the exhibitor.