Dogf ight at the Kennel Club! Members’ war on ‘bully’ chief
THE Kennel Club has become mired in a f urious row, with hundreds of members demanding the removal of its leaders.
More than 250 dog lovers have called on c h a i r ma n S i mo n Luxmoore and two directors to quit the 145-year-old organisation. Now a special meeting of all 1,496 members has been called for November to consider a confidence vote.
A formal letter asking for the meeting was sent two weeks ago declaring: ‘Never in the history of the KC and the dog-showing sport in general has morale been so low.’
Mr Luxmoore, 67, has been accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’, ‘inept comments’ and ‘lack of sound leadership’, and of bringing the body behind the world-famous Crufts show into ‘disrepute by his unprofessional actions’.
One member claimed Mr Luxmoore ‘embarrassed’ the club at the World Dog Show in Amsterdam in the summer when he threw a tantrum after discovering a leaflet that described the event as ‘the world’s best dog show’ rather than Crufts.
Geoffrey Davies, 71, a former senior judge of toy dog breeds, has resigned from the club and told The Mail on Sunday the leadership refused to listen to complaints.
He added: ‘People feel intimidated simply by expressing an opinion at variance with the decision-makers. There is great concern about the financial stability of the club and about heavy-handed punishments in disciplinary matters. If anyone speaks out, their views are ignored and they end up being driven out.’
Anyone who challenges the club in the press could be banned from membership or dog shows. How- ever The Mail on Sunday spoke to a number of critics, who wish to remain anonymous.
One accused the leadership of behaving ‘ like a tinpot dictatorship’, adding: ‘They ride roughshod over anyone who challenges them.’
Among signatories of the no-confidence letter is Crufts judge Meg Purnell-Carpenter, 75, who served on the board for 17 years.
Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs’ Today, said: ‘ This could be the greatest challenge the Kennel Club has ever faced. I have never known the dog world so divided.’
Mr Luxmoore was unable to comment due to the legal process but the Kennel Club said it was ‘a democratically run organisation, which takes the views of its members and other stakeholders very seriously’.
The other two directors facing a no- confidence vote are Mark Cocozza, 50, chairman of the finance and disciplinary committee, and Jeff Horswell, 56, who is overseeing a new system for judges. They were also unable to comment.