The Irish Wolfhound breed in the UK is numerically very small, and because of this, we now find ourselves in an uncomfortable political situation where we can't move forward on health issues. Namely in breaking down the old barriers when it comes to publishing heart test results.
Blocks are put in place; private threatening messages are sent, and we now have the controversial Facebook page run by the "Irish Wolfhound Mole UK". While the majority in the breed have kept their heads down frantically trying to work out who our breed whistleblower is, we must also ask ourselves why they have not gone public but instead used a pseudonym?
Why have they had to take such measures to protect their identity yet embellish us with facts, and maybe sometimes fiction to out their fellow breed members? Are they just plain vindicative, have they been thwarted or hurt, or are they too just fed up with the toxicity within our breed and despite trying their best been attacked, bullied, and abused by others?
I, too, have felt the full force of the breed's toxic attitudes when dared to go against the unwritten protocols and not tow the party line. I can understand why this person/people wish to remain subterranean and off the radar. Because being part of this breed you have to be strong sticking to your convictions of what is right for the hounds. Certain people will stop at nothing to hurt and tarnish you, irrespective of the what is best for the future of the breed. I am not the only one to have suffered in their hands. The majority of people who do not agree chose to stay silent because they too know that these hands which block the health of our breed are vicious. Hugh and I have been accused of being "The Mole", subjected to the usual messages and a phone call, where at least I took the opportunity to have a good rant at the poor person who was brave enough to confront me. Sorry to disappoint, but we are strong enough to own what we think and what we say. However we can truly understand why "The Mole" wishes to remain anonymous and not be subjected to this vitriol.
Like most, I have resisted posting on "The Mole" page and continuously backspaced, until Heart Testing appeared on a post.
““The Health Groups jewel in the crown is the regional heart testing scheme. It gives owners the opportunity to have their wolfhounds’ hearts tested by cardiologists. In recent years owners and breeders the health group have encouraged everyone to publish their results, so that people can make decisions on the basis of this information. EVERYONE GAINS. In 2016, 80 test results were submitted in 2017 it was down to 70 in 2018 down again to 45 and in 2019 a paltry 24 results were published. Why is it tailing off? Well …. In the whole history of the scheme, only one heart test result from Dukesarum has been submitted. The Dukesarum kennel is owned by the patron of the health group! Do you find it strange, really strange, that the patron of the health group is not supporting the groups advice? Cornovi? Owned by the chair of the health group has submitted a pathetic three dogs. Goldswift? Not a fabulous fourteen but a miserly four, despite the owner being a very prominent member of the health group. A single one from Conmeryl, whose owner is on the IW Society committee and is a founder of PAWS. Nothing at all from Neckrebach! Not a single dog. Zilch. The owners are both on the IW Club committee and one acts as their health coordinator! If the health coordinator is not doing it then why should anybody else? The successful breeders completely ignore the scheme. Nothing whatsoever from Sade, Baronglen or Caredig. They are not interested. In contrast, small kennels like Hollyhenge and Clanlily are doing remarkably well. One kennel stands out above all others. Bonaforte has submitted more heart test results than the rest of the health group put together. They care for their hounds and are open and honest. The other kennels talk the talk, but only one of them actually walks the walk.””
It was this post which gave me the opportunity to bang the heart test drum again and fight for the cause. And no, I am not too proud to use this forum to fight for the purpose of transparency when it comes to the hearts of the wolfhounds. I will use any medium I have in my power to push this home. I am fed up with excuses and lipservice as to why we can't, or why they won't publish. The answer is actually straightforward if breeders don't want to publish their results it's not The Mole we smell, it's a rat.
You all know how seriously we take heart testing in our kennel, and although our results aren't always perfect and it is hard when a hound presents with a diseased heart, but genetics aren't kind and thoughtful; they are random when it comes to dishing the genes out. Therefore, no one would expect every dog to test clear. Breeders and owners alike need to be able to take and make informed choices, which we can't do if the information is not published. What I'm saying is we will all have problem heart health in our dogs, but we must share our results.
A quote worth remembering from the late, great Dr Malcolm Willis, who was one of the world's leading experts on canine genetics and the man who started the hip scoring scheme in the UK.
“Finally, all breeders will produce defects if they breed long enough. Those who tell you that they do not produce defects have either stopped breeding, breed hardly at all or are being economical with the truth. There is no crime in producing a defect. The crime, if any, lies in what you do about a defect. If you bury yours quickly and keep quiet about it, and I do the same with mine, then sooner or later we may use each other’s dogs and pay the penalty for not having been honest with one another and with the breed we probably profess to love.”
Now technically not all "The Mole" has written rings true, and as our eminent Veterinary Caridolisgt posted confirming this wasn't entirely correct, but as a professional, she also reinforces what Dr Malcolm Willis said:
“I have now received emails saying that I should not have commented on this. There are many breeders who do heart test but do not publish results because they do not wish to, and that is their choice, so please do not assume that the kennels named above don’t test because they do. I stand by my comment however that it is a pity that people do not feel they can share.”
Thereby lies the crux of the matter, "it is a pity that people do not feel they can share." Not only do we need to heart test, but we also need to share our result and make them public knowledge why you ask? Because in this numerically small breed we need to do our best with the aid of these professionals to make the breed stronger. It has been proven that in countries where heart testing is mandatory, the incidences of heart disease is lower.
Professionals like Dr Serena Brownlie are being ignored and have been for over 30 years now. Thirty years ago a few sensible people in the breed had the foresight to recognise there was a problem and called upon her for help. So why? Why now some 30 years on ignore an eminent senior research Veterinary Cardiologist, who has the facts and figures in front of her and she knows full well we need to share. Doesn't that in itself speak volumes?
Serena has put her life's work into this beautiful breed. Not only with the heart testing days but behind the scenes encouraging others in her profession to take an interest, stay motivated and get things done.
We now all need to give her and the breed our full support. We need to stand up and be counted by pushing for the official publication of all heart test results by the Kennel Club as both the Health Group and the Breed organisations have failed us and more crucially the dogs they profess to love. Our voices and our votes have been ignored.
The publication of these results is essential for the breed to have a future. We need to lobby The Kennel Club for heart testing to become a mandatory requirement in our breed as it is in others.