Page 114 - ShowSight - June 2020

TO BE OR NOT TO BE
“ What goes into decisions to begin holding dog events again?
First, there needs to be state/local recommendations that will likely
allow for an event with people gathering in the numbers we see at whatever event is proposed at the time of the event. Then there needs
to be a review of the ongoing rules and regulations regarding social ” distancing and how those rules can/will be integrated into the dog event.
from eventually being infected. It is not clear yet whether it will be possible to find an effective vaccine, and we will not know that for at least a year, if not much longer. Then vaccines also have side effects varying from mild to severe sudden anaphylactic reactions that kill people.
With the exception of some urban areas and nursing/assisted living homes, where people—including people in high risk cat- egories—live in very close proximity, and some events that have resulted in rapid transmission among attendees, most areas in the United States of America have not exceeded the capacity of the existing medical establishment, and even those areas now have additional medical beds and equipment in place. An increase in cases is expected as we go back to living life as usual, so doing that with at least some caution is wise, especially for at-risk popula- tions. As a side note, it will be very interesting to see what ulti- mate differences in infection rates and death rates will occur in those countries who have opted not to close their economy, but to build herd immunity by continuing life as usual.
What goes into decisions to begin holding dog events again? First, there needs to be state/local recommendations that will likely allow for an event with people gathering in the numbers we see at whatever event is proposed at the time of the event. Then there needs to be a review of the ongoing rules and regula- tions regarding social distancing and how those rules can/will be integrated into the dog event. The event venue needs to be available and staffed to handle the event. As part of this phase the local medical/hospital facility should be queried to ensure avail- ability if someone becomes injured or acutely ill during the event. The clubs then must review their own resources and determine if the club could survive financially if the event has to be canceled
Photo by Bonnie Martin
and at what phase of the process cancellation can occur without a death blow to the club. The other resource to be considered is the people who are typically workers at the club’s shows; are they at risk? Do they want to participate at the time of the pro- posed event? Are there additional volunteers who can be called on? Judges are another issue; many are in high-risk groups either because of age or medical conditions. They must be contacted to ensure they are willing to judge at the time of the event and given the local rules that will be in place. Will each judge be willing and able to judge wearing a mask? Gloves? Allow exhibitors to show the bite? Abide by any other rules or regulations the state/local authorities have in place?
Once a club has made a decision to hold an event, please sup- port their right to make such a choice given all the work and thought that has gone into that decision. Each judge and each exhibitor will make their own choice regarding whether to attend or not attend. Each person has responsibility to follow the rules that are in place to make the event more safe, or to absent them- selves from the event. Each of us must think carefully about the level of risk we are willing to assume, once rules regarding events are relaxed, and act accordingly. Different people will have and should have different perspectives on how to proceed, and all should be given the option to make choices based on their own beliefs and situation, as long as those choices fall within the cur- rent laws and regulations in place at the site of the event. Everyone should choose “to be,” whatever that means for you. We will get through this and we will all be happy when we have our first safe opportunity to see the next great dog! Hope to see you soon at a dog show!
112 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2020