10th December 2021

 
Diana Klein, a long-time salukiphile passed away on Wednesday 24th November 2021. Michael first met Diana in the 80s when she was working for a large America legal company in the City of London.  She had come over to the UK from Brooklyn, NY to set up and then manage their offices.  Michael was there to discuss arranging some working relationship with the company, when he noticed a photo of a little boy with a Saluki.  Business was then put aside so Salukis could become the main topic of discussion which was that Diana owned a male Saluki from Don Weiden.  We have kept in touch with Diana through the years.  When her Sedeki passed away, Diana Avery was looking for a home for a couple of her dogs.  She had been living with Jim Kenyon for a while, nursing him through his illness until he died.  When he passed on Diana Avery was looking to move to the States so needed to find homes for the dogs. They stayed with Diana Klein until they died of old age. She than acquired a dog from Jenny Casemore in 1997. In 2000, Diana obtained a Saluki from us, a cream male, Kasaque Jeremiah.  When he passed on, she acquired another male from us.  At this point in time she has two Salukis which will stay with her son.
 
By this time Diana had left her job at the legal profession to further her studies in ‘Theology”, gaining a Master’s Degree.  She then started to work for the Catholic
Diocese of London writing their newsletters and eventually writing her own books.  Diana had a big heart which grew in her new role.  There was always a room or bed available in her house for someone in need.
 
At one point we tried to convince Diana to show her Jeremiah, she tried.  He was entered at Richmond Championship Show when it was held at Ascot Racecourse.  The judging started at 10.a.m., he was in Puppy Class.  She arrived at 11.a.m., of course missing her class.  She was really upset because they had not waited for her.  At that point we decided not to press the point as shows were not for her. 
 
 In the last few years Diana has not been in the best of health.  She has been ‘house bound’.At this point she joined the Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club Committee to help where ever help was needed.  She used her writing skills to put together a beautiful plus informative newsletter then moving on to edit the Club’s magazine.  She will be sorely missed.  Our condolences to her son Nicholas and his partner Jang.   At this time I do not have information regarding her funeral and any charity the family would like donations to be sent in her name.  RIP Diana.
 
Nicholas Klein has sent the following: "It's with great sadness and shock that I'm letting you know that Mom passed away peacefully on Wednesday afternoon. Her heart stopped while she was surrounded by friends and family.
She will be sorely missed as a friend as a parent and mentor. She showed me the world and taught me how to navigate it. We are still shocked and coming to terms with her death. Thank you for your kind wishes and prayers"
 
The following proposal has just been passed by The Finnish Saluki Club:  I hope everyone will read it through and comments regarding this would very much appreciated.  “The Breeding Committee of the Finnish Saluki Club proposes that the breed registry be opened, so that dogs imported from countries o origin without a certification of registration can be accepted into the breed registry on the basis of recommendations by two conformation judges.
 
The Saluki originates from a vast area reaching from Caucasia to the Arab peninsula.  There it has developed into a hunting dog fit for the local conditions.  The Saluki includes a wide variety of types suitable for different conditions, for example mountain and desert types.  In western countries Salukis have been bred for about a century.  The breed has been influenced mainly by imports into Great Britain, though a number of Salukis have also been imported to Western Europe and the US.  Originally, there were several imports.  The western population is originally based on some 40 Salukis, but with time, through internal breeding and various ‘bottlenecks’, the variation in the lines of breeding has become minimal, while one line (Sarona Kelb) is now predominant.  Now and then Salukis have been imported from their countries of origin, especially to Central Europe, but their influence on the population as a whole has remained small.
 
To maintain the working characteristics, character and genetic variety of Salukis, it is important to be able to import new breeding material to the western Saluki population from the countries of origin.  At the moment, a Saluki can be registered by the Finnish Kennel Club when it has a certificate of registration, recommendations by two conformation judges and a statement by the breed organization.  In many of the original countries kennel organizations do not exist and the dogs cannot get a certificate of registration.  The situation with Salukis is peculiar, for dogs imported from the countries of origin can be successful hunters and conform to the requirements of the breed in appearance.  In Finland the breeding registries are open, for example for Lapponian Spitzes and Jack Russels.
 
During the last five years, the breeding Committee has received two inquiries concerning acceptance into the breed.  This is a small number and the potential use of imports from countries of origin may be marginal.  Still, it is important that there is a possibility of accepting them into the breed.  When asked, the Saluki Club of England,** The ‘home country’ of Salukis, told us that acceptance into the breed is possible there, in other words, the registry is open.  In Germany, where several Salukis have been imported from countries of origin, they seem to have a stricter attitude now, because of some malpractices.
 
The Breeding Committee is aware of the risks involved, for example with non- registered imports from Russia or imports of western descendants from countries of
Origin.  The Committee, however, considers the benefits greater than the potential problems.  A condition for a favourable statement by the breeding committee could be DLA-haplotyping or determination of genetic variety (which used to be included in MyDogDNA-test a while ago)
 
The Breeding Committee is in favour of. Registering all Salukis.  If there is doubt as to the origin or malpractice, the dogs ould be included in an EJ register.  To prevent misinterpretations, there should be regulations stating as to how the change fro EJ- register to ER-register could take place.”
**I have checked with Glen Dymock at the The Kennel Club regarding requirements of importing an unregistered dog.  This is his answer:  The short answer is 'yes'.  However, a very strict procedure must be followed and approval is not given very often.
In the first instance, the importer must supply the Kennel Club with this:
• A detailed letter explaining how you came into possession of the dog
• A detailed letter from the dog’s breeder/previous owner explaining why the dog is not, or could not be registered with the Kennel Club
• A letter from the breeder confirming that they do not object to the registration
• A concise explanation why the registration is required
• A detailed explanation as to what benefits (health and genetic diversity) the proposed registration of this dog could offer the breed
 
If the owner get past that hurdle, this is the next step:
 
• Reports from two championship show judges - names to be supplied by the KC. The judges will need to confirm in writing that the dog is a representative of the breed (not that the dog is necessarily of sufficient quality to be awarded a Challenge Certificate).  Please note that the dog must be microchipped prior to examination
• Breed specific health certifications (the same as required and recommended for the breed under the Assured Breeder Scheme)
• It is important to note that unsatisfactory results of any health test may prevent your application proceeding and may result in your application being cancelled or result in a Kennel Club imposed breeding restriction being placed on your dog’s records
• A DNA profile certificate for the dog
 
Then it goes before KC's Health Committee and then the KC Board whose verdict is final.”
 
In this week’s paper there is the posting of the Top Dog Awards.  Congratulation to Rosalie Brady and her Classicus Azim For Bordercot for winning Saluki Top Dog 2021.