On August 8, 1996 Kathy DeWees, head of DelawareValley Akita Rescue, Inc. sent the following post to the Akita list. Her post interrupted a long-running arguement about such issues as ear-set, eye shape, length of coat and the question of modifying the AKC breed standard:

Subject: Calls/Controversy

While the controversy rages on about type and wording to describe the breed, let me tell you the kinds of OWNERS that are out there, ruining our lovely breed. I had 5 give up calls just YESTERDAY morning. 5 in a 4 hour span. That's not the mention Margie's 4 different calls, and the shelter calls we got.

Here's a sample of what I hear on a daily basis--and I am taking these WORD FOR WORD from my machine as I type:

#1: "Hey, is anyone there? I got a 3 yr old female Akita that is a pain in the a__ because all she does is dig under the fence and I ain't spendin' another dime on it. But the really bad thing is she dug outta here this mornin' and came back with her head and ears all cut open and now she's bleedin' and she's too dam_ big to take to the vets so you come here and get her and take her to the vets then find her somewhere else to live. I'm sick a'her now."

#2: Hello, this is ______________, I own a lovely Akita, she's no problem, she's h/b, trained and loveable.....just that I don't want her anymore. She's never done anything wrong, so don't worry. I just can't be bothered with this feeding/bathing/walking stuff because I have a life too, you know. So, please call me to come get her...."

#3: Ummmm, this call is for the Akita group that takes these dogs off owners' hands. I have a 3 yr. old bitch that is just that -- a bitch! I can't stand this dog, all she does is lay around and eat and sleep, as if she's some kind of queen. She doesn't even play with me. She's not much of a dog, and I want you to find her another place to live. Call me now as quick as you can.

#4: Hello, I have a 13 mo. old male, and we're moving and the housing development we are moving too would prefer I didn't bring a breed like an Akita in, so we have to get rid of our boy. We love him, but we really want this new house, so please call me to come take him.

#5: I am a business man, I got one of these Akitas to protect my business but he's just a big scaredy cat and he's useless to me. I even had a trainer in here who said it was the nicest Akita he's ever seen....well, nice isn't doing me any good, lady. So please call me, because I need to get a better dog.

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Now, the sad thing is, that 4 out of the 5 callers bought their dogs directly from breeders. These aren't even pet store impulse buys. I'm telling you, I needed to leave yesterday after this -- and I did, I went to the beach at 4 pm in the afternoon, and just sat and looked at the ocean for about 3 hours to calm myself down.

You all rage about type, wording etc......what does it matter when all the idiots of the world are now owning/dumping/ruining our magnificent breed? Its so disheartening....I used to be able to say to other rescue people: Well, luckily our breed only appeals to the better type of owners. NO MORE!

These past couple of years, I've had to eat those words. We have gone the way of the Rott, the Pitt, the Dobe....and its breaking my heart. The lower the price of the breed, or the more available in pet stores, the less the quality of the owners and the less the commitment to the Akita. I'd rather see you all discussing ways to prevent THIS from happening..... sorry, as always MHO....

Kathy DeWees