People keep asking me how I feel about the UKC’s decision to accept the American Bully and out of respect to the community I will answer this…
How do I feel? Initially I feel flattered, confused, victorious, and insulted all in the same breath.
Before I get into that, let me first take the time to thank this community for all of the years of support and unity. We stood up for our breed and ourselves, and we stood and fought together for many years to gain acceptance for all of this. Together we succeeded in this by paving our own way and direction, and we created our own identity, which together we overcame adversity and eventually prevailed. So I thank you all for the years of commitment and support, together we made the American Bully and we gained acceptance together, so I want to thank you all.
In some sort of way this could be viewed as a victory, but if it is a victory then it’s bittersweet and not genuine.
Before I continue to give my thoughts on this let me go through some facts of history. I have read some comments about people saying ABKC took from them so why shouldn’t they take back, things about money, things about lying about the breed being Pit Bulls, things of this nature and I think some real facts need to be told as a reminder of what the true history is and why.
This part is facts and not my personal opinions. In the early 90s I competed heavy in the UKC with my Razors Edge dogs. I did very well and along with the help of other people whether it be partners or friends with my dogs, we all did good with the dogs and achieved many titles. We brought in a new crowd and young fresh crowd to this scene, as well as a diverse crowd, which grew very fast. Within a few years they decided to change the breed standard, the new standard was a drastic change from the previous standard and isolated traits that were outside what was originally written and what my personal dogs possessed. I was confused as to how a standard would change after all these years of existence? They changed the head and the importance of it; they changed movement, and completely flipped to wanting a different style of dog. When I contacted the office to get an explanation for this change, I could not believe the answer they gave me? Apparently they did not control the breed standard, it was outsourced to a group called the American Pit Bull Terrier Association? When I looked into this group I found it was a panel of breeders, but even worse a group of friends. These were the same people we were competing against and had expressed their unhappiness towards our crowd and our achievements. I could not believe a registry did NOT govern their own breed and standards? (Which now is very confusing and contradictory that they now want to govern our breed). Anyway the standard went onto to change a few more times over the years along with the dictating panel that did the changing. I eventually felt this changed the breed too far from what I got into it for and deviated from the original standard too many times, to eventually excluding our style of dogs and making it impossible to compete in their events. I along with many people stopped showing and competing, we felt it was pointless to spend money and support something that turned its back on you.
I put my time and energy into a new direction for our dogs, we formed a group called the Elite Edge and the goal was to promote our style of dogs. We started a social network group called the Elite Edge message board, which became a huge driving force for this style of breed. Other groups and supporters began getting involved and even other bloodlines with similar styles got into it. In a short time it became a large community and we began to host BBQ style events and “meet and greet” events to show off our dogs and come together. We no longer had a home or place where we could compete, so we had to create our own. We also began calling our style of dogs a slang name “Bullies”. Even though our dogs were no longer accepted in the UKC show ring, we still continued to support the registry and register our dogs with them. I was invited to come to a UKC show in California and when I got there I was overwhelmed at the large group of people that came out to meet me and support me. There were many Razors Edge owners and Gotti owners and all so proud of their dogs. They had tents set up in the park away from the show ring, but within a short time the host came and asked that they all leave. Since the dogs were not competing in the event they could not be there? I’ve been to many events and seen both competing and non-competing dogs; this was never a problem before, especially since the dogs were not near the ring and not disrupting the show. These were all people with UKC registered dogs, where were they to go? Why would you want to turn away people trying to do something positive with their UKC registered dogs away from a UKC event? It wasn’t until I went to another event that I realized the root of the problem. This time people came out but went to a completely different end of the park, but the host still responded by saying they all had to leave. I went to speak to the host and the exact response they gave me was, look at them they are gangsters and thugs and we don’t want them here. I looked back and saw people with kids, people cooking food on grills, people smiling and just trying to get out and do something fun with their dogs? I understand if something is disruptive to the show, but this was not the case. This was discrimination, I realized first they discriminated against our style of dog, and now they are discriminating against people. To make it even worse, the host called the police and had everyone removed from the park, people trying to do something positive with their dogs were treated as if they were criminals. To me this had gone too far, how could anyone treat people like this and people with this breed? They only wanted to do something positive, you don’t close doors in their faces; for the good of the breed and people you reach out and try and help. When I came back I felt something needed to be done, these dogs and the people who supported them needed a home and a way to do something positive with the breed.
One day there was a debate on the Elite Edge board about calling our dogs by a different name, the name being thrown around was Patriot something? I thought long and hard about this and realized the UKC show dogs I had were very different from the original game bred and true American Pit Bull Terriers. These dogs were made up of a lot of American Staffordshire Terrier blood and bred for similar traits and temperaments. The Am.Staff had broken away from the Pit Bull long ago to make itself its own breed. It was different from its ancestors and possessed new and unique traits. The style of Pit Bull we had basically stemmed from the Am. Staff breed, and now the style the UKC standard reflected was again another change and direction. I began to realize that there were different versions of the breed, and in essence we had created our own look and direction and it was the beginning of a new breed. I jumped into the name changing debate and said I am going to call my dogs and the Razors Edge line the American Bully. There was a huge division on this concept, but I had my mind set on this for my line. I felt we had made enough changes from the original breed that we should have a new name and identity. With the backing of the Elite Edge group we began to push the breed as this and others began to do the same. We still had an issue of validity as well as no home for these dogs nor a way to compete with them. At this point I felt we needed to form a registry for these dogs so they had a home and could be validated, so we created the ABKC. I reached out to Richard Barajas of Gottliline and together we both agreed to register and take our dogs this direction. The ABKC was created and then a criterion was created to establish what the criteria would be for dogs to be entered into the studbooks as the brood stock of this breed. This criterion was initially based on bloodline percentages, the dogs had to be over 50% Razors Edge or Gotti blood. (The criterion has changed and has had more added to it over the years and now requires pictures and more) Then a breed standard was written for the breed, which was unique to the ABKC.
Over time the following grew and people came together in unity to support the breed and each other; however we were still looked down on from outside our community. I pretty much became public enemy number 1 to the show world I had come from. We were attacked and ridiculed by them, but we never stopped fighting for our acceptance.
The concept of the ABKC was to give validity to the American Bully and to give its supporters a way to compete and display the breed in environments free from discrimination. We again received resistance from outside our community, but this didn’t stop us, we kept pushing and fighting for what was right and for our breed. Over time we finally began to gain respect and we did something even bigger, through our events and our unity we started to change public perception in the masses. Not just for the breed, but also for people and stereotypes, we began to make people see that this breed and its supporters were positive and not the negative perception they previously had. These events grew by the thousands and negative perceptions were being broken by the same. We together fought for acceptance and respect, and we did this by coming together and standing up as ourselves! We had backs turned on us, we had been ousted from our homes, we were discriminated against, we were left with no home, no name, no identity, and no respect; but together we built a new home, a new name, a new identity, and we built the American Bully! We made our own direction and breed and we made people realize we should be accepted and Respected! We did this and we made this, and without the validation, acceptance, help, and support of the UKC.
The ABKC was created out of necessity, not because it was a business concept or for the purpose of finances. Unlike any other registry, a community created the ABKC so that we and our dogs all had a home. This is why to this day no owner has received a dime from this company; this was not created for the purpose of making money. Maybe I am not a good businessman, but to this day I give my time and life for this breed and community. The ABKC is the people’s registry and this is why over time varieties of the breed were added and changes have been per the requests of the community. The ABKC is and will always be a registry that works for and listens to its supporters.
The American Bully was created by this community and will always belong to this community. Nothing was taken from any other registry; this breed and its supporters were turned away and had to unite together to build a home. We built a breed, we built a home, we built a community, and we made our way to respect for the breed, and against all the resistance we prevailed!
The UKC filed a lawsuit against the ABKC, claiming the ABKC copied terms on their pedigrees, let me also state the facts on this. The UKC got a copy write on the term performance pedigree in 2009, the ABKC had stopped using that term in 2007. Pedigrees had not reflected that term by 2008, as well as it is a term used on other animal pedigrees outside the UKC. The ABKC decided in 2007 that this term did not fit the breed and changed not just that part but also the entire look of the pedigree. This suit in my opinion was meant to drain the funds of the ABKC in hopes that it would go out of business. In the end this did NOT happen.
In 2012 the UKC started revoking dogs that had Bully characteristics, and in 2013 they went on a huge attack of these dogs taking their papers and revoking their pedigrees. The statements they gave clearly stated that these dogs did not fit the standards and they we being revoked, NOT that they are American Bully’s and can be switched to that breed name; they were flat out taking the papers. What happened is that eventually people realized this was wrong, this was being done to UKC registered dogs and by taking the papers this also took away proof of ownership, as well as people who spent money on dogs carrying this pedigree. The UKC had once again tried to remove the dogs and people and made this very clear they were not wanted there. People began exposing this and threatening suits against them, then out of nowhere they came up with we accept the American Bully. You mean after years of pushing the dogs away, discrediting the dogs, turning backs on the dogs, and making a huge stand to get rid of them all, all of the sudden they are accepted? I am sorry but I cannot see this as a true victory and a genuine acceptance, I see this as a controlled way to protect a company.
I went and read more into it and see how controlled it is and read between the lines, they pretty much gave themselves an out to do whatever and how ever they want.
They want to have full control and give NO credit back to how the breed was created, and all the work put into it and the people who did it? They want to charge $50 and then decide whether to accept you’re dog or not and either way keep $15? I tried to look at this and feel a sense of victory, but this is not victory, it is once again disrespect. Now they want to dictate what the breed is, and a breed that they had no participation in?
I am sorry but there is no way I would turn over control of a breed we created to a registry that never has wanted us or the dogs. I read some of the comments and think man do we not have self-respect? Do we not realize that we made this without them? Why would we need or want validation from them? We did this without them and with them against us. We put in the work, we built the breed, and we fought for our acceptance and we won! So now we turn it over to the people who were NOT in support of this? We give them the support in dictating and determinating what an American Bully is? Give them the power and control to govern our breed? I cannot support nor rejoice on this; I stand for the community that fought for where we are today and I stand very proud and satisfied, and the only validation I ever need is the one we built together!
The ABKC and our community created and validated this breed. The ABKC holds the studbooks for the American Bully breed and has the only valid criterion for the certification of this breed, which was done with the support and input from the community.
I am extremely proud to have stood with all of you for all of these years and extremely proud of the accomplishments we have made for this breed and each other. This is the only validation I ever need! Nothing has made me more proud than to see what we all have done together for this breed. To me we are the American Bully and we built this breed. I cannot see it being controlled and governed by an outside source who never had a want or respect for it, until it came to down money.
For those who asked for my thoughts, there you have it. I will support our community and continue to do what I have always done and promote and protect this breed and you. Thank you for taking the time to read this, all Respect to you all. Again thank you for all you’ve done to get the breed and us where we are today. We know its not been perfect and there will always be things to improve on, but we have come a very long way and created an incredible breed and community.
I am not trying to persuade anyone this is a Country of freedom, I just choose to stay the on the path we created, I’ve been down those dead end roads before. I Respect the road we built and will continue to stay there always looking to improve on it, but always respecting the hard work put into it. Thank you all
By: Dave Wilson
How do I feel? Initially I feel flattered, confused, victorious, and insulted all in the same breath.
Before I get into that, let me first take the time to thank this community for all of the years of support and unity. We stood up for our breed and ourselves, and we stood and fought together for many years to gain acceptance for all of this. Together we succeeded in this by paving our own way and direction, and we created our own identity, which together we overcame adversity and eventually prevailed. So I thank you all for the years of commitment and support, together we made the American Bully and we gained acceptance together, so I want to thank you all.
In some sort of way this could be viewed as a victory, but if it is a victory then it’s bittersweet and not genuine.
Before I continue to give my thoughts on this let me go through some facts of history. I have read some comments about people saying ABKC took from them so why shouldn’t they take back, things about money, things about lying about the breed being Pit Bulls, things of this nature and I think some real facts need to be told as a reminder of what the true history is and why.
This part is facts and not my personal opinions. In the early 90s I competed heavy in the UKC with my Razors Edge dogs. I did very well and along with the help of other people whether it be partners or friends with my dogs, we all did good with the dogs and achieved many titles. We brought in a new crowd and young fresh crowd to this scene, as well as a diverse crowd, which grew very fast. Within a few years they decided to change the breed standard, the new standard was a drastic change from the previous standard and isolated traits that were outside what was originally written and what my personal dogs possessed. I was confused as to how a standard would change after all these years of existence? They changed the head and the importance of it; they changed movement, and completely flipped to wanting a different style of dog. When I contacted the office to get an explanation for this change, I could not believe the answer they gave me? Apparently they did not control the breed standard, it was outsourced to a group called the American Pit Bull Terrier Association? When I looked into this group I found it was a panel of breeders, but even worse a group of friends. These were the same people we were competing against and had expressed their unhappiness towards our crowd and our achievements. I could not believe a registry did NOT govern their own breed and standards? (Which now is very confusing and contradictory that they now want to govern our breed). Anyway the standard went onto to change a few more times over the years along with the dictating panel that did the changing. I eventually felt this changed the breed too far from what I got into it for and deviated from the original standard too many times, to eventually excluding our style of dogs and making it impossible to compete in their events. I along with many people stopped showing and competing, we felt it was pointless to spend money and support something that turned its back on you.
I put my time and energy into a new direction for our dogs, we formed a group called the Elite Edge and the goal was to promote our style of dogs. We started a social network group called the Elite Edge message board, which became a huge driving force for this style of breed. Other groups and supporters began getting involved and even other bloodlines with similar styles got into it. In a short time it became a large community and we began to host BBQ style events and “meet and greet” events to show off our dogs and come together. We no longer had a home or place where we could compete, so we had to create our own. We also began calling our style of dogs a slang name “Bullies”. Even though our dogs were no longer accepted in the UKC show ring, we still continued to support the registry and register our dogs with them. I was invited to come to a UKC show in California and when I got there I was overwhelmed at the large group of people that came out to meet me and support me. There were many Razors Edge owners and Gotti owners and all so proud of their dogs. They had tents set up in the park away from the show ring, but within a short time the host came and asked that they all leave. Since the dogs were not competing in the event they could not be there? I’ve been to many events and seen both competing and non-competing dogs; this was never a problem before, especially since the dogs were not near the ring and not disrupting the show. These were all people with UKC registered dogs, where were they to go? Why would you want to turn away people trying to do something positive with their UKC registered dogs away from a UKC event? It wasn’t until I went to another event that I realized the root of the problem. This time people came out but went to a completely different end of the park, but the host still responded by saying they all had to leave. I went to speak to the host and the exact response they gave me was, look at them they are gangsters and thugs and we don’t want them here. I looked back and saw people with kids, people cooking food on grills, people smiling and just trying to get out and do something fun with their dogs? I understand if something is disruptive to the show, but this was not the case. This was discrimination, I realized first they discriminated against our style of dog, and now they are discriminating against people. To make it even worse, the host called the police and had everyone removed from the park, people trying to do something positive with their dogs were treated as if they were criminals. To me this had gone too far, how could anyone treat people like this and people with this breed? They only wanted to do something positive, you don’t close doors in their faces; for the good of the breed and people you reach out and try and help. When I came back I felt something needed to be done, these dogs and the people who supported them needed a home and a way to do something positive with the breed.
One day there was a debate on the Elite Edge board about calling our dogs by a different name, the name being thrown around was Patriot something? I thought long and hard about this and realized the UKC show dogs I had were very different from the original game bred and true American Pit Bull Terriers. These dogs were made up of a lot of American Staffordshire Terrier blood and bred for similar traits and temperaments. The Am.Staff had broken away from the Pit Bull long ago to make itself its own breed. It was different from its ancestors and possessed new and unique traits. The style of Pit Bull we had basically stemmed from the Am. Staff breed, and now the style the UKC standard reflected was again another change and direction. I began to realize that there were different versions of the breed, and in essence we had created our own look and direction and it was the beginning of a new breed. I jumped into the name changing debate and said I am going to call my dogs and the Razors Edge line the American Bully. There was a huge division on this concept, but I had my mind set on this for my line. I felt we had made enough changes from the original breed that we should have a new name and identity. With the backing of the Elite Edge group we began to push the breed as this and others began to do the same. We still had an issue of validity as well as no home for these dogs nor a way to compete with them. At this point I felt we needed to form a registry for these dogs so they had a home and could be validated, so we created the ABKC. I reached out to Richard Barajas of Gottliline and together we both agreed to register and take our dogs this direction. The ABKC was created and then a criterion was created to establish what the criteria would be for dogs to be entered into the studbooks as the brood stock of this breed. This criterion was initially based on bloodline percentages, the dogs had to be over 50% Razors Edge or Gotti blood. (The criterion has changed and has had more added to it over the years and now requires pictures and more) Then a breed standard was written for the breed, which was unique to the ABKC.
Over time the following grew and people came together in unity to support the breed and each other; however we were still looked down on from outside our community. I pretty much became public enemy number 1 to the show world I had come from. We were attacked and ridiculed by them, but we never stopped fighting for our acceptance.
The concept of the ABKC was to give validity to the American Bully and to give its supporters a way to compete and display the breed in environments free from discrimination. We again received resistance from outside our community, but this didn’t stop us, we kept pushing and fighting for what was right and for our breed. Over time we finally began to gain respect and we did something even bigger, through our events and our unity we started to change public perception in the masses. Not just for the breed, but also for people and stereotypes, we began to make people see that this breed and its supporters were positive and not the negative perception they previously had. These events grew by the thousands and negative perceptions were being broken by the same. We together fought for acceptance and respect, and we did this by coming together and standing up as ourselves! We had backs turned on us, we had been ousted from our homes, we were discriminated against, we were left with no home, no name, no identity, and no respect; but together we built a new home, a new name, a new identity, and we built the American Bully! We made our own direction and breed and we made people realize we should be accepted and Respected! We did this and we made this, and without the validation, acceptance, help, and support of the UKC.
The ABKC was created out of necessity, not because it was a business concept or for the purpose of finances. Unlike any other registry, a community created the ABKC so that we and our dogs all had a home. This is why to this day no owner has received a dime from this company; this was not created for the purpose of making money. Maybe I am not a good businessman, but to this day I give my time and life for this breed and community. The ABKC is the people’s registry and this is why over time varieties of the breed were added and changes have been per the requests of the community. The ABKC is and will always be a registry that works for and listens to its supporters.
The American Bully was created by this community and will always belong to this community. Nothing was taken from any other registry; this breed and its supporters were turned away and had to unite together to build a home. We built a breed, we built a home, we built a community, and we made our way to respect for the breed, and against all the resistance we prevailed!
The UKC filed a lawsuit against the ABKC, claiming the ABKC copied terms on their pedigrees, let me also state the facts on this. The UKC got a copy write on the term performance pedigree in 2009, the ABKC had stopped using that term in 2007. Pedigrees had not reflected that term by 2008, as well as it is a term used on other animal pedigrees outside the UKC. The ABKC decided in 2007 that this term did not fit the breed and changed not just that part but also the entire look of the pedigree. This suit in my opinion was meant to drain the funds of the ABKC in hopes that it would go out of business. In the end this did NOT happen.
In 2012 the UKC started revoking dogs that had Bully characteristics, and in 2013 they went on a huge attack of these dogs taking their papers and revoking their pedigrees. The statements they gave clearly stated that these dogs did not fit the standards and they we being revoked, NOT that they are American Bully’s and can be switched to that breed name; they were flat out taking the papers. What happened is that eventually people realized this was wrong, this was being done to UKC registered dogs and by taking the papers this also took away proof of ownership, as well as people who spent money on dogs carrying this pedigree. The UKC had once again tried to remove the dogs and people and made this very clear they were not wanted there. People began exposing this and threatening suits against them, then out of nowhere they came up with we accept the American Bully. You mean after years of pushing the dogs away, discrediting the dogs, turning backs on the dogs, and making a huge stand to get rid of them all, all of the sudden they are accepted? I am sorry but I cannot see this as a true victory and a genuine acceptance, I see this as a controlled way to protect a company.
I went and read more into it and see how controlled it is and read between the lines, they pretty much gave themselves an out to do whatever and how ever they want.
They want to have full control and give NO credit back to how the breed was created, and all the work put into it and the people who did it? They want to charge $50 and then decide whether to accept you’re dog or not and either way keep $15? I tried to look at this and feel a sense of victory, but this is not victory, it is once again disrespect. Now they want to dictate what the breed is, and a breed that they had no participation in?
I am sorry but there is no way I would turn over control of a breed we created to a registry that never has wanted us or the dogs. I read some of the comments and think man do we not have self-respect? Do we not realize that we made this without them? Why would we need or want validation from them? We did this without them and with them against us. We put in the work, we built the breed, and we fought for our acceptance and we won! So now we turn it over to the people who were NOT in support of this? We give them the support in dictating and determinating what an American Bully is? Give them the power and control to govern our breed? I cannot support nor rejoice on this; I stand for the community that fought for where we are today and I stand very proud and satisfied, and the only validation I ever need is the one we built together!
The ABKC and our community created and validated this breed. The ABKC holds the studbooks for the American Bully breed and has the only valid criterion for the certification of this breed, which was done with the support and input from the community.
I am extremely proud to have stood with all of you for all of these years and extremely proud of the accomplishments we have made for this breed and each other. This is the only validation I ever need! Nothing has made me more proud than to see what we all have done together for this breed. To me we are the American Bully and we built this breed. I cannot see it being controlled and governed by an outside source who never had a want or respect for it, until it came to down money.
For those who asked for my thoughts, there you have it. I will support our community and continue to do what I have always done and promote and protect this breed and you. Thank you for taking the time to read this, all Respect to you all. Again thank you for all you’ve done to get the breed and us where we are today. We know its not been perfect and there will always be things to improve on, but we have come a very long way and created an incredible breed and community.
I am not trying to persuade anyone this is a Country of freedom, I just choose to stay the on the path we created, I’ve been down those dead end roads before. I Respect the road we built and will continue to stay there always looking to improve on it, but always respecting the hard work put into it. Thank you all
By: Dave Wilson
