Seasons’ Greetings 2020

Ladies and Gentlemen

Dear WUSV Member Clubs

There is no doubt – the year 2020 was extraordinary in every sense of the word and calling it a major challenge would almost be a euphemism. As we learned from a number of phone calls and correspondences, many of you or family members and friends were affected by the pandemic and beloved ones were lost. By the same token, places of work and businesses went lost with all the eco-nomic consequences such a calamity does entail.

And the same was true for our club lives and ac-tivities. Many of you had to cancel most of your events, examinations for trial and show could not be taken. Also, our major international events – the WUSV World Championship in Hungary and the Universal Championship in France needed to be cancelled. A decision that was hard on us but we unanimously agreed that not a single life should be lost because an enthusiast visited one of our events. Also, the WUSV General Annual Assembly was no longer possible to be held – first of all because it would have been impossible to maintain the required distance between around 130 attendees and secondly because the authorities in Germany would not have approved of such a reunion, and then again – what would have been the point without the BSZ Conformation Show that was likewise cancelled. In other words – the canine world as we knew it in the past came to an almost complete standstill, and let us hope against hope that next year – or the year there after at the latest – will allow for a little more of a normal life – regardless of the colours this will bear. 

But there was also good news to be reported. The legal proceedings against the VDH – the German branch of the FCI – was all the way successful and we could send out judge releases to our member clubs abroad again which are – for whatever reason – not a member to their national FCI club. Thus, facts were created and we now enjoy legal certainty in this respect. Good news was the chance to postpone the deadlines for breed sur-veys as approved of by the SV and which will miti-gate the consequences of cancelled events due to the pandemic at least to a certain extent. Also, I was equally impressed to learn how clubs did their very best to carry on – if only at a very reduced pace. For the time being I cannot give you a clear outlook of what will still be ahead of us but I am confident that we will master this situa-tion with  the usual drive and stamina  coupled with enthusiasm for our cause.

I wish you restful season holidays, merry Christmas, and a fresh start into a healthy and happy New Year 2021.

With kindest wishes,

Professor Dr Heinrich Meßler