I will vote yes to the ballot on the Backcross Dals.  I have been on the fence for a long time and have talked with several people on the subject of the Backcross Dals some for and some against.  What made up my mind was seeing with my own eyes the Backcross Dals at DCA this year.  All of the things about the spotting that was being said I found for my self to not be true.  I looked at the dogs each day and spend time with them.  If they aren't dals then none of us own a dal.  I was so impressed that together with co owners Nancy Reiter and Darlene Hinkle we decided to donate  a stud fee free to the project from the #2 Stud Dog this year at DCA, CH Topspot Karefree High Voltage(Hummer).  I believe that voting yes for this ballot will give all of us a chance to head in the correct direction for our beloved Spots.  Yes the spotting on some is small(dime size) but that will change as new lines are added into the LUA line.  We should make our decision as to what is best at this time and over the years no one else has come up with any other way to decrease the stone disease that plagues our breed. 

I owned a young dal that I had bred from the first two dals that I owned.  He developed stones at an early age and after 3 surgeries to remove them we decided to have him have the rerouting surgery.  This worked well for several year but in the end at age 8 he had to be put to sleep due to stones that remained in the kidneys and caused many health problems for him.  I never bred from that line again.  It was heart breaking.  As a breeder you worry from the time you mate your dogs thru the birth of the pups, then the spotting and patches and eye color and then Do They Hear.  By the time you are done and think you have done a good job you get a call from a puppy person heart broken that their baby is having stone problems.  What a heart breaker that is to say nothing of the money.  I know that not all dals form stones but out of 10 or more litter in the past ten years just that one call breaks your heart.  Everyday I watch my male urinate to make sure he is OK   If this program gives me the chance to continue to breed and show with a better chance of not having that one phone call then I say go for it.  Most people would gladly breed to the LUA's if they knew they could show at AKC shows.  I enjoy showing and would love to have a LUA dal to show but like most I only have so much room.  We need to set forth what we expect the LUA's to meet in requirement so that they can be registered. Instead of not supporting them lets help guide them with an outline for all to follow.  We all need a goal to reach and a plan to get there.  If you LOVE YOUR DALS YOU'LL VOTE YES

--
Alice Milwid
CARDEL DALMATIANS
Reading, PA