AHA Officers Annual Reports 2025

Summary of the annual reports as published in ‘Think Afghan’

AHA Officers
Chairmans Report – Rich Thompson

2024 saw an eventful calendar of AHA activity, with our usual open and championship shows, and a lecture by Hector Heathcote following the AGM, covering Conformation & Movement.
The shows themselves all had an element of uniqueness about them, with our Championship Show giving a distinctly international theme thanks to judge Keiko Takeuchi, and the July event being held in conjunction with the Houndshow for the first time. August saw us looking to continue our partnership with Driffield, though the toll taken by the weather, resulting in the cancellation of events at Wetherby, meant we had to shift location to City of Birmingham. The resilience shown in moving things at short notice is testament to the committee. As, the saying goes ‘the show must go on’ and indeed, it did.

The Association (as have other breed clubs) also ensured that its voice was heard around the proposed changes to the standard, something the RKC requested input on. Hopefully the voice of the parent club will bring some influence in terms of minimising the scale of change. Much to be said for a philosophy around ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.

Following the introduction of an application form via the website, we’ve seen a marked increase in people wanting to put themselves on the adoption register for rescue. Although the rescue situation has ebbed and flowed over the year, it is heartening to see that there is still interest in the breed, and from those who would seek to help when things go wrong, as well as those who want to start off with a puppy.

Finally, we also have to pay a debt of gratitude to Bob Parsons, who stepped down as Chairman in November. Both Bob and Julie have had a long association with the AHA, covering a range of roles spanning over two decades. Their dedication to the club is a great example of what being a committee member requires, and I hope that they both understand the gratitude the club has for their service.

Secretaries Report – Claire Parker

Our year started with the AGM in March at Ashorne, where we welcomed a new committee member John Garrad. Following the AGM a Conformation & Movement seminar was held with speaker Hector Heathcote. The seminar was informative with a chance to ask questions and was enjoyed by all those who attended.
In May, we held our Championship Show with our dog Keiko Takeuchi travelling from Japan to judge Dogs. Our Bitch judge was Michael Griffin. DCC and Reserve Best in Show was awarded to CH/LUX/NLD CH POPOVS ALADDIN AT SARAKHAN (imp NED) and RDCC was awarded to AMASERWAH ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS AT JAZZMEENAH (IKC) The BCC and Best in Show was CH SAXONMILL MIRROR IMAGE. The BRCC was litter sister CH SAXONMILL MAJIC MIRROR. Best Puppy in Show was awarded to RHAJIKHAN WALKING ON WATER. Best Veteran in Show was CH/IR/VDH/DWZRV/INT/CH AGHA DJARIS LONESOME COWBOY (imp DEU). Mary Sanders Parker judged the Special Award classes. A fabulous day with a great atmosphere – thanks to all who attended and helped. Think Afghan magazine was published in May, ready for the Championship Show. Thank you to Jeff Bulled and editorial team. After the show the Association hosted a successful RKC Breed Examination.
Our Open Shows were a little different this year. To try and encourage entries the Association made the decision to hold our Open Show in Partnership with Championship Shows. The cost of stand-alone open shows was having an impact financially to the Association. We were sad to leave Chieveley, I have lots of fond memories there. We must look forward and adapt to the changing show scene. We held our first Open show in July, in partnership with The Hound Association.
Carolyne Scott judged and awarded Best In Show to UNSTOPPABLE HAPPY GO LUCKY (imp SWE) (AI). Reserve Best In Show went to CH DRISHAUN FAITH IS LIKE A LILY FOR JAVIDAN JW.
To try something a little different, we held special classes after the completion of breed judging, including memorial stakes for Jeff Bunney and Mark Cocozza, which was judged by Carolyne Bovey.
The second Open Show was due to be held with Driffield Championship Show. Unfortunately, due to Storm Lillian the show had to cancelled. The RKC gave us the opportunity to re-arrange the show. The Association decided to hold the show the week after with the City of Birmingham Championship Show. Our judge for the breed classes Russell Mosedale was still available to judge on that date, unfortunately our Special Classes judge Tracey Gosling had to withdraw. Russell stepped in to judge all the classes. Moving the show did have an impact on the entries. However, we carried on and Russell awarded Best in Show to ALTSIDE MICAH HOT PROPHET JW and Reserve Best in Show to KATANGA JESSICA JONES.

I would like to finish this report paying tribute to Mark Cocozza who we sadly lost, so suddenly in January. Mark was involved with the Association for several years and served on the committee and as Chair. He left the Association in 2015, due to his extensive commitments, but always continued to support us. We remember Mark fondly and will miss him, as will many in the dog world.

Treasurers Report – Christine O’Neill

We are not in difficulties at the moment; however, we are using our reserves steadily. I have talked at length with the officers and committee, and we are making efficiencies where we can to reduce expenditure, however there are certain things like insurances and Royal Kennel Club fees we are required to pay. One issue is that the club does not have enough members, partly due to the number of dogs being shown at the moment in the UK. We need to do our best to ensure membership of the AHA remains an attractive and worthwhile option. Our main source of income is from the events we run, and therefore we must think about increasing the event entry fees which have not been raised since I became treasurer. This is under discussion by the committee and would bring us in line with entries for other breed clubs and societies. My thoughts at the moment are that we should increase these fees year on year, rather than hold fire and make a big rise when it becomes necessary. We still have reasonable reserves, having been fortunate being the beneficiaries of various bequests and contributions, which provides a little breathing space before making major decisions, however my recommendation is that entry fees should increase immediately. The intention as ever, is not to become a profit-making organisation, but to be able to better invest in our shows, events and offerings to our members.

Rescue Officers Report – Emma James

Following his rescue, I was contacted by another breed secretary to find homes for two puppies. The puppies had been bought by a kind hearted man who had saved them from a puppy farm. Homes were found for these puppies quickly. This happened because breed rescue officers from various clubs work well together to find homes and to share contacts of people who have got in touch for homes.

During the summer, a lady from Yorkshire who had previously adopted an Afghan hound that had settled beautifully, was keen to adopt another one -unfortunately when she adopted the other one -the second dog, continually jumped her fences and escaped. Reluctantly, he needed to be rehomed for a second time.

With a lot of help from various committee members driving him around and doing home visits, he was rehomed to an experienced Afghan owner in Scotland. He is doing very well and so far has not jumped any fences! He’s been there for several months now and although it’s been discovered that at some point he broke his leg he’s doing very well.

Also, last summer, it came to our attention that two dogs from a puppy farm were being sold, having finished their useful life as breeding dogs, and afghans not being quite such a lucrative business as the owner thought. In this instance, all the clubs worked together to purchase the dogs. This is not something we would normally try to do because it can encourage further puppy farming. However, the conditions the dogs were being kept in were very poor so all the clubs agreed to share the cost.

The dogs were bought, and were kennelled at the cost of all clubs together. They were health, checked, clipped off and wormed. Considering what they had gone through, they had fantastic temperaments. We all worked together and now they have excellent homes and are in good health. We receive regular updates about their condition.

During the year, we have had two older dogs, aged seven, a male and a female from different homes that have needed rehoming, both due to bereavement. Luckily, through good contacts with other breed rescue officers homes were found and they have settled in well. The circumstances that necessitated their rehoming were sad and the owners did so very reluctantly. Unfortunately, sometimes things happen and even the best owners find they need to give a dog up.

This is not always the case and earlier this year four homes for puppies bred from one litter and sold to non-experienced owners have needed rehoming. I have not been closely involved, but know that other clubs have worked tirelessly. I am hoping that people are beginning to realise that breeding Afghan hounds is not a good moneymaking prospect.

I would like to thank everybody who works in rescue, finding good homes for dogs that need them. If you would like to consider offering a home to an Afghan hound, you can leave your name and contact details on our website. Dogs do come along, however, you may need to be patient.