Number 5 of the FCI newsletter is ready, although somewhat later than usual. But, as number 6 is already in the pipeline and will be out soon, we will be able to present you with six issues a year as promised. Together with my partners Marie Luna Duran and Yves De Clercq we have worked hard to keep you informed on a regular basis about what goes on in the world of the FCI. As if starting up a newsletter was not enough, there were also the festivities to celebrate the FCI Centenary Year with the FCI Centenary Champion of Champions Show and the Cynological Days recently held in Brussels as the highlight. In the next issue we will focus on this event only, with a full report and lots of photos. I realize that it was not just an exhausting year for us, but for everyone who has worked hard to make all this happen, especially all the people who helped organizing the different events. They made a successful start possible with the FCI Centenary Winner Show and Europasieger of Dortmund, they turned the FCI Centenary World Show of Paris into the biggest FCI show ever, the FCI Centenary European Section Show at Leeuwarden into an example to others, and the FCI Centenary Champion of Champions Show in Brussels into an unexpected success. Not just a few hundred, but probably a few thousand people have worked in the background far from the spotlights and sacrificed their free time to turn 2011 into an unforgettable year for the FCI. This is just amazing!

One hundred years ago a few people from 5 countries sat together and decided to globalize the cynological world. Despite two world wars between those countries, they came back in peace and continued to unify the world of dogs and dogsport . More countries joined and the FCI turned into one of the most cosmopolitan organizations in the world. There are no ethnical conflicts, no religious disputes and all its members respect each other. They are all united in the FCI, all united in dogs. This makes the FCI unique and an example for the world. This is an amazing achievement in itself.

It is time now for another achievement, and to bring our dogs and dogs only, in the spotlights one day in the year. It is time for (World) Dog Day. No other animal stands closer to us. Their will to please us results in numerous ways how they can be of service to man, from being just a companion for the family to highly skilled assistants for disabled people, from hunting companions to search and rescue dogs, from show dogs to mine searching dogs, etc. Our dogs deserve such a day and deserve global respect. No other organization but the FCI is better placed to take this initiative and spread it around the globe. On that specific date FCI could ask its members to organize all kind of demonstrations and bring all disciplines into the spotlights. Wouldn’t that be the most fantastic next achievement for the FCI ?

Sincerely

Karl DONVIL
Member of the Editorial Board of the FCI Newsletter