Clean Run - September 2017 - 7

© Mia Grant

FOR YOUR INFORmAtION - By Brenna Fender

AKC News
Starting January 2, 2018, handlers say goodbye to the 26"
jump height class; it is being replaced with the 24" Choice
class. This class is for handlers who want to jump their
dogs 24" even though those dogs measure into lower
jump heights. Specifically, this optional jump height
class is open to dogs entered in the Regular division that
measure 22" and under only. Dogs that measure 22" and
over that are already required to jump 24" will stay in the
"normal" 24" height class.
This change separates the smaller dogs from those that
legitimately must jump 24". So while there will be no
differences in equipment height or requirements between the 24" and 24" Choice classes, the dogs will not
compete against each other for placements. The course
times for the 24" Choice will be the same as the 20"
height in all classes.
This new height class will be offered in all levels of the
Regular titling classes.
I see a lot of people fundraising to cover their personal international agility team expenses. Are they
supposed to pay taxes on the money they make?
Anyone doing fundraising should talk to an accountant
or tax preparer to get information specific to their circumstances, which may differ based on home state and
current federal rules. However, Angela A. Fink, CPA,
has shared some general information:
"The tax code states that personal income taxes must be
paid on income from any source. The only time contributions are not taxable is when they're donated to a registered not-for-profit organization. In those cases, the donor can also deduct the contribution from their personal
taxes. Soliciting donations for world team participation
would, therefore, not be tax deductible for the person
making the donation and would be taxable to the person
receiving the contribution. Also note that the person so-

liciting the donation can deduct any expenses incurred
for the solicitation; for instance, if they bought t-shirts to
sell, the cost of those shirts would be deductible against
the subsequent donations."
Any amount collected may be taxable, so even smallscale fundraising activities may be of concern.
I thought I had finished my AKC Novice Agility title
and I moved up. After getting two Open legs, I realized my mistake. What happens to my Open legs?
Unfortunately, in AKC agility you will lose those legs because you entered a class for which you were not eligible.
I was surprised to attend a USDAA trial and get
placement ribbons even though I didn't qualify.
Which organizations require qualifying scores to
get placements and which don't?
American Kennel Club (AKC), UK Agility International (UKI), and United Kennel Club (UKC) all require that you earn a qualifying score in order to be
eligible to place. This means that it is possible for
no placement awards be given for a class if no one
qualifies in it!
Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA), Canine
Performance Events (CPE), Dog Agility Clubs of North
America (DOCNA), North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC), Teacup Dog Agility Association (TDAA),
and United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA) do
not require a qualifying score to earn a placement. So, the
top scores of the day earn placement awards regardless of
whether those scores were qualifying.
At AKC trials, can clubs use tunnels with a 26"
diameter? Or does it have to be 24"?
The AKC requires that tunnels have a diameter of 24"
plus or minus 2", so 26" tunnels are allowed. Some clubs
purposefully use 26" tunnels to allow big dogs a little
more space. D

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