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Premier 2020 is officially canceled

All entries will be automatically refunded

July 10, 2020

Email: premier@ukcdogs.com

While planning Premier, UKC has continually monitored the health situation, guidelines, and restrictions in Michigan related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Premier Safety Guidelines and adjusted event layouts were designed in accordance with the CDC's social distancing guidelines and in adherence with local mandates to make Premier as safe as possible. We knew we could make the best of it as long as it was within state guidelines to do so. We were hopeful that Michigans COVID-19 infection trajectory would put us well within Phase 5 of the MI Safe Start Plan by mid-August, but that has become increasingly unlikely with the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Michigan. As of this writing, the Southwest Michigan region of the state remains in Phase 4, limiting in-state gatherings to 100 people in outdoor spaces; no timeline has been given for when Southwest Michigan may enter into Phase 5.

Out of respect to you, your time, your travel plans, and your budgeting, United Kennel Club has officially made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Premier scheduled for August 13-16 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In giving more than a month's notice of this cancellation, we hope that all our exhibitors will avoid further uncertainties as it pertains to traveling and planning for Premier.

We are extremely grateful for our exhibitors' continued interest in Premier. The strong entry numbers that Premier was seeing prove that many of you are looking forward to shaking off the dust and getting out with your dog(s). We look forward to seeing you at an event in the future.

While the in-person Premier event that we all know and love is being put on hold this year, we are excited to announce our efforts to host a virtual Premier event! Specific details are still being worked on, but please stay tuned for more information in the days ahead. We are hopeful that many of you who planned to come to Kalamazoo will be able to enjoy this fun alternative!

What you need to know

  • All entries will be automatically refunded.
    *Credit card refunds will be processed within the coming week and should be seen on your card within 7 to 10 days.
    *Check refunds will be mailed within the coming week. Please allow for extended mailing time as the post office has been experiencing delays.
    *Mailed entries that have not been processed will be mailed back within the coming week.
  • If you reserved an on-grounds campsite, Kalamazoo Expo Center will automatically cancel your stay and issue a refund.
  • You will need to cancel your own hotel reservations.
  • Clothing orders will remain open! Any clothing orders already placed will be shipped as indicated (2-3 weeks after the order was placed). The first batch will be finalized and mailed July 17th. Now is the time to snag a limited-edition Premier shirt with the August dates!

2019 All Stars, Top Ten and Top Junior Invitational

All 2019 Invitational qualifiers will be invited to compete on June 17, 2021 alongside the 2020 qualifiers. We will continue our 2020 rankings and dogs and handlers can qualify for a certificate and invitation for 2021 Premier.

We know this announcement will disappointment many, and we share in that disappointment. Premier has never been canceled before, so its a shock to us as well. We cant wait to see you safe and healthy in the coming months!

Guided by the belief that dogs make a difference by being the best partner a human can have in the field, on the job, or in a competition event, UKC is a community for people and dogs to pursue excellence together. Founded in 1898, UKC has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of Dogs That Do More, and their owners, by providing essential resources to help owners and breeders make informed decisions. The dog-human bond is celebrated through family-friendly programs highlighting the instincts and heritage of purebred and mixed-breed dogs alike at over 15,000 licensed events annually.

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