Frequently Asked Questions
AKC Canine Health Foundation Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is canine genetic research so important?
- Does canine health research help all dogs or just some breeds?
- Is it true that some canine health research also advances human health?
- How can I help advance canine health research?
- How much has the AKC Canine Health Foundation raised for research programs?
- Who pays for the travel, lodging, meals, etc. for the Officers and Directors to attend meetings? (Is there any compensation of any type given to the Officers and Directors?)
- I have witnessed a dog kennel that seems to be practicing some unhealthy habits. I need some information that will help me fight this issue in my community. Who should I contact regarding this matter?
Question: Why is canine genetic research
so important?
Answer: Human and agricultural animal health research
is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department
of Agriculture (DA) and many other public and private agencies. However, canine
health receives no direct federal support and little private support. The AKC
Canine Health Foundation is the only national foundation with the exclusive
mission of advancing canine health. Many times both human and and other animal
health research can add dogs as a focus with a small amount of additional funding.
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Question: Does canine health research help all dogs or just some breeds?
Answer: Every advancement in canine health research
helps us fill in more parts of the puzzle. This is particularly true in genetic
research, which is one of the major funding activities for the Foundation.
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Question: Is it true that some canine health research also advances human health?
Answer: Yes, in fact the genetic canine health research
is a two way street. While many advances in human medicine help dogs, there
are advances in canine research that help human researchers particularly in
the area of genetics. The homology between the human genome and the canine
genome is over 85%. Scientists can also study dog families much easier than
human families. Each breed is in fact a very extended family - and a genetic
isolate. Dogs, particularly purebred dogs, have extensive pedigrees and usually
several offspring. All of these things make studying genetics in dogs much
more efficient.
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Question: How can I help advance genetic
canine health research?
Answer: Learn about the many ways science is advancing health. Tell others what you find out and support the efforts of your club in hosting canine health education programs. Finally, offer your support through donations to the annual fund or through a bequest.
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Question: How much has the AKC Canine Health Foundation raised for research programs?
Answer: The AKC Canine Health Foundation helps dogs
live longer, healthier lives by raising funds for health research that benefits
all dogs and people. Founded by the American Kennel Club in 1995 as a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit charitable organization. Since 1995 our donors have contributed more
than $25 million to support canine health initiatives - with the American Kennel
Club contributing more than $10 million toward that total. In our short 10-years,
the CHF has allocated more than $13 million in health research funds to more
than 275 studies in nearly all of the top diseases in dogs, which include:
cancer, eye disease, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, thyroid disease, heart disease,
autoimmune disease, allergies, patellar luxation and renal dysplasia.
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Question: Who pays for the travel, lodging,
meals, etc. for the Officers and Directors to attend meetings? Is there any compensation
of any type given to the Officers and Directors?
Answer: The officers and directors of the AKC Canine
Health Foundation do not receive any compensation for their service on the
AKC/CHF Board of Directors. They also do not receive any reimbursement for
their expenses to travel or attend quarterly meetings. In fact, it costs them
their personal time and expenses in order to serve. In addition to this, they
make annual contributions to the Foundation. Some of the contributions made
by members include contributing to the annual fund, and contributing to special
events from their own personal funds. This can range from $1,000 to $10,000
per year per member.
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Question: I have witnessed a dog kennel that seems to be practicing some unhealthy habits. I need some information that will help me fight this issue in my community. Who should I contact regarding this matter?
Answer: You should report your concerns to the local humane society and the investigations department of the American Kennel Club. The AKC investigations department can be contacted by phoning 1-800-221-4172.
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