K9 College Raises $7,500 for Canine Health

The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is pleased to announce that it recently received a donation in the amount of $7,500 from the K9 College.  The donation represents the proceeds raised from the Dog Show at Sea, a fundraiser conducted during the 6th annual K9 College Cruise.  The K9 College Cruise is an educational event sponsored by the Lancaster Kennel Club, Lancaster, PA, and Nestle Purina.  

 During K9 College days at sea, cutting-edge canine seminars are conducted by a faculty of world-class experts.   The ever-changing faculty offers the very latest in canine education on a broad range of topics.   Fourteen to eighteen different seminars are featured during the K9 College Cruise every year.  All of them are geared toward providing practical knowledge that students can apply to their breeding programs, training regimens, relationships with dogs, and to their dogs’ health and well-being.

 During the 2010 K9 Cruise, Karen Sanders, Silken Windhound breeder and 5-year K9 Cruiser from Oregon, recounted how she was able to save a litter of 14 premature puppies as a result of techniques she learned during K9 College seminars.  It's experiences like this that keep many K9 cruisers coming back year after year.   Another veteran cruiser writes, "My head was literally bursting at the seams by the end of the cruise.  There was just so much information to absorb.  Many things I thought I knew turned out to be a myth!  The speakers were awesome and presented information based on the latest research.  I'll be back!" 

 2010 marked the first year that the K9 College has aligned their fundraising efforts with CHF.  In explaining this decision, K9 College founder Katie Markley stated:

 "The goal of the Dog Show at Sea as a fundraiser is to support an organization that directly benefits dogs.  While there are certainly many fine charities from which to choose, I think CHF is one that everyone can embrace and be proud to support.   The foundation is the largest non-profit funder of exclusively canine health research in the world, and I think the fact that they've received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for five consecutive years is significant.  What's more, the diversity of CHF research provides our BIS winner the opportunity to "personalize" the donation.  I've only been involved with dogs for 7 years, but three years ago, I lost a 15 month old Swissy to lymphoma, so it would be easy for me to take personal satisfaction in channeling funds toward lymphoma research.  Many of the K9 cruisers have been involved with dogs all their lives so I know there's sure to be a CHF research project that they would take personal satisfaction in designating as the recipient of the K9 College fundraiser."

 Next year, the 7th annual K9 College Cruise will sail from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida aboard Holland America's Ms Westerdam, departing February 18th, returning February 25th, with ports-of-call at Half Moon Cay, Aruba, and Curacao.  As usual, an all-star faculty will be on-board to present challenging, thought-provoking seminars:

 Reservations for the 2011 K9 College Cruise are now being taken.  Additional information can be found at www.k9collegecruise.com or by calling 800-979-8687.