Six organizations that over the past 20 years combined to donate more than $3.3 million to the American Kennel Club’s Canine Health Foundation have been named Distinguished Research Partners. Recognized Dec. 11 during the foundation’s Canine & Cocktails event in Orlando, Fla., were the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the Irish Setter Club of America Foundation, the Newfoundland Club of America Charitable Trust, the Collie Health Foundation, the Golden Retriever Foundation and the American Boxer Charitable Foundation. The amounts raised by the groups to assist with canine research ranged from the Irish Setter Club’s $131,100 to the American Boxer foundation’s $1,180,130. “These clubs and organizations are making a lasting impact on canine health,” said Shila Nordone, MS, Ph.D., the Canine Health Foundation’s chief scientific officer. “Their donations … are supporting research that addresses some of the most prominent health concerns for our dogs. We are tackling cancer, subaortic stenosis, hypothyroidism, degenerative myelopathy, epilepsy, bloat and cardiomyopathy. “Together, we are working to provide better treatments and more accurate diagnoses for all dogs.” The Canine Health Foundation, a grant-making institution, will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2015. The foundation also honored Thomas A. Grabe, publisher of The Canine Chronicle, with the 2014 President’s Award for his contributions to the Raleigh, N.C.-based group.
