Kennel Club of Philadelphia awards $400,000 to dog-related organizations

Mary Swift / stock.adobe.com

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia (KCP) has gifted $400,000 to 4 noteworthy dog-related organizations including $100,000 each to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, AKC Reunite, Take the Lead, and the AKC Canine Health Foundation.

"We are reaching a wonderful combination of recipients once again this year, all of which are important parts of our world," said Wayne Ferguson, president of the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, in an organizational release.

"This allows us to help improve the lives and health of dogs and other animals, care for people in need in the dog show world, and help the communities where dogs have key roles in public safety and our daily lives,” he continued.

University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

This grant to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine will be allotted to the Walter Flato Goodman Center for Comparative Medical Genetics to support and encourage interdisciplinary research and training in this broad field of science associated with the role of genes in disease. This includes the detection and characterization of genes that cause disease, plus the application of genetic knowledge to diagnose, treat, and prevent genetic diseases, according to the release.

"Essentially all genetic diseases that occur in humans can be expected to occur in dogs and other mammals due to the basic homology between the human genome and the genomes of other mammalian species," said John H. Wolfe, VMD, PhD, director of the Walter Flato Goodman Center for Comparative Medical Genetics.

"The school has a long and thriving relationship with the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, we thank them for that and we are excited to get the assistance to be able to carry on our work for the benefit of people and animals,” he added.

AKC Reunite Adopt a K-9 Cop matching grant program

Through its Adopt a K-9 Cop matching grant program, AKC Reunite collaborates with AKC member clubs to gift K-9 police dogs to police departments nationwide. These donations address the financial need that arises when budget issues and other factors cause challenges to adding or replacing dogs.

"AKC Reunite matches funds donated by clubs at a three-to-one ratio, up to $10,000 total per dog," said Tom Sharp, president and CEO of AKC Reunite. "The generous donation from the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, combined with AKC Reunite's match, will provide for 40 K-9 Cops around the country.”

Take the Lead

According to the release, Take The Lead (TTL) offers direct services, support, and care for qualified people in the sport of dogs who are suffering from life-threatening and terminal illnesses, natural disasters, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, lost jobs, lost income, and health insurance complications. TTL has donated $7.3 million to people in need throughout its approximately 30 years of operation.

"We have had great support from kennel clubs all over the country through the years to keep our endowment healthy for years to come," said founder and vice chairman, Thomas H. Bradley, 3d. "The Kennel Club of Philadelphia has certainly helped to lead the way. We are grateful, once again, and thank them for their generosity to us and to our sport."

AKC Canine Health Foundation

For more than 25 years, the AKC Health Foundation has been making a difference for dogs, dog parents, breeders, and researchers by helping improve the health of all dogs and their owners.

"The AKC Canine Health Foundation has a long and valued relationship with The Kennel Club of Philadelphia," said Darin Collins, DVM, CEO of the AKC Canine Health Foundation, in the release.

"This generous gift, made possible by Mr Wayne Ferguson, President of The Kennel Club of Philadelphia, and all the KCP membership, will be used to further advance our funding of research that promotes the health of all dogs, everywhere. Thank you, KCP,” he added.

Reference

Kennel Club of Philadelphia once again shares its success with dogs and people in need. News release. Kennel Club of Philadelphia. February 16, 2022. Accessed February 16, 2022. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kennel-club-of-philadelphia-once-again-shares-its-success-with-dogs-and-people-in-need-301481708.html