Foundation Fundamentals
Thank you to everyone for his and her terrific support of the American Spaniel Club Foundation at the National in Sturbridge! We had some great events.
• American Airlines donated 2 airline tickets to our fundraising raffle held at the show. ASCF received $1,600 contributed by ASC Cocker Spaniel National Attendee's. Joy Stevens of Massachusetts was the winner of the tickets. Congratulations, Joy! We hope to have 2 more tickets available to raffle in January!
• The Foundation sponsored the breeder education seminar, “Practical Applied Genetics” with Dr. Jerold Bell of Tufts University . Dr. Bell, a leading Geneticist, is also a breeder and exhibitor of Gordon Setters. The seminar was well attended with over 40 people taking advantage of this breed specific discussion. If you missed it or were unable to attend, the seminar is available on DVD for $25 plus $5 shipping and handling. Please contact Julie Virosteck (Julie@DoggoneCockers.com) to place your order. Order forms will be available on the ASC web site.
• Innovation was the name of the game out on the agility field. $265 was donated to Cocker Rescue through donations when bottled water was delivered ringside. Thank you Olga Evelyn, for making this happen!
New Era for the Foundation - Casino Night!
Push up your sleeves and learn to count to 21! The Foundation will host our first Casino Night with real dealers and 13 tables of poker, blackjack, roulette and craps. (You'll want to pick this up with more than just a pooper-scooper!) Win fabulous prizes and help our dogs! Want to sponsor a table? What great opportunity for recognition of your Club, your Kennel Name (or a group of names) or as a Memorial to family and canine friends. Sponsors will receive signage at their table. Cost of sponsoring a table is $250.00. This is a donation to the American Spaniel Club Foundation and is tax deductible. For more information watch the website, www.asc-cockerspaniel.org.
Got Questions?
(Contact Dee Torgerson at DeeTails@SBCGlobal.net or Julie Virosteck at Julie@DoggoneCockers.com)
Where does the money that I donate to the Foundation go?
The American Spaniel Club Foundation is a 501(c) 3 charitable organization. Our goals are to support, foster and promote the health and general well being of all Flushing Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels in particular. To that end, the Foundation supports Scientific Research, Breed Care, Education and Rescue. Here we will touch on:
• Scientific Research
In fiscal year 2005, we helped fund 3 programs with AKC/CHF. The first is a 2-year commitment of $2,500 for CHF grant #272, Gene Expression Profiling Lymphoma. The second is a 1-year commitment of $2,500 for CHF grant # 2247, Genetics of Susceptibility of Hypothyroid Disease. And the third is a 2-year commitment of $5,000 for CHF grant #305, Histocompatibility and Autoimmunity. Studies such as these are long-term commitments and may require hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep the research going until a discovery is made. As an example of the kind of commitment needed, The English Cocker Club of America donated almost $190,000 over 14 years to research which has lead to the development of a test for kidney disease in English Cocker Spaniels.
The American Kennel Club, giving our donated dollars more power, matches our donations through the AKC/CHF Program. Currently we are in the process of funding an “Acorn” program for the study of Liver Disease. An “Acorn” is a seed research project designed to allow researchers to complete small, relatively short timeframe projects, test research hypotheses, and/or generate preliminary data for grant proposals for larger scale or longer term studies. We will update you as more information becomes available.
• The Breed Care Program
Our “BreedCare – Banking on Our Future” program includes ASC/ASCF Sponsored DNA Banking. This is FREE DNA BANKING open to all ASC Cocker Breeders/Owners for future research. Did you know your local Cocker Spaniel Club could hold a DNA Banking Clinic? Contact Carol Rutherford at ornreone@mtco.com for more information. We have also made a $5,000.00 commitment for CERF registration reimbursement to all ASC members that participate in the AKC CHIC program. Look for more information in the next Bulletin.
• Education
The Foundation uses donated funds to support Breeders Education. Some of the seminars we've supported are the ABC's of Breeding (Jan. 06) and Practical Applied Genetics (July 06).
• Rescue
In the wake of hurricane Katrina, $13,835 was received for designated contribution of rescue and relief. The ASCF matched the first $5,000 . These funds were distributed through AKC's Companion Animal Recovery program. Additionally over $8,000 was distributed to other rescue efforts.
Watch future bulletins and the website for more ASC “Foundation Fundamentals.”
Give Back to the Breed that has Given So Much to You!
November 15, 2006
AMERICAN SPANIEL CLUB FOUNDATION RECRUITS DNA SAMPLES
FOR EYE DISEASE STUDY
The American Spaniel Club Foundation is coordinating the distribution of
sample collection kits for an eye research study underway in England that
includes Cocker Spaniels.
Researcher Catherine Mellersh DVM, needs cheek swab samples from registered
purebred Cocker Spaniels anywhere in the world. ASC-F Scientific Research
Committee members, Debi Lampert-Rudman is the project coordinator
responsible for distributing the cheek swabs. Owners should contact Debi to
request Swab Kits.
Criteria for the study are:
1) Affected dogs with either PRA or HC (hereditary cataract)
2) Close relatives of affected dogs (parents, siblings, off-spring).
3) Dogs six years old or older who are clear of eye conditions determined by
AVCO exam. The later the better, as these dogs will be controls.
All materials (swabs, forms and mailing envelopes) are provided in the kits.
Owners are asked to include *five generation pedigree* & *most current eye
exam* for each dog sampled (affecteds and clear dogs). Samples, form,
pedigree and copy of the eye exam are mailed by Owners DIRECTLY TO Animal
Health Trust in England.
To request Swabs, email Debi at Bonbritany@aol.com with
the number of Swabs
kits needed, or owners can also request kits directly from Dr. Mellersh's
lab at bryan.mclaughlin@aht.org.uk
The American Spaniel Club Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3)
organization established for the health and welfare of flushing spaniels,
and particularly Cocker Spaniels.
