A Word or Two From AKC President & CEO Dennis Sprung

A Word or Two From AKC President & CEO Dennis Sprung

Hello! We are back with some exciting updates and important reminders. We are honored to continue to share this information with our core constituency once again. Your consistent commitment, dedication, continual contributions, and volunteerism to AKC are vital and appreciated.

The first highlight is that we are celebrating our 140th Anniversary this September 17th! The AKC has grown into the world’s largest not-for-profit dog registry and is the second-oldest amateur sport-governing body in the country. We are the premier destination for all things dog and continue to promote canine health and well-being and responsible dog ownership. Through public education programs, legislative and advocacy efforts, advancing canine health, and working to protect the rights of all dog owners, we provide the highest level of guidance to over 5,000 clubs and affiliated organizations nationally.

For this milestone anniversary, we are celebrating by lighting the Empire State Building and the Helmsley Building with our colors, blue and white. The lighting ceremony will take place on September 16th at 3:00 p.m.

To learn more about how we make a world better for dogs, visit: https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn-origin-etr.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/04162319/American-Kennel-Club-Not-Just-Champion-Dogs-We-are-the-Dogs-Champion_Dec-2023-update.pdf

I am pleased to report that the AKC Purebred Preservation Bank (AKC PPB) now has donations from 15 different breeds of purebred dogs. The origins of AKC PPB began in 2021 with the idea that AKC should explore establishing a frozen semen program which would increase gene pools, ensure saving of quality producers, and make it very easy for each Parent Club to take this step for their breed.

The mission of the AKC PPB is to ensure the viability of purebred dogs both now and in the future, particularly in low population breeds. Semen preserved today could help us save an endangered breed in the future and enhance existing gene pools.

The AKC PPB continues to coordinate efforts with Parent Clubs, as well as educate breeders and the public about the importance of safeguarding frozen semen and protecting purebred dog breeds for future decades.

Dr. Charles Garvin and Dr. Marty Greer presented a new webinar on AKC PPB on August 28th that highlights updates on the program and its importance. The link to view this informational webinar is available for everyone on the AKC PPB website.

To learn more about the AKC PPB, please visit: https://akcppb.org.

Lastly, The AKC Canine Health Foundation, in collaboration with the American Kennel Club, is excited to announce that Colorado State University and Penn Vet (University of Pennsylvania) are the first recipients of AKC/AKC CHF Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency Program Awards.

This program was launched in February of 2024 with intentions of increasing the number of specialists trained to meet the unique needs of athletic and working dogs, as well as dogs in need of rehabilitation. The generous support from the Golden Retriever Foundation® (GRF) has provided a jump start to this program, allowing support for two residency programs in the first year. Each school will receive $100,000 annually to support a three-year residency.

Congratulations to the following schools that will be receiving these awards.

• Colorado State University’s Small Animal Orthopedic Medicine and Mobility Service offers its residents a varied caseload, strong mentors, and excellent resources. Clinicians and residents in this program consistently publish their research results in peer-reviewed journals to advance the science of canine rehabilitation medicine.
• Penn Vet’s Canine Sports and Performance Medicine Service provides a research-intensive environment with many opportunities for residents to perform clinical duties and contribute evidence-based medical recommendations for canine athletes.

With generous support from the AKC, breed clubs, and all dog lovers, CHF remains committed to meeting the ever-changing needs of veterinary medicine and canine health through cutting-edge science and educational grants. Learn more about these efforts at: https://www.akcchf.org/educational-resources/educational-grants/.

With generous support from the AKC, breed clubs, and all dog lovers, CHF remains committed to meeting the ever-changing needs of veterinary medicine and canine health through cutting-edge science and educational grants.

Once again, I am appreciative for each of your contributions as responsible breeders, delegates, exhibitors, handlers, owners, judges, and superintendents. You are truly what makes us great.