Non Profit Foundations Benefit our Breeds

The Clumber Spaniel Health Foundation, created by members of the Clumber Spaniel Club of America, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for health research in their beloved breed. A low registration breed with a relatively small gene pool, the breeders were making progress on the breed’s health issues but wanted to do more.

It Is Our Responsibility to Act

“While there is no doubt our breed has come a long way in the last 25 years,” CSHF President Jen Amundsen notes on the organization’s website, “health issues such as immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, disc disease, cardiomyopathy, and hemangiosarcoma are taking many of our Clumbers much too early in life. It is our responsibility to act.”

Dr. Roe Froman, DVM referenced the Margaret Mead quote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” as her rallying cry in creating the group that formed the Foundation.

This group has, in fact, changed their world. The CSCA, with a membership of roughly 300, has raised over $100,000 for the Foundation in the last 10 years. The DNA bank Froman created also helped identify gene markers and DNA testing for PDP1, a very specific neurological disease, that is now virtually eliminated in the breed. CSHF pools its resources through the AKC’s Canine Health Foundation, Morris Animal Foundation, and others, to support research being done on diseases of specific importance to the Clumber Spaniel. Amundsen, an attorney who specializes in work that affects dog owners, provides an excellent tutorial in this episode about the actual how and why of creating a 501c3 non-profit organization for dog clubs. Groups seeking non-profit status for fundraising on health research, rescue, education, or any similar venture, will value her suggestions. While some of the more populous breeds’ parent clubs have already created Foundations to address some of these topics, Amundsen and Froman give hope, encouragement, and direction to members of smaller clubs for ways in which they can create a positive impact for their breeds Don’t miss Allison Foley’s Tip of the Week from the Leading Edge Dog Show Academy on flying with your dog in a cabin and how to get through airport screening safely and easily with your pet in a carry-on bag. LINKS:

• http://www.clumberhealth.org
• https://www.facebook.com/dogsavvylawyer/
• http://leadingedge-dog-show-academy.teachable.com/courses