Showsight December 2018

COLLABORATING ON THE GREATEST NEEDS IN CANINE HEALTH BY SHARON M. ALBRIGHT, DVM CCRT T he AKC Canine Health Foun- dation’s vision is to address the health needs of all dogs across their entire lifetime produced high quality Collies and Pem- broke Welsh Corgis, including more than 75 breed champions and at least one top ten Collie in each decade.

by focusing on their physical, mental, and social well-being. That’s a lot of science to cover! So how does AKC Canine Health Foundation address the full breadth of canine health issues affecting our beloved companions? They join forces with dog lovers like Robette Johns. A long-time Collie enthusiast, Robette helped pave the way for the prevailing culture of collaboration in canine health research. Thanks to the efforts of Robette and many others, AKC Canine Health Foundation works closely with AKC Parent Clubs, dog owners, breeders, veterinarians, and researchers alike to identify and select research projects of high scientific mer- it and those that address today’s great- est needs in canine health. Growing up with a Collie mix and watching the television show Lassie, Robette fell in love with Collies at a young age. As a teenager, she attended her first dog show and first Collie Club of America National Specialty and was hooked. She started showing in the breed ring and her third dog, a smooth- coated, tri-color bitch named “Mandy,” was her first breed champion, her first top ten Collie, and the foundation bitch for Row-Bar Kennel. Robette started a breeding program and worked as a pro- fessional handler. Based on the prem- ise that form follows function, which helped guide her breeding decisions, she also showed her dogs in obedi- ence and herding trials. Over the past forty-plus years, Row-Bar Kennel has

To give back to her beloved Collie breed and the sport, Robette became approved to judge Collies in the AKC Conformation ring and had her first provisional judging assignment in 1997. Since then she has been approved to judge Australian Shepherds, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Junior Showmanship, with plans to become approved for additional herd- ing breeds this year. As a breeder, judge, and active member of the Collie Club of America, Robette saw first-hand the health prob- lems facing Collies both as breeding stock and as family members. She was alarmed by the lack of genetic diversity and prevalence of auto-immune dis- ease in the breed. After breeding dogs for many years, she encountered Collie health issues such as dermatomyosi- tis and progressive retinal atrophy, as well as issues that affect many breeds and mixed breeds such as cancer, bloat, and epilepsy. She saw a critical need for canine health research to improve the well-being of her companions. Frustrated by their limited ability to financially support Collie medical research and related activities, the Col- lie Club of America created the Collie Health Foundation in 1986. It was the first breed-specific health foundation in the United States. Robette was an early member and corporator of the organi- zation and has remained active, serving several terms as an officer or corporator and currently serving as president. By 1997, as treasurer of the Collie Health

Robette Johns with Jessie and Paris

Foundation, Robette was managing the foundation’s donations to the AKC Canine Health Foundation and interact- ing with their staff on a regular basis. Things were starting to roll. Early on, Robette realized that by working together, AKC Canine Health Foundation and the Collie Health Foun- dation could have a greater impact on canine health. “I saw a positive change in the dog community and a chance to address the larger health issues affect- ing quality of life for dogs and the fami- lies that love them,” states Robette. The Canine Health Information Cen- ter (CHIC) DNA repository is a great example of the power of collaboration. AKC Canine Health Foundation part- nered with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals to create this resource,

164 • S how S ight M agazine , D ecember 2018

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