Purina Walk of Champions Paves the Way to a Healthier Future for Dogs
[Friday, May 28, 2010]
A brick walkway honoring dogs that have earned titles in any canine sport will pave the way to the new Purina Event Center, which opens this fall at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, Missouri, and will also help support the Canine Health Foundation.
The Purina Walk of Champions contains about 4,000 bricks leading to the entrance of the world-class, multimillion-dollar indoor facility. The Event Center will host all-breed dog shows, national specialties, agility and obedience trials.
"The engraved brick pavers that make up the Purina Walk of Champions are a wonderful way to pay tribute to a special dog," says Cindy Vogels, chairman of the Canine Health Foundation. "The gesture extends not only to your own dog but to dogs everywhere through support of canine health research."
Owners may purchase bricks in their dogs' honor by providing $100 to the Canine Health Foundation. Of this amount, $70 is a tax-deductible donation. The largest nonprofit organization that funds health research exclusively for canines, the Canine Health Foundation has awarded nearly $24 million since 1995 to support canine health research at veterinary schools and research institutions worldwide.
Ann Viklund, Purina Director of Conformation, Sporting and Breeder Marketing, says, "We are pleased to offer this opportunity to the dog fancy. The Walk of Champions will be noticed by all who visit the Purina Event Center. It provides a way of commemorating special dogs forever."
Since 1997, Purina and the Canine Health Foundation have worked together to support canine health studies that will benefit dogs and those who love them. Many groundbreaking discoveries and collaborations have taken place in many areas of canine health and genetics because of this liaison.
For information about purchasing a brick on the Purina Walk of Champions contact the Canine Health Foundation at 888-682-9696 or click here to purchase your brick online.
Click here for more information about the Purina Event Center.
Contact: Erica Kitchen Director of Development Canine Health Foundation 919-334-4010 888-682-9696 www.CanineHealthFoundation.org
The Canine Health Foundation, founded in 1995, is the largest nonprofit worldwide to fund health research exclusively for canines. Our goal is to help dogs live longer, healthier lives. The Canine Health Foundation is the leader in non-invasive genetic health research, stem cell research, and biotherapeutics benefiting both canines and humans. Through the generous financial support of Nestlé Purina PetCare Co., the American Kennel Club and Pfizer Animal Health, as well as thousands of clubs and individuals, we’re proud to announce we have allocated nearly $24 million to canine health research at veterinary schools and research institutions worldwide.
HEALTH UPDATE
I am incredibly excited to announce that our board has approved our participation in a study on Leggs-Calve Perthes Disease, otherwise known as LCP. This is the study I spoke of in the last newsletter, and that Dr. Fecher wrote a nice article about for the membership to learn a little about this disease. Researchers from Texas A&M and Cornell Universities are collaborating on this project, and we have been invited to become active in the world of health research for our breed. Both coats may participate, and they need samples from affected AS WELL AS unaffected dogs. This means that everyone can help the researchers get the data they need and participate! The information needed to send a sample will be included in this newsletter as well on the new members only website.
Let us make this opportunity a success and get excited about helping the researchers help us breed healthy dogs! Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I have moved, so my information has changed. My phone is 518-325-1487 and my new E-mail is brocaire@fairRoint.net . You may also contact Dr.Tsai (ktsai@cvm.tamu.cdu ) or Dr.Starr (astarr@cvm.tamu.edu) at Texas A&M . Please help us out and send a sample in!
