American Kennel Club Donates $110K to Search and Rescue Dog DNA Bank
American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) granted the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine $110,000 for continued research for the AKC CAR Detection Dog DNA Bank and Health Registry. This is the second wave of funding, following a $70,000 donation.
The database contains DNA and health information on search and rescue or “working dogs”. Working dogs are a key part to many safety missions to locate missing people, drugs or contraband, and other animals.
The database is part of the recently established Penn Vet Working dog Center and will assist search and rescue organizations, law enforcement, breeders, and handlers identify factors of search and rescue dogs.
Only about 30 percent of dogs that are inducted into detection training are successful. Researchers hope that the database information will assist in the selection of dogs that are fit to enter the program.
“The working dog community will benefit from this ground-breaking and far-sighted grant to enhance the breeding, selection and training of detection dogs,” says Cindy Otto, DVM, of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center.
There will be a conference held on Sept. 7-9 called “Defining, developing, and documenting success in working dogs” in Pearl River, N.Y.
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