President’s Annual Report for 2004

Health Survey

The health survey has been compiled and the results will be evaluated by the AGSDCF, GSDCA, and AKC-CHF Boards to help direct funds to the diseases most prevalent in our breed. The results indicated the following areas of health concerns:

  • 26% Skeletal Problems:Hip Dysplasia, Ununited Anconeal Process, Spondylosis, Arthritis, and Panosteitis
  • 20% Gastrointestinal Problems:Bloat & Gastric Torsion, Intestinal Overgrowth(SIBO), Toxic Gut Syndrome, and Bowel (IBS) / IBD)
  • 13% Cancer: Osteosarcoma, Mammary, Hemangiosarcoma, Lymphosarcoma, and Mast Cell Tumors
  • 13% Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
  • 10% Degenerative Spinal Myelopathy (DM)
  • 5% Immune System
  • 5% Perianal Fistula
  • 8% Other: Heart & Vascular, Allergies, Bacterial & Fungal, Hypothyroidism, Urinary System, Skin , and Ocular Diseases

Grants

The Foundation has made several major grants in 2004:

  • $15.000 Degenerative Myelopathy Research, Dr.Roger Clemmons, University of Florida
  • $10,000 In addition to the initial donation, the AGSDCF will also match dollar for dollar, up to an additional $10,000 any contributionv made to the AGSDCF that are specifically earmarked for Clemmons’ research. Checks must be sent to the Foundation Treasurer.
  • $3,000 AKC Canine Health Foundation, Grant #2629: To Study Clinical and Immunological Outcomes in Dogs with Osteosarcoma treated with Intratumoral Interleukin-12 Microspheres, Dr.Stuart Helfand, University of Wisconsin
  • $15,000 AKC Canine Health Foundation, Grant #0276:To Study Microarray Analysis for Cardiac Gene Expression in German Shepherds with Sudden Death, Dr. Sydney Moise, Cornell University

Ginny Altman was appointed health liaison to coordinate the Foundation efforts to study the various research grants presently to the AKCCHF. A research grant proposal received by the AKC-CHF to find the PAA gene will be reviewed at the Annual Meeting.

In December of 2001, the AGSDCF Inc. donated Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) to the AKC-CHF. This amount was matched by the AKC-CHF to total of One Hundred Thousand dollars ($100,000) in research funds to be committed to the health needs of the German Shepherd Dog.

The donated fund is presently being held in an interest accumulating Donor Advised Fund until an appropriate research proposal is submitted and approved.

Heritage Society

The Heritage Society has several new members. The Foundation recognizes past donors as well as Heritage Society members on the Foundation web site. These donors are cumulative and divided into categories. Peter Cacioppo, our fund raising and structured gift ambassador, has made significant progress in our will and legacy contributions.

Foundation information in available on our new web site AGSDCF.org. This site includes the Foundation Officers, Directors, History, Grants, Contributions, Heritage Society, cookbook, Recognition sculpture, Annual Reports, Financial Reports as well as helpful links. The Foundation website has received over 7000 visitors.