The Kennel Club Charitable Trust announced today that it has provided over £1.9 million to projects dedicated to improving dog health and welfare on a local and national level since 2017. As part of the Kennel Club, the UK’s largest organisation devoted to dog health and welfare, the Kennel Club Charitable Trust supports projects and organisations which share its commitment to dog health and happiness, including health and science projects, welfare, and support organisations across the country.
Over £1.5 million of the total funding was used to support clinical research into dog health and diseases. The Kennel Club Cancer Centre at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) is one of the Trust’s long-term projects which contributes to the AHT’s well-established cancer research programme. Other research projects which received funding in recent years include the Brachycephalic Obstruction Airway Syndrome research group, research into ageing in canine liver and pancreas and study of T-cell lymphoma in dogs, all at the University of Cambridge.
Dr Elizabeth Soilleux, leader of the T-cell lymphoma research team, commented: “We are very grateful to the Kennel Club Charitable Trust for providing funding for our project which has a real potential to hopefully make a better test for canine lymphoma in the not too distant future. The funding substantially supported the project itself as well as the personal development of two exceptional scientists.”
The Kennel Club Charitable Trust also financially supports dog welfare and rescue organisations, including Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations that re-home dogs throughout the UK. This includes local rescue organisations dedicated to giving dogs a second chance and finding them forever homes as well as training, behavioural and veterinary organisations. The Kennel Club Charitable Trust also has a scheme running with the PDSA to provide much needed veterinary treatment through a fee claim back service.
The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) is the recipient of an annual bursary of £6,000. The bursary supports vet nurse students, covering their degree fees and other costs associated with learning and work placements. Alice Theobald, one of the recipients of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust BVNA bursary, said: “This bursary helped me to afford accommodation while studying away from home and covered travel costs during my work placement. I don’t think I’d be able to achieve all this without the extra funding and I am very grateful I had a chance to make the most of my course.”
In 2018 alone, the Kennel Club Charitable Trust granted nearly £130,000 to various welfare and rescue organisations including Refuge4Pets, a unique charity which helps pets belonging to victims of domestic abuse; a regional Welsh charity Hope Rescue which rehomes rescue dogs; and Battersea Academy which provides training for rescue organisation staff. Recipients from last year included Dog A.I.D., a charity which trains assistance dogs; Autism at Kingwood which practices animal-assisted intervention for adults with autism; and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue.
The Kennel Club Charitable Trust will continue to support organisations involved in dog health and welfare in the new decade with several funding projects already taking place. For example, Young Gloucestershire, a regional youth organisation supporting disadvantaged young people, is one of the confirmed recipients of funding for 2020. The funding will help Young Gloucestershire implement services of a therapy dog to their drop-in therapy service, helping to put young people at ease, lower anxiety and build their self-confidence. Success of similar therapy methods, referred to as animal assistance intervention, include patients overcoming anxiety about leaving house, improving their confidence in talking to the therapists or enhanced reading skills.
Visitors to Crufts, the world’s greatest celebration of dogs taking place from 5th – 8th March 2020, can learn more about the projects of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, including Kennel Club Breed Rescue and Dog A.I.D. Dogs from official Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations will be visiting the Kennel Club stand, giving show-goers the opportunity to learn more about the rescue programme and the adoption process.
The Kennel Club Charitable Trust will continue to support dog health and welfare through funding including its long-term partnership with the Animal Health Trust and other research groups, as well as supporting the education of veterinary professionals.
Find out more about the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, or donate to the Trust to make a real difference for dogs.
Visit the Kennel Club and Animal Health Trust stands at Crufts from 5th – 8th March 2020.