News

 

DCA LETTER TO REGION CHAIRS

 

 

April 23, 2009

Dear Region Chairs:

    Region 1: Cathy Sorenson

Region 2: Arnold Lopez

          Region 3: Karen Burke Murray

Region 4: Shawn Nies

Region 5: Brian Owen

Region 6: Andy Kostic

Since the 1980’s, the Dachshund Club of America’s (“DCA”) Regionalization Program served the

Dachshund fancy, local Dachshund clubs, and DCA very well. Several of the 6 DCA Regions worked

within the Program to provide valuable services such as competitive events, education, and rescue.

DCA Regional competitive events also gave many new Dachshund clubs the opportunity to get

experience offering events and eventually offer their own AKC licensed competitive events. During

that time, DCA gave the Regions complete responsibility for running their programs, events, and

services and allowed the Regions to hold DCA’s monies in each Region. DCA’s only requirements of

each Region were that each Region submit an annual financial report to DCA, so the DCA Treasurer

could comply with Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) regulations that apply to annual financial

reporting and income tax filings. DCA also required each Region to send a $1.00 per entry fee to

DCA for each competitive event (specialty, field trial, etc.)

CURRENT SITUATION

In recent years, the number of programs, events, and services offered by each DCA Region has

varied significantly. Some Regions have very active organizations that run regular Regional

meetings, events, educational activities, and services such as rescue, while other Regions are much

less active. Similarly, some Regions have done a great job providing DCA with annual financial

reports, while others have, at best, been inconsistent with their financial reporting. Some have not

provided any annual financial reports to DCA in recent years and may not even have bank accounts,

so they can track spending and revenues. The DCA Treasurer has repeatedly, but unsuccessfully,

tried to obtain annual financial reports from all 6 DCA Regions each year. Several DCA Regions also

did not send DCA the $1.00 per entry fee for their 2008 events. In addition, during the past year,

DCA incurred a large AKC fine for one of the DCA Region’s failure to submit an event application on

time – the DCA Region ultimately paid the fine. AKC delayed approval of the 2009 DCA National

Specialty and other DCA Region events for this violation of AKC event regulations until the fine was

paid.

Also, over the past few years, and especially since the events of September 11, 2001, the IRS has

been tightening its reporting requirements for non-profit organizations. Despite several DCA

requests for the IRS to recognize our Regions as “sub-units” of DCA and allow them to file their own

financial reports and tax returns separately with the IRS, the IRS has denied these requests. So,

the IRS holds DCA, the parent club, responsible for the finances and financial reporting of the

______________________________________________

Marlies Noll, Secretary 31030 108th Street, Princeton, MN 55371-4646

Phone: 1-763-389-4622 Email: mdachs@aol.com

Page 2

Regions, even though DCA cannot prove to the IRS that DCA is reporting all of the financial

activities of DCA’s Regions to the IRS nor vouch for how the revenues are raised, that they are

expended properly, or that appropriate internal control procedures are in place. Failure to comply

with the IRS requirements for accurate financial reporting and tax return filing could lead to DCA

being required to pay fines to the IRS and possibly lose its non-profit status (and then being

required to pay federal income taxes).

DCA is a non-profit organization, incorporated in the state of New York. It’s important to

understand that DCA’s articles of incorporation (which are the legal governing rules for DCA) state

that DCA is a club of individual members, not a “club of clubs.” By contrast, The American

Kennel Club (“AKC”) is a “club of clubs” – individuals cannot join AKC. Because DCA is legally a club

of individual members, the IRS cannot and will not recognize affiliate clubs, organizations, or subunits

of DCA such as the current DCA Regions.

The DCA Board has discussed this dilemma at its Board meetings and tried to develop a solution

that will allow the “best” of what our current Regions offer to Dachshund fanciers, while eliminating

DCA’s risk with the IRS. It appointed Bob Wlodkowski, Director and Board Liaison to DCA Regions,

Carl Holder, President, Ken Levison, Treasurer, and Marlies Noll, Secretary, to the Regionalization

Project Committee to recommend solutions to the Board.

CONCLUSION

At the January 24, 2009 Board meeting, the DCA Board approved a motion to eliminate DCA

Regions, effective January 1, 2010. The DCA Board examined a number of other alternatives before

making this decision. But after talking with DCA’S auditor, it was the only alternative available to

DCA that would eliminate our risk of non-compliance with IRS regulations and protect the club’s

non-profit status. Please review the attachment that contains details on the transition process, how

Regional finances and monies will be handled, how future DCA events may be offered in different

parts of the country, Questions and Answers, and other important information.

Here are some key points regarding the changes to Regionalization:

1. DCA will continue its geographic DCA Regions for the purpose of rotating the DCA National

specialties and performance events and other events, functions, and activities for which DCA

wants to maintain a geographic balance.

2. Local Dachshund clubs will still be able to offer DCA specialties, companion events, and

performance events in their areas. The difference is that these events will be managed by

local Dachshund clubs, not DCA Regions.

3. Local Dachshund clubs will have complete financial responsibility for the finances of DCA

events they manage. Local Dachshund clubs will benefit from any profits made and bear

any losses incurred.

4. DCA will no longer charge a $1.00 per entry fee for DCA specialties, companion events, and

performance events.

We will schedule 2 or 3 teleconference meetings so we can discuss your questions, concerns, and

the best way to communicate with the Regions, local clubs, and DCA members. You will be able to

choose 1 of these at your convenience. We will email you the dates, times, and teleconference

instructions.

______________________________________________

Marlies Noll, Secretary 31030 108th Street, Princeton, MN 55371-4646

Phone: 1-763-389-4622 Email: mdachs@aol.com

Page 3

Sincerely,

Bob Wlodkowski, Carl Holder, Ken Levison, & Marlies Noll

CC: DCA Board of Directors

1

ATTACHMENT

DCA REGIONALIZATION

MOTION (FROM THE JANUARY 24, 2009 DCA BOARD MEETING):

1. Effective December 31, 2009, the DCA Regionalization program and DCA Region organizations are

eliminated.

2. Each of the 6 DCA Regions is required to return the monies accumulated from the running of DCA

Regional events to DCA by November 1, 2009, unless the Region has formed or forms a legal, nonprofit

entity with an IRS taxpayer identification number by that date. DCA will donate monies

returned by each DCA Region (which has not formed a legal, non-profit entity with an IRS taxpayer

identification number) to one of the following organizations chosen by that Region:

DCA Health & Welfare Trust Fund

DCA Betty McNiell Dachshund Rescue Fund

AKC Canine Health Foundation (“CHF”) with funds dedicated to health research on Dachshund

health issues

3. A DCA Region that is or forms a legal, non-profit entity with an IRS taxpayer identification number

may retain its monies.

PROCESS & RULES TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES TO THE REGION STRUCTURE

􀂾 For a DCA Region that forms a legal, non-profit entity:

1. By November 1, 2009 the Region will send the following written documentation to Ken

Levison, DCA Treasurer:

Name of the new legal, non-profit entity and IRS taxpayer identification number.

Bylaws for the new entity

Articles of incorporation for the new entity

Complete financial report, showing the 2008 ending balance, 2009 income and expenses

and the balance in its Treasury to the DCA Treasurer.

2. The legal entity cannot have the name of The Dachshund Club of America, Inc. or DCA in the

legal name of its new entity or organization.

3. The legal entity shall not conduct business, events, and activities on behalf of or in the name

of DCA.

4. Monies held by the DCA Region prior to November 1, 2009 will become the property of the

new organization/club and considered income to that organization/club. DCA will report the

transfer of those funds from DCA to the new organization to the IRS – and the

organization/club will need to report that as income for the tax year, 2009, if appropriate.

􀂾 For a DCA Region that does not form a legal, non-profit entity by November 1, 2009:

􀂾 By November 1, 2009:

1. The DCA Region will notify the DCA Treasurer stating that it has not formed a legal, nonprofit

entity.

2. The DCA Region will send its monies to the DCA Treasurer, along with a financial report

showing the 2008 ending balance, 2009 income and expenses and the balance in its

Treasury.

3. The DCA Region will select one of the three dog-related charities listed below and instruct

the DCA Treasurer to donate its monies to it.

DCA Health & Welfare Trust Fund

DCA Betty McNeill Rescue Fund

AKC Canine Health Foundation (“CHF”)

4. The DCA Treasurer will make the donation to the charity selected by the DCA Region

2

DCA REGIONALIZATION – QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. QUESTION: Why is DCA eliminating the DCA Region organizations?

ANSWER: While in the past, DCA Region organizations have offered valuable events and services

to Dachshund fanciers, exhibitors, owners, and local clubs, current Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”)

regulations and DCA’s own articles of incorporation do not allow DCA to have affiliate clubs,

subsidiary organizations or sub-units like the DCA Regions.

2. QUESTION: Are DCA’s articles of incorporation the same as DCA’s Bylaws?

ANSWER: No. DCA is a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of New York. DCA’s

articles of incorporation are the legally binding governing documents required for DCA to operate as

a corporation – in order for DCA to incorporate in New York, DCA had to file these documents with

the state many years ago. DCA’s Bylaws are a separate document with more specific rules for

governing DCA – but our Bylaws DO need to be consistent with our articles of incorporation.

3. QUESTION: DCA encouraged the formation of DCA Region organizations many years ago. Did

DCA not know the IRS regulations on subsidiary organizations or sub-units back then? Why is DCA

taking this action now?

ANSWER: When DCA originally established the DCA Regionalization program, the IRS

requirements for non-profit organizations were much different and far less stringent. In recent

years, the IRS has significantly tightened up its regulations for non-profit organizations.

4. QUESTION: DCA’s letter to the DCA Regions states that some DCA Regions do not provide the

DCA Treasurer with the required annual financial reports that can be used for DCA’s annual income

tax return filings. If all of the DCA Regions submitted these annual financial statements, couldn’t we

continue the DCA Regions?

ANSWER: Even if DCA received the annual financial reports from each DCA Region, the IRS

regulations still do not allow DCA to have subsidiary organizations or sub-units.

5. QUESTION: Is DCA eliminating the DCA Regions, because DCA does not receive the $1.00 per

entry fee for all DCA Regional events from the DCA Regions?

ANSWER: No. Even if all DCA Regions sent DCA these event fees, as mentioned above, the IRS

regulations and DCA’s articles of incorporation do not allow DCA to have subsidiary organizations or

sub-units.

6. QUESTION: If DCA runs the risk of violating IRS regulations by allowing DCA Regions to operate

and hold monies, then why is DCA waiting until December 31, 2009 to eliminate the DCA Regions?

ANSWER: The DCA Board made its decision at its Board meeting on January 24, 2009. It

recognized that this is a big change that impacts DCA Regions, local specialty clubs, and Dachshund

fanciers – and that DCA Regions needed some time to react and respond to the change. We

decided that our responsibilities to our DCA Regions outweighed the potential risk of continuing the

DCA Regions for one more year. There were several specific reasons:

a. Some DCA Regions already had AKC approval for DCA Region events in 2009. The DCA

Board did not want to disrupt events that were already planned and communicated to

exhibitors.

3

b. DCA wanted to take the time to prepare comprehensive communications about the changes

to the DCA Regions, communicate the changes to the DCA Regions, and hold

teleconferences for the DCA Region Project Committee and the DCA Region chairs to discuss

the changes and how best to communicate and explain the changes to specialty clubs and

DCA members (and give the DCA Region chairs the opportunity to ask questions about the

changes).

c. DCA wanted to give each DCA Region the opportunity and sufficient time to discuss the

changes with specialty clubs and fanciers in each DCA Region and decide what actions to

take in the future.

d. For DCA Regions that have had difficulty in maintaining accurate and current DCA Region

financial records and reports, DCA wanted to allow the DCA Regions enough time to gather

information on 2009 financial transactions, income, and expenses for the preparation of a

final financial report to DCA.

e. DCA wanted to provide specialty clubs time to plan how they might want to run future DCA

events in their areas after the Regionalization program is ended.

f. DCA wanted to provide those DCA Regions who choose not to continue as DCA Regions time

to decide to which of the 3 options DCA should donate their monies.

g. DCA will need some time to develop processes and guidelines for local specialty clubs to run

local DCA events, beginning in 2010.

7. QUESTION: Is DCA eliminating the DCA Regions, because a big AKC fine was imposed for recent

late submission of an event application? Is this a punishment of DCA Regions for this violation of

AKC event regulations?

ANSWER: No. While it’s unfortunate that this fine was imposed – and that AKC withheld

approvals for some other DCA events, including the 2009 DCA National Specialty and Annual Field

Trial – DCA must eliminate the DCA Regions so that DCA can comply with IRS regulations and it

articles of incorporation. The DCA Region did ultimately pay the AKC fine.

8. QUESTION: My region runs DCA Regional events like specialties, field trials, obedience/rally, and

earthdog events each year. We have great entries that help the local specialty clubs also have large

entries over a 2 or 3 day event weekend. Will there still be DCA events in different parts of the

country in addition to the DCA National Specialty and Performance events?

ANSWER: Yes. The difference is that the local specialty clubs in those areas will be responsible for

running the local DCA events and ensuring that the event committees have the required number of

DCA members.

9. QUESTION: My DCA Region is great – we offer competitive events, do rescue, and offer other

valuable educational activities. Can our organization continue to exist? And, if it does continue,

what can it can or cannot do?

ANSWER: Yes. However, the organization will need to have a new name that does not include the

Dachshund Club of America or DCA in its name (due to IRS regulations and DCA’s articles of

incorporation) and will not be affiliated with DCA. It will be able to continue to offer services,

rescue, and activities to Dachshund fanciers. And it will be able to assist and support local specialty

clubs in running local DCA competitive events. However, the specialty clubs will be responsible for

local DCA competitive events (specialties, field trials, earthdog tests, and obedience/rally trials).

10. QUESTION: If a DCA Region does not continue as a legal entity, why must it return its monies to

DCA? Why can’t the DCA Region keep the monies?

ANSWER: There are a few reasons:

4

Originally, when DCA established the DCA Regionalization program, according to the DCA

Regionalization rules, all DCA Region monies belonged to DCA. Some years later, DCA released

each DCA Region’s monies to each DCA Region for running DCA Region events and activities.

However, from the IRS’ viewpoint (and the state of New York), because each DCA Region was

not legally a sub-unit or affiliate club of DCA, those monies were and are considered DCA’s

assets. These monies have always belonged to and still belong to DCA.

If the DCA Region keeps the monies, DCA needs to separate itself from those assets, due to IRS

requirements – and DCA will be required to report that it transferred those monies to the

regional organization, report that transfer to the IRS as an expense on DCA’s tax return, and the

regional organization will be required to report those monies as income on its own tax return.

11. QUESTION: Why does a DCA Region (that does not form a legal, non-profit entity and continue as

a Region organization) have only 3 choices of dog-related charities to which DCA will donate the

DCA Region’s monies?

ANSWER: DCA wanted to ensure that donations were made to national Dachshund and purebred

charities. One organization, the DCA Health & Welfare Trust Fund, is dedicated to Dachshund

health. The second, the Betty McNeill Dachshund rescue fund, is dedicated to supporting Dachshund

rescue. And the third, the Canine Health Foundation (“CHF”), is dedicated to canine health of all

breeds.

12. QUESTION: DCA Regions have been able to nominate DCA National Specialty judges at the DCA

Annual Meeting. How can Dachshund members, who do not attend the DCA Annual Meeting, still

participate in the nomination of DCA National Specialty judges?

ANSWER: DCA members, who do not attend the DCA Annual Meeting, have always been, and will

continue to be able, to collaborate with other DCA members who do attend the DCA Annual Meeting

to nominate DCA National Specialty judges. It is fairly common for DCA members to discuss judges

they would like prior to the DCA Annual Meeting and agree for a DCA member who attends the

Annual Meeting to nominate a judge supported by a group of DCA members. It’s also important to

note that, in recent years, very few (and sometimes no) DCA Regions have nominated DCA National

Specialty judges at the Annual Meeting. Also, a judge nominated by a DCA Region has no better

chance of being elected than a judge nominated by a DCA member who attends the DCA Annual

Meeting.

13. QUESTION: In 2010, how will local specialty clubs offer DCA competitive events (specialties, field

trials, earthdog tests, and obedience/rally)?

ANSWER: Local specialty clubs will apply to DCA for approval to schedule local DCA events. DCA

will develop a more detailed process for this and communicate it to all specialty clubs in the DCA

Newsletter and the DCA Bulletin Board on Yahoo. But, in general, the local specialty club’s

responsibilities for the events will include, but are not limited to:

Complying with all AKC event regulations.

Completing the AKC event application, paying the AKC application fees, and sending it to the

DCA Secretary for signature and mailing to AKC.

Establishing a show/trial committee with the number of DCA members (who might or might not

be members of the local specialty club) required by AKC regulations.

Selecting, hiring and paying judges.

Preparing and mailing premium lists and judging programs, as required.

Sending the required post-show reports and recording fees to AKC, either through the event

secretary or the event superintendent.

5

14. QUESTION: How many DCA Region events were there in 2008?

ANSWER: A total of 10. 5 specialties, 5 field trials, and no obedience, rally, agility, or earthdog

tests. Since, beginning on January 1, 2008, specialty clubs were allowed to hold a maximum of 4

field trials (instead of the previous 2), the number of DCA Region field trials has decreased – in

previous years there were around 15 per year.

15. QUESTION: How will finances be handled for local DCA competitive events, beginning in 2010?

ANSWER: Local specialty clubs will handle all finances for these events – AKC application

fees, judges’ expenses, trophy expenses, facility rentals, show secretary/superintendent’s fees, food,

etc.

16. QUESTION: Who will get the event profits or bear the event financial losses?

ANSWER: The local specialty club will be able to keep any profits from these events. If there are

any losses, the local specialty club will also bear those.

17. QUESTION: Will DCA continue to charge a $1.00 per entry fee for local DCA competitive events?

ANSWER: No. Beginning in 2010, DCA will not charge any fees or expenses to the local specialty

clubs that host local DCA events.

18. QUESTION: Will the DCA Region trophy program continue for local DCA competitive events held

by local specialty clubs?

ANSWER: Yes. At this time, we do not expect any changes to that program as a result of

eliminating DCA Regions.

19. QUESTION: New local specialty clubs not yet licensed to hold AKC events used to offer DCA

Region events to help them get started. Local specialty clubs could offer AKC sanctioned matches,

together with DCA Region events that were AKC licensed. And their members could get experience

in hosting AKC licensed events this way. Will new local specialty clubs be able to offer DCA

competitive events?

ANSWER: Yes. They will need to follow the same requirements as mentioned in Question #13. It

is important to remember that the show/trial committee will need to have the AKC minimum number

of DCA members – that has not changed. They will also be able to financially benefit from hosting a

local DCA event, since DCA will not charge any fees and the DCA Regions will no longer keep the

profits, if any.

 

Mutation Found In Dachshund Gene May Help Develop Therapies For Humans With Blindness                            http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807175434.htm

 

Canine Cancer Vaccine Program Shows Early Promise

It wasn't publicized, other than by word of mouth, and still the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine was overwhelmed with requests. Since 1998, the school's oncology department has been producing an anti-cancer vaccine for dogs diagnosed with melanoma. Though it is still an experimental treatment, dog owners from all over the nation have wanted to participate in the study, on the remote chance that this would help their pet.After promising results from work done in collaboration with cancer specialists from Arizona, California, and Michigan, the school has hired a full-time technician to produce the existing vaccine. The vaccine being used now has undergone a few modifications designed to increase its anti-cancer activity. "Not all dogs with melanoma respond to this treatment," cautions Ilene Kurzman, a researcher in the veterinary medical school's oncology section. "But those that do seem to do quite well."

She would like to continue working on the vaccine in the hope that this innovative anti-cancer strategy will translate into similar novel treatments in people with cancer.

Melanoma, the equivalent of one form of skin cancer in humans, is very aggressive in dogs. It usually manifests itself in or around the mouth or toes. Despite conventional treatment, 75 percent of dogs with oral melanoma will die within one year.

But about 40 percent of dogs with a melanoma tumor present responded to a vaccine created from actual melanoma tumor cells. In about 12.5 percent of the treated dogs, the tumor completely disappeared. While the current results are promising, funding limitations reduce the program's ability to take the next step in improving the vaccine and increasing the percentage of animals that respond, Kurzman says.

According to Kurzman, the vaccine is created from dog melanoma cells that are grown in the laboratory. The cells are treated so they can no longer divide and cause a tumor. DNA is then inserted into these cells, which directs the cells to secrete an immune stimulant. This combination of cells and immune stimulant, when administered as an injection into the patient's skin, has been shown to stimulate the immune system to specifically fight against the melanoma cells.

Dogs that first had surgery for their melanoma and then received vaccine lived cancer-free for approximately twice as long as dogs in previous studies that did not receive the vaccine. Further work is needed to improve the vaccine so that a higher percentage of dogs with melanoma will respond. "It's the closest thing to a miracle I've ever seen," says Maggie Hoefling, of Largo, Florida. Following vaccine therapy, her husband Gus's 14-year-old beagle, Mack, not only lived an additional two years, but thrived. And that's after their local veterinarian gave Mack only four months to live when he was first diagnosed with melanoma. Mack has since died, but he died of congestive heart failure, not cancer, and had gained two more years of quality life.

 

###

To learn more about the program or to provide support for its continued growth, please contact the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine's Advancement Office at (608) 263-5152.

4/10/2004

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

DNA-based Vaccine Triples Survival For Dogs With Melanoma; Immune Boosting Vaccine Also Being Studied In Humans

NEW YORK April 8, 2003 – The options for treating advanced melanoma are limited - regardless of whether the patient is a dog or a human. Because this deadly cancer is virtually resistant to chemotherapy and radiation in its late stages, new approaches are being investigated including vaccines that harness the immune system. For nine dogs that naturally developed canine malignant melanoma, treatment with a new DNA-based vaccine more than tripled their median survival from an expected 90 days to an average of 389 days.

The results of this collaboration between the dogs' veterinarians at The Animal Medical Center (AMC) and researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center where the DNA-based vaccine had undergone pre-clinical testing are reported in the April issue of the Clinical Cancer Research. The vaccine continues to be studied at AMC. A parallel clinical trial began last fall at MSKCC for people with high risk of melanoma recurrence.

"Most medicines that we use to treat animals are the same as those given to humans," explained Philip J. Bergman DVM, MS, PhD, Head of the Donaldson-Atwood Cancer Clinic and the Flaherty Comparative Oncology Laboratory at The Animal Medical Center and the study's first author. "This vaccine was first tested in the laboratory at MSKCC and then given to dogs with melanoma after receiving approval from the United States Department of Agriculture and the AMC's own Institutional Review Board. We felt it was useful to see if immunotherapy might help these very sick dogs with advanced melanoma since the response rates for standard chemotherapy were extremely poor with no evidence of improved survival."

Canine malignant melanoma (CMM) is the most common oral cancer in dogs and accounts for one out of twenty cancer diagnoses. It is highly aggressive, occurring spontaneously in the mouth, nail bed and foot pad. CMM is most successfully treated in its early stage by surgery. However, the prognosis is not good if there is a late diagnosis or the cancer has spread to another organ. In advanced stages, the median survival is 2 to 3 months.

In this study, nine dogs with advanced melanoma were given four bi-weekly injections of human tyrosinase DNA vaccine that was constructed at MSKCC's Gene Transfer and Somatic Cell Engineering Facility. The dogs were injected with the vaccine using the Biojector-2000, a needle-less delivery device. They showed no side effects or toxicities with only a mild inflammatory reaction observed at the injection site. Two showed no evidence of disease when they were checked after completion of the vaccine regimen. Four dogs survived for over 400 days with the longest survivor still alive after more than 615 days. The median survival was 389 days.

"Like humans, dogs develop melanoma spontaneously through an interaction of their genes with the environment," said Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD, an oncologist on the Clinical Immunology Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering and senior author of the study. "By conducting trials in humans and large animals that live in the same surroundings as humans and spontaneously develop cancers, there can be a synergy that we hope will result in improved cancer treatment for all."

The studies co-authors are Josephine McKnight, DVM, Andrew Novosad, DVM, Sarah Charney, DVM, John Farelly, DVM, Ann E. Hohenhaus, DVM, and Diane Craft, BS, of The Animal Medical Center. From Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center - Alan N. Houghton, MD, Chief, Clinical Immunology Service; from the Gene Transfer Facility - Michel Sadelain, MD, PhD, Director; Isabelle Riviere, Ph.D., co- Director; Yusuf Jeffers, and Michelle Wulderk, PhD; from the Laboratory of Tumor Immunology - Neil Segal, PhD , Polly Gregor, PhD , and Manuel Engelhorn, PhD.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, Swim Across America, Mr. And Mrs. Quentin J. Kennedy Fund, Bioject, Inc. and Merial Ltd.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is the world's oldest and largest private institution devoted to prevention, patient care, research, and education in cancer. Our scientists and clinicians generate innovative approaches to better understand, diagnose and treat cancer. Our specialists are leaders in biomedical research and in translating the latest research to advance the standard of cancer care worldwide.

The Animal Medical Center, a not-for profit veterinary hospital open 24-hours a day every day of the year, specializes in more than 20 areas of medicine and surgery. It is dedicated to providing the highest quality medical care to each one of over 60,000 patient cases seen each year. AMC has served the community in the areas of pet health care, postgraduate education of veterinarians, and clinical investigation of naturally occurring disease in animals.

 

This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

 

Virginia Bill Would Require Breeder Licensing

 

Breeder licensing is the 800 pound gorilla of bad pet laws: if it passes there's a lot of damage right away and things only get worse from there. 

Bad bills should be fought at every step.   The place to begin is by asking the senator who filed the bill (the sponsor) to withdraw it.   That's what we need to do first.   We should also send a copy of emails to the chairman of the committee that will hear the bill first.

The sponsor of SB 55 is Sen. Wm. Roscoe Reynolds.   Here's his contact information:

 Capitol Office:

email: district20@sov.state.va.us

Phone: (804) 698-7520

Fax: (804) 698-7651  (be sure to include a cover sheet for Sen. Reynolds)

 District Office (will be closed after session opens Wed.)

email: roscoe@digdat.com

Phone:  (276) 638-2315 

Send a cc of your email to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, Sen. Charles R. Hawkins at:

 email: district19@sov.state.va.us

You can call, email, and fax, according to your preferences.   Both offices probably will be closed over the weekend, but never mind, let's stack up the contacts so they can go to work right away on Monday.

Phone calls are excellent.  Out of hours you'll probably get voice mail  and  you can leave a very simple message:  "I am calling to ask that you  WITHDRAW SB 55.   This would be a very bad law for Virginia pet owners  and our state.".   On a working day you'll probably  get  a real person; ask for the aide who handles animal bills and give your message there.   Most likely there won't be any questions. 

BE POLITE!   You must include your address in your email; your phone number is optional.  If you have friends or relatives here, be sure to say so!

Remember:  A bad bill that passes in one state will be tried in several others the next year. 

You can read Virginia SB 55 at: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+ful+SB55

 

  

Kennel to Pay Restitution for Selling Genetically Flawed Puppies
Updated: Friday, May. 13, 2005 - 7:51 AM

PEACH BOTTOM, Pa. (AP) - Lancaster County kennel owners who had been accused of selling dozens of sick or genetically flawed puppies have agreed to pay more than $75,000 in restitution and investigative costs and improve standards in future sales, Attorney General Tom Corbett said Thursday.

A consent petition concerning Raymond and Joyce Stoltzfus, owners of Puppy Love Kennel in Peach Bottom, was filed Thursday in Commonwealth Court, Corbett said. The deal must be approved by a judge.

Restitution ranging from $17 to $1,200 will be made to 171 consumers in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Virginia within 30 days, Corbett said.

The agreement also states that an independent veterinarian will test and treat all dogs in the kennel by June 18, and future purchasers must be given proof that a vet examined their dogs prior to sale

 

  • Region VI

    DCA Regionalization Report 2005

    There were four regional meetings in 2004. A similar number is expected for 2005. The meetings are held at field trials, earthdog trials, and conformation shows. It assures all aspects of dachshund performance activities are being considered by the region and allows club delegates to participate in different activities.

     

    Region VI is in the process of establishing itself as not-for-profit association in the state of New Jersey. We are stating that the association has been formed for the purpose of providing rescue for Dachshunds, furthering the health and welfare of Dachshunds and providing education about Dachshunds. This action is being taken to protect the region’s assets since we are now separated from DCA. It allows us greater freedom and legal protection in conducting dachshund rescue and other activities.

     

    The regional treasurer keeps a separate accounting of rescue income and expense. It allows us to better understand and manage our financial situation.

     

    The region was able to assist hurricane victims in Florida with a $1,000 donation to the Florida Kennel Clubs association. We also donated $500 each to the following: the American Dog Owners Association, Canine Health Foundation, and the Columbia County Animal Control for assistance in the Dachshund situation in Oregon. 

     

    Adoption fees, donations, and sale of rescue T-shirts offset much of the rescue expenses this year. We were fortunate not to have any major rescue efforts last year.

     

    Funds were raised through field trial and earthdog events. This allowed the region to make generous donations to worthy organizations and fund non-rescue activities.

     

    A new activity started late in 2004 was what we call our “Outreach Program.” It is intended to attract new people to participate in the multitude of activities are available to the owners of AKC dogs. This is in response to a perceived lack of new people in our sport.

     

    The increased workweek and other demands on time and money prevent people from being able to investigate new pastimes. It also means that there is a competition for disposable time and money.

     

    Our approach is to make people aware of what participating in the sport really means in terms of time and money. Part of the effort is to counteract the perception that purebred dog activities are only for the wealthy.


     

    A decision was made to spend a small amount of money to upgrade our web page and reduce the amount of advertising associated with free web pages. The internet is a major source of information and a vital tool for communication in today’s world.

     

    We are taking advantage of the fact that our region has the headquarters of many of the major media providers (Animal Planet, USA Network, Bravo, ESPN, etc. ) to lobby them for shows about people who are just beginning their journey in the sport of dogs. How they became involved, what it really costs, what kind of time commitment or lifestyle adjustment was necessary, etc.

     

    Another portion of the strategy is to work through 4-H and other children’s programs to provide assistance and make them aware of the other activities for dogs.

     

    There is an effort underway to develop an information package describing the activities available for purebred dachshund (conformation, obedience, rally, junior showmanship, field trial, earthdog, agility, etc.). The package would be provided to clubs and breeders in the region so it could be included in the material new dog buyers receive with their dog.

     

    The program is still in its early stages and evolving rapidly. So far, there is little feedback on how effective it has been. However, we feel that this is an important area for the region and the sport in general.

     

     

                

     

    Not tested scientifically but anecdotal evidence suggests these might work 

     

    Mosquito Protection

    (Submitted by Sandy Patterson)

     

     

    Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets...Best thing ever used in
    Louisiana..just wipe on & go...Great for Babies
     

    Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitamin B-1 tablet a day
    April through October . He said it works. He was right. 
    Hasn't had a mosquito bite in 33 years. Try it.
    Every one he has talked into trying it works on them.
    Vitimin B-1( Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg.)
     

    If you eat bananas,
    the mosquitos like you, - something about the banana oil
    as your body processes it. 
    Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitos
    will be much less interested.
     

    This is going to floor you, but one of the best
    insect repellents someone found (who is in the woods
    every day), is Vick's Vaporub.
     

    Plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off
    a smell that bugs do not like,
    so plant some in that garden also to help ward
    off bugs without using insecticides.
     

    "Tough guy" Marines who spend a great deal of time
    "camping out" say that the very best mosquito
    repellant you can use is
    Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about
    half and half with alcohol.
     

     

    One of the best natural insect repellants that I've discovered
    is made from the clear real vanilla. This is the pure Vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It works great for mosquitoes and ticks,
    don't know about other insects.

    When all else fails--get a frog