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Mission
The specific purposes for which AWS Partners is
organized are to secure and provide
financial and other support for projects that focus charitable, educational and research efforts on dogs in general and the
American Water Spaniel in particular. The objectives shall be:
1. To work with the AKC Canine Health Foundation and other entities in supporting the research of canine health issues,
especially epilepsy, particularly pertaining to the American Water Spaniel.
2. To further the understanding of canine epilepsy, possible causes of seizures, and available tests and treatments.
3. To investigate various canine health issues, and their causes, available tests, and treatments.
4. To provide educational material and available resources on a variety of canine health issues. To promote educational opportunities available through seminars, conferences and health forums.
5. To encourage American Water Spaniel breeders, and canine breeders in general, to share information with each other
regarding canine health issues.
6. To encourage involvement of American Water Spaniel owners, and canine owners in general, that are not breeders and
promote the significance of their contributions.
Accomplishments
AWS Partners established “The
Keoni Project” for the research of epilepsy in the American Water Spaniel. The
initial goal was to gather information on the prevalence of epilepsy in the breed, and investigate successful treatments of
the disease.
Through this project, AWS Partners
has:
Started the first research
study for the American Water Spaniel.
Collected and submitted
247 American Water Spaniel DNA samples to the University of Missouri, College
of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, for
epilepsy research. Of those 247 samples, 25
are affected with epilepsy.
Acquired permission from each owner
to share DNA in other research projects specific to the American Water Spaniel. (AWS Partners was the first to develop and
include a signed permission slip to accompany the samples, allowing for this DNA to be shared.
Other breed representatives are now beginning to utilize the form created by AWS Partners.)
Successfully encouraged
veterinarians to reduce or donate veterinary fees when drawing a blood sample for ‘The Keoni Project’ research
endeavor.
Created the Canine Health Foundation
Donor Advised Fund ‘AWS
Partners – Epilepsy’ and collected over $10,000 in donations.
Accepted sponsorship participation
in the first Grant to be offered for the American Water Spaniel (AKC CHF Grant #2304 – University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia).
Provided emotional
and educational support to owners of epileptic dogs in the management of the disease.
Successfully held a
fundraiser that included participation by the general American Water Spaniel fancy, by creating the American Water Spaniel
Cookbook, now a historical breed document. All proceeds were donated to the Canine
Health Foundation donor advised fund AWS Partners – Epilepsy.
Acknowledged for sharing experiences, insight, and expertise in canine
epilepsy in the book "Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Living With and Without Seizures" by Caroline
D. Levin, RN.
Attended the 2003 AKC Canine Health Foundation Conference.
Participated in the poster contest and was awarded 2 placements; 1st in the category of Communication and Education, and 2nd
in the category of Fundraisers. Each award included a monetary donation from the CHF to the donor advised fund AWS Partners
- Epilepsy.
Created and made available to
the public, an educational packet with extracts and notes from the 2003 AKC Canine Health Foundation Conference, including
multiple links for further research.
Attended the 2005 AKC Canine Health Foundation Conference.
Participated in the poster contest and was awarded 2 Honorable Mention placements in the categories of Communication
and Education, and Fundraisers. Each award included a monetary donation from the CHF to the donor advised fund AWS Partners
- Epilepsy.
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