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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Issue: 08/03/2024

The Canine 
Genetics Centre

I would like to congratulate Our Dogs for comprehensively covering the funding appeal of the Canine Genetics Centre over the last couple of weeks. In my opinion this centre’s work is critical to the future health of dogs and pedigree dogs in particular.
If anyone ever doubted the importance of this centre just read the article on page 4 in last week’s edition by Lesley McFadyen the Honorary Secretary of the East Anglia Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club. It is compelling and essential reading for anyone who loves dogs.
I would encourage Our Dogs to seek out and continue to publish such articles because they make the case for funding this centre compelling.
Crufts will soon be upon us and I for one will be visiting Hall 5, stand 39 to thank Dr Cathryn Mellersh for her and her team’s dedication.
Yours etc,
Lee Janaway

Clumber Spaniel health and the CGC

Please read this through to the end – it is very important.
To all current Clumber Spaniel Owners, past Clumber Spaniel owners, wannabe Clumber Spaniel owners and those who just love this breed. I am looking for your help. As you may be aware our breed, like many others suffers from some health conditions, two of them are genetic, namely PDP-1 and Exercise Induce Collapse (EIC), this latter genetic issue is relatively recent. What we do have, is the ability to test for these conditions and in the case of PDP-1 we are confident that there is virtually no evidence of this condition in the UK with EIC, it does exist, but know which dogs are clear, carrier or affected, breeding decisions can be made. 
So what is the problem, the laboratory that manages and develops these tests for all breeds Canine Genetics Centre (CGC) has just had their funding removed by the Kennel Club Charitable Foundation (there is plenty on the web and Facebook over this decision) and to survive they need funding to keep them going until they can find a secure source of funds. 
I approached the UK Clumber Spaniel Club at their meeting on 8th February to support the CGC appeal. After three e-mails I finally got a reply that left me dumbfounded. Because the research that CGC are doing is not specific to the Clumber Spaniel, they (the UK Clumber Spaniel Club) are not prepared to offer any financial support. I just could not believe what I was reading, how could supposedly intelligent individuals sat around a table, knowing that two key tests for genetic conditions come from that centre, say something like that! Especially as the Clumber Spaniel Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) test is derived from a Cocker Spaniel test. At least 50 other breed clubs seem to differ from that rather myopic decision and have given money to the CGC. Also in the future, maybe the work being done on eye diseases including Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) may translate across to the Clumber Spaniel from other breeds, who knows even a way of testing for Incomplete Ossification of the Humeral Condyle (IOHC). If we don’t support the Canine Genetics Centre, we’ll never know! 
I spoke to the people who support Clumberfest and we have shown our support by a £500 donation. If more funds are required at the time of Clumberfest the profit from the raffle will go to support CGC.
So, what can you do? I suggest three things.
Firstly please make a donation – here is the link to their page, https://www.canine-genetics.org.uk/fund-our-future/ if you are a tax payer, use Gift Aid and they will get another boost.
Secondly, e-mail, phone or speak to the committee of the Clumber Spaniel Club – they are supposed to be the “Guardians of the Breed” all they seem to be guarding is huge monetary reserves, let’s get them to spend it on something useful, not just collect it! If you are a member, please raise it at the AGM (or at Crufts if you are there). We shouldn’t have to, but let’s embarrass them into changing their mind!
Thirdly use CGC for testing (not the “new” KC partner Weatherby Genetics) – note that Weatherby only supply testing kits, it’s the CGC that do all the hard work deriving these tests. Once CGC are gone, who will help us drive new tests? At least by using CG for testing, they get more income to support their work. 
Let’s keep this important resource going, for all breeds as the work ultimately may also improve Clumber Spaniel health.
Yours etc
Peter Shepard

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