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The
Airedale Terrier Health Fund is supported by:
National Airedale Terrier Association
www.nationalairedale.co.uk
South of England Airedale Terrier Club
www.seatc.com
Yorkshire and Eastern Counties Airedale Terrier Club
North of England Airedale Terrier Club
www.noe-airedaleterrierclub.co.uk
West of England and South Wales Airedale Terrier Club
Midland Counties Airedale Terrier Club
www.mcatc.org.uk
Airedale Terrier Training Club of Rushmoor
www.airedaletrainingclub.co.uk
Northumberland and Durham Airedale Terrier Club
Airedale Terrier Club of Scotland
Airedale Terrier Club of Northern Ireland
The Airedale Terrier Breed Council
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The Airedale Terrier Health Fund was formed in April
2004. The Fund was set up as result of Mrs Pamela Cross-Sterns very
generous donation of breed memorabilia at the Millennium
celebrations 'Bingley 2000'. It was Pamela's wish that the money
should go to Airedale welfare, and so the Health Fund was born. The
supporting Breed Clubs also donated funds from this very successful
event. This money has been held by the Breed Council up to the time
the Committee was formed.
The Fund has three signatories Mrs Mary
Swash, Mrs Beryl McCallum and Mr John Hicks, they act as trustees. A
committee has been formed from the supporting Breed Clubs who
administer the fund.
The Health Co- ordinators role is to collect data provided by
individual owners and breeders (this information remains strictly
confidential), to liase with the scientific community and keep
abreast of developments and inform the committee of any relevant
changes, if necessary we can agree funds to investigate.
At present we have few areas that give concern, but this situation
can change at any time. It is important that as a breed we are not
only doing everything possible to breed the healthiest dogs, but are
seen to be doing so. The setting up of a DNA / Blood bank is the
first step.
The aim of the fund is to have all breeding stock at least DNA
profiled, and if possible a blood sample stored in the blood bank.
A DNA profile is like a fingerprint and provides the unique identity
of a dog from a sample of its DNA. The preferred method is by blood
sample; however cheek swabs are less invasive and are also
available. Swabs do not remain viable for as long as bloods and may
only serve to identify an individual.
Collecting DNA profiles from blood will not only give the
unique identity, but also enables the remainder of the sample to be
stored in the blood bank. This could then be used in the development
of any DNA based test appropriate to Airedale Terriers.
A condition that we are all aware of is
Hip
Displaysia. At the moment the only control we have is to
x-ray all dogs prior to breeding. This has maintained the breed's
hip status at an average of 18; however scores do occur much higher
than average, and in some cases require more than conservative
treatment. It is hoped that a DNA based test can be developed so
that one day we may eradicate it.
Fund raising will be one of the committees' priorities; we rely on
the support and generosity of Airedalers if we are to make progress.
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