Page 78 - Chow Life - Summer 2017

AKC Gazette
Excerpt

by Love Banghart

PROTECTING THE CHOW CHOW

A few of the important purposes of velopment of health protocols for our
the Chow Chow Club Inc. , as defined breed as well as many others. Funding
in the club by-laws, are to encourage of these efforts is essential for progress.
and promote quality in the breeding of Chow Chow welfare includes rescue
purebred Chow Chows to the standard efforts, fund raising, breed information
of the breed, to do all possible to bring projects, public communication re-
their natural qualities to perfection and sources to answer questions and offer
to do all in its power to protect and guidance to prospective and new chow
advance the interests of the breed. owners, and publishing informative in-
In order to have enough devoted formation regarding the proper care of
workers to accomplish these goals, our breed. The internet and resources
we must continue to attract new club from The American Kennel Club and
members and engage the existing devoted chow chow fanciers in other
members in breed specific activities. countries have provided wonderful
The members of the club have worked avenues of communication which we
for over a century to meet these objec- must continue to utilize.
tives. One of the important elements Socialization and promotion of
in meeting our goals is to educate the our breed are done via participation
club members and the public about the in conformation and performance
physical, temperamental and general events, therapy dog programs, fund
requirements of our very special breed. raising events and inclusion of the
The Chow Chow is not a dog for ev- Chow chow in most aspects of daily
eryone and yet, it has served mankind family life. A healthy, well socialized
in many ways through the years as a Chow Chow is a wonderful member of
guardian, draft animal, hunter, herding society.
dog and best friend. There is no insurance policy that
In addition to education, we must can be quickly purchased to provide
protect the health and durability of protection of a breed. The work and
the breed. This includes responsible support falls to each of us. We thank
breeding, health testing, proper diet, each of you for your contributions to
shelter and preventative care. The meeting the goals of the Chow Chow
AKC Canine Health Foundation has Club Inc.
been instrumental in research and de-

This article first appeared in the September 2012
AKC Gazette and is reprinted with permission. To
read the online Gazette, visit www.akc.org/pubs.

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Mary Ellen Shook -

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