DogWellNet Digest: Issue #55 - 8 September 2023

News & Highlights

News from IPFD

IPFD Loses a Team Member: Ann Milligan, IPFD Content Manager
It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of IPFD Content Manager Ann Milligan, of Indio, California. Ann’s sudden passing came as a shock to all of us at IPFD, and our thoughts are with her family in this difficult time.

But it is former IPFD CEO Dr. Brenda Bonnett who really knew her best, and she has shared her thoughts below on Ann – both as an extraordinary person and dog lover, and on her impact on IPFD and the broader dog community.

On the sudden and unexpected passing of Ann Milligan, IPFD Content Manager
As those in the Bernese Mountain Dog group have said in their tributes to Ann, she was never one to want the spotlight or even basic recognition.  A job well-done was her reward.  Pat Long recommended Ann to me when I was looking for a computer literate dog person to assist with the start up of DogWellNet.com and the International Partnership for Dogs.  What I got was a brilliant dog person with a logical, rational, insightful mind, an expert technician, a person with an eye for detail, and a clear view of the big picture. She became the cornerstone of those developments, although many people may not even know her name.  Her technical and web knowledge underpinned everything we did.  But, as Pat also said, her true passion was sharing information.  Many was the time when I complained about things and she would say ‘If we really help even one dog breeder who is trying to do the right thing, it is worth it.’  I am afraid I was never quite satisfied with helping one or two people, but Ann’s devotion to the health and welfare of dogs and her steadfast dedication to reach breeders kept me going.

I, like some lucky others, spent countless hours on Skype or Teams with her – and yes, there was lots of ranting.  But always lots of laughing and fabulous creativity as we fed off each other’s energy.  She was tireless.  For many years she worked double the hours we were able pay for because it was fun, exciting, and we could see the results of our labours.  She had a unique combination of technical ability, artistic skill, and she was a wordsmith.  Add in her extensive knowledge of all things dog, dog breeding, and an understanding of people who were drawn to dogs and you understand - she was special.  Outside of work she was a kind, caring, and compassionate person who cared for those close to her and for others who were in need.  To quote her colleague Adam Conn, “She was a friend, a mentor, a partner, a sounding board, a source of strength, a source of comfort, and one of the most devilishly funny people out there.  She didn't pull punches and didn't expect you to either.”

Those of us working closely with her let her know that she was a gem.  But there are probably many – hundreds or thousands – who have benefited from her knowledge, expertise, and caring and sharing without even being aware of her input. I have lost a dear friend, and an excellent colleague.  But the dogs have lost a champion this week.

Brenda Bonnett, DVM, PhD, former CEO, IPFD

Ann was a supporter and advocate for the Morongo Basin Humane Society, a "no-kill" shelter in Joshua Tree, California. Her family asks those who knew Ann through her work in the dog world to please consider making a small online donation in her memory.

----------

Update: 5th IPFD International Dog Health Workshop (IDHW)

• We're excited to announce that Hotel Korpilampi, on the shores of beautiful Lake Korpilampi (Espoo, Finland), has been selected as the venue for the 5th IPFD International Dog Health Workshop (13-16 June 2024). Stay tuned for more details on the Theme, Speakers, and Sponsorship Opportunities!

• IPFD CEO Marc Ralsky was recently featured in a Toronto Life article on the pleasures and perils of raising a show dog. 

Breeds Resources

Breeds of the Month

★ This Month We Feature The Italian Greyhound/Piccolo Levriero Italiano and Spinone Italiano ★

Italian Greyhound/Piccolo Levriero Italiano
Brief Description: The Italian Greyhound (in Italian: Piccolo Levriero Italiano) is a small breed of dog of the sight hound type, sometimes called an "I.G." or an "Iggy".
Source: Wikipedia

One of the single most exciting aspects of involvement in purebred dogs is understanding each breed's unique qualities. Breed experts and education offered through breed and kennel clubs help us do just that! We've updated our Italian Greyhound/Piccolo levriero italiano breed profile to include links to fantastic resources offering outstanding information on the breed. This small, sweet, generally healthy and long-lived, elegant, and functional Italian Sighthound with “dancing movement” is cherished by owners worldwide! Special thanks goes to Italy's National Kennel and Breed Clubs for development and management of this breed.

Quick Links:

• Italian Greyhound/Piccolo levriero italiano breed profile on DogWellNet
• ENCI Breed Profile (in Italian)
• Italian Greyhound Club - Circolo del Piccolo Levriero Italiano (in Italian)

Spinone Italiano
Brief Description: The Spinone Italiano is a "dog of solid construction, robust and vigorous with powerful bone, well-developed muscles and with a rough coat." "Naturally sociable, docile and patient, the Spinone is an experienced hunter in all terrains; very resistant to tiredness, goes easily into thorny underwood, or throws himself into cold water. He has remarkable dispositions for an extended and fast trot; by nature he is an excellent retriever."
Source: FCI Breed Standard (English)

We recently added the Spinone Italiano to our growing list of breeds in our Pedigree Breeds Database. The Spinone Italiano profile includes breed standards, breed-specific articles, breed stats, health strategy documents, videos, and more.

IPFD Partners in Action

We’re pleased to announce that Raad van Beheer (The Dutch Kennel Club) has renewed its role as an IPFD Contributing Partner. We look forward to continuing our work together for the enhancement of dog health, well-being, and welfare of dogs in The Netherlands and around the world.

Breeding for Health and Purpose:
Webinar Report & Video

The International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD) and Orivet (official sponsor of IPFD Virtual Meetings - Oceania Region for 2023-2024) presented this free online event on August 1st. More than 200 breeders and stakeholders in dog health took part in this session aiming to help dog breeders to develop holistic breeding plans that improve health and welfare, as well as to meet the goals of the breeder using evidence-based tools balancing the art and science of dog breeding.

Special thanks to presenters breeding expert Myrna Shiboleth (Breeding for a Purpose) and IPFD's Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi (Making the Most of Genetic Testing), along with George Sofronidis, Orivet Co-Founder & Managing Director, for making this informative event a success! 

For those who were unable to attend (or wish to watch again), click on the image below. A summary of Q&As submitted during the webinar are available here, and speaker bios and additional details of the webinar are provided here.

Note: Only those who attended the webinar “live” are eligible for the product giveaways and $10 Orivet Loyalty Points offer mentioned during the webinar.

Stay tuned for more webinars from IPFD and Orivet!

Make a Donation

IPFD is truly a "people driven" service organization. We allocate the bulk of our financial resources to maintain a small but dedicated team of consultants to manage our modest resources and facilitate the activities of our stakeholders, with the aim of achieving our collective goals.

You can specify how your donation is used (support IPFD and its programs and activities OR support the Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs). All donations are handled securely via PayPal.

Select one of the options below to make a donation now.

---

 

Stay Informed

Members can opt to receive notifications by email. Are you on our email list? Click here to edit your Notification Settings (you must be logged in to your account).

Viewing as a Guest? Sign in or register now to get the most out of DogWellNet.com.

Click an icon below to visit our social media sites: