~ The International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD): 2023 Milestones and Ongoing Work in 2024 ~

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IPFD Board

• Nine board members participated throughout 2023, with Dino Muto (ENCI) joining the Board as its tenth member in December. The Board had four online meetings in 2023 (March, June, September, and December), and held the first meeting of 2024 on 31 January.
   
• With suggestions presented by the Swedish Kennel Club, IPFD added a representative from the SKK − Eva Lejdbrandt − who was elected to the IPFD Board.
   
• The Board established a publishing committee to adjudicate the posting of any possibly sensitive research or papers to ensure that IPFD is always positioned and seen as being neutral and information-based, not-opinion based.

Partners and Sponsors

• During 2023, IPFD had 15 Contributing Partners, 13 Breed-Specific and Non-Breed-Specific Collaborating Partners, and approximately two dozen additional organisations and companies that are sharing their knowledge and resources. There was a notable partner renewal, along with the addition of one new national kennel club:

o   Raad van Beheer (The Dutch Kennel Club) renewed its role as an IPFD Contributing Partner.

o   Italy’s national kennel club, ENCI - Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana, joined IPFD as a Contributing Partner in June.

Communication and Projects

• IPFD continues to expand the content and features within the Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD), which also served as the backdrop for three webinars (see Dog Health Workshops section below).

o   New Genetic Test Providers (GTPs) began participation with HGTD, and all those GTPs who intended to renew participation for 2023-2024 onwards have agreed to the increased minimum participation costs.

o   HGTD continues to be the most up-to-date resource on genetic testing and genetic test providers, and the only borderless international resource that comprehensively lists and provides clinical, genetic, and breeding application information for all dogs.

• IPFD launched the Health Strategies Database for Dogs (HSDD), a free, searchable database that includes breed-specific health/mentality testing requirements and recommendations established by Health Strategy Providers (HSPs) around the world.
   
• The recurring IPFD feature, Dog Breeds: What You Need to Know, was published in six issues of the WSAVA Bulletin and provided resources and highlights on breed-specific diseases for six dog breeds. These articles included links to IPFD’s growing library of Globally Relevant Integrated Health Profiles (GRIHPs), which now includes profiles for 25 breeds (with more planned for 2024).
   
• Six issues of the DogWellNet Digest e-newsletter were published in 2023. IPFD’s social media reach continues to expand, and the number of posts promoting IPFD and its resources has been increased.

o   IPFD Social Media Links:   

• The Consulting Team and IT consultants have begun planning to redesign and streamline the DogWellNet.com website in 2024, with the aim of significant changes to be completed in time for the 5^th IDHW in June. They are building a separate domain specifically for IPFD – the organization – to highlight its contributing partners, consultants, programs, and basic information with links to DogWellNet.com as a separate entity powered by IPFD.

Dog Health Workshops

• On 15 March, IPFD hosted its third webinar, Parentage Profiling for Kennel Clubs (co-hosted by Embark), bringing together stakeholders from around the world for an online discussion on how parentage profiling via genetics can support pedigree registration & dog health. Embark was pleased with the results and has signalled interest in further partnership discussions in 2024. IPFD has been in talks with Embark to sign on as lead for the Breeder Program for the North American Region.
   
• IPFD and Orivet (official sponsor of IPFD Virtual Meetings - Oceania Region for 2023-2024) presented a free webinar, Breeding for Health and Purpose, on 1 August. 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. IPFD expects to co-host more events with Orivet in the future.
   
• Preparations for the 5^th International Dog Health Workshop (13-15 June, Helsinki) are well underway, with the consulting team coordinating logistics in conjunction with co-hosts, the Finnish Kennel Club. In addition to a full slate of social, educational, and action planning activities, the 5^th IDHW (Theme: “Partners in Dog Health”) will also be a time to celebrate IPFD’s 10^th Anniversary and reflect on what IPFD has accomplished with its partners in dog health over the past decade. Registration is open through 10 May.

Building Partnerships

• IPFD’s consulting team has continued its work in building relationships with existing and new contributors.
   
• IPFD has signed new agreements supporting the Breeder Program with the Royal Kennel Club and Orivet (for the UK region and Oceana respectively).
   
• IPFD is also in initial communications with other GTPs to focus on the European Market and recruit additional Partners.
   
• IPFD has also begun to investigate a National Breed Club membership program in North America with the large National Breed Clubs. A written a letter will be signed by IPFD Board members Dr. Marty Greer and David Eikelberg. Membership will require a nominal donation, but it will help us to open the gateway to being part of the breeders’ go-to resources for all things genetic testing.
   
• The CEO is working with Jo Gale at Royal Canin on a sponsorship around her homeless dogs research. She will be delivering a keynote address at the 5^th IDHW, and she is interested in further supporting IPFD and the IDHW. A $25,000 sponsorship was secured and is being used for funding the 5^th IDHW.
   
• IPFD was generously invited to attend and present at the recent G8 Kennel Club meeting. It was deemed not cost-effective and on short notice for IPFD’s CEO to attend, but the Vice Chair, Bill Lambert, graciously agreed to attend and present on behalf of IPFD. Early feedback has been very positive.
   
• DogWellNet.com continues to be the exclusive international source for Agria’s Swedish Insurance Data, which is available for download by breed clubs (for applicable breeds) in IPFD's Pedigree Breeds database.
   
• IPFD has made inroads with the lead of the American Kennel Club’s Genetic Testing Group. She will be attending the IDHW, and she has been invited to speak at the workshop as well.
   
• IPFD has begun to reach out to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the University of Missouri to rebuild and develop a strong working relationship.
   
• IPFD has also secured two additional sponsorships from Royal Canin for ($20,000) IPFD costs and planning and Agria (provided to the Finnish Kennel Club) for the 5^th IDHW. Both of these groups will be giving key addresses at the workshop.
   

Watch for IPFD's 2023 Annual Report - Coming Soon!

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