By Sue Lynch

Mike Dellorto had long dreamed of having a dog who could be a dual champion to compete with in the DPCA Agility Top 20, and with Tex (CH Montwood Arista’s Texas Hold’ Em MX MXJ MJS XF T2B SS ROM ) he seemed to have found that dog. After all, Tex certainly had the pedigree for it. He finished his breed Championship quickly at 21 months, and had both a Great Aunt and Great, Great Aunt who were past Top Twenty Agility winners, and an Aunt who was consistently rated in the Power 10 as one of the fastest agility Dobermans in the country.

Tex had more than shown his ability to live up to that heritage, and gained a loyal following by winning the “Weave Pole Challenge” two years in a row at the DPCA Top 20 Agility Event. Dellorto was actively chasing that dream when at the end of an agility run in November of 2015, his entire world changed. Tex stumbled and collapsed coming out of a tunnel at the end of the run. People rushed to his aid and tried to revive him to no avail. Tex was gone, the apparent victim of sudden death from Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). Dellorto was aware of the DCM problem in the breed and tested religiously. Tex was up to date on his health testing and had shown no signs of occult DCM.

It was an event that shook the entire community.

In the days that followed, three separate fund raisers were undertaken to raise money and awareness for this disease:

Mount Hood Doberman Pinscher Club, who sponsored the agility trial that Tex had been competing in, announced that they would donate the funds from a raffle in Tex’s memory to a Doberman related cause of Dellorto’s choosing, and additionally a matching funds donation.

A T-shirt campaign named “Tex’s Tribute” was created in his honor. Puget Sound Doberman Pinscher Club offered a raffle for Cardiomyopathy research. In total, over $10,000 was raised.

While the fundraisers were in still process, Dellorto began researching possible recipients for the funds. He soon became aware of promising research being conducted at North Carolina State University. Under the leadership of Dr. Kate Meurs, researchers at NCSU were attempting to identify a second genetic marker for Cardiomyopathy in the Doberman. It was hoped that this genetic marker, used in conjunction with the PDK4 gene Dr. Meurs had identified during her time at Washington State University, would give more insight into the genetic causes of DCM in the Doberman. This research was selected as the recipient of the proceeds from all three fundraisers. Dr. Meurs was able to complete her research in the spring of 2016, identifying a second marker for Dilated Cardiomyopathy in the Doberman, and offering a test for the marker. She has credited the money raised in Tex’s memory as “putting them over the top”- giving them the ability to complete their findings.

Inspired by this success, Dellorto began speaking with a core group of likeminded friends and Doberman enthusiasts about the need for funding more research into the diseases affecting the breed. Like many AKC parent clubs, the Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA), has a dedicated fund set up to support health initiatives, and makes fundraising for health and rescue a priority at its annual convention. The work put into that is a great asset to the breed. However, while the DPCA does what it can to promote health initiatives, it is not their core mission. Additionally, Doberman health issues are not confined to geographic boundaries the way breed organizations are. After much discussion, the conclusion was that an organization solely dedicated to funding health research would have the potential to appeal to a broader base of Doberman enthusiasts, while also allowing more flexibility in promoting and responding to genetic health research. With that goal in mind, the Doberman Pinscher Health Foundation was born.

The Doberman Pinscher Health Foundation Mission Statement reads:

“The mission of the Foundation is to  advance Doberman Pinscher health research and related initiatives, toward the discovery, practical application and communication of scientific knowledge that successfully addresses the genetic diseases of the Doberman Pinscher. We are also dedicated to the development, publication and dissemination of educational information about Doberman Pinscher health and research”.

Once the mission statement was developed, Articles of Incorporation were filed in the State of Washington, as well as paperwork establishing DPHF as a federal tax exempt 501 (c) (3) charity. The next several months were spent rounding out the Board of Directors. The Current Board of Directors is comprised of dedicated breed fanciers and exhibitors who have professional backgrounds in Veterinary Medicine, Financial Management, Tax Law, Non-Profit Fund Raising, Research, and Technology Fields.

The Foundation was launched publicly on the one year anniversary of Tex’s death, with a series of fundraising events intended to jump start the support of the foundation. These fundraisers included raffles at local dog events, sales of shirts supporting the foundation, solicitations for donations, registration with the Amazon Smile program, and various levels of membership in DPHF.

Under the direction of Board Member Dr. Kelli Rosen, a research committee has been formed for the purpose of identifying and evaluating potential research initiatives for funding. Recommended initiatives will be sent from this committee to the Board of Directors for funding decisions. The committee is comprised of members of the Doberman community who have backgrounds in the fields of Veterinary Medicine, Pharmaceutical Science and Higher Education. This committee has also been tasked with work on a request for proposal (RFP), which will be published in industry standard locations for research schools and laboratories. A minimum of one project annually will receive a dedicated grant award, the amount of which will be defined in the RFP. Additional projects may also receive grant funding based on merits of research, relevance to the breed, and financial availability.

Dellorto’s experience is not unique. Far too often, people choose to donate to organizations such as DPHF because they too have tragically lost a dog that was a large part of their family. The loss of that pet makes them want to do something for the future in the hopes that someday, others may have more options or knowledge and the ability to fight, if not eliminate, the disease. DPHF wants to honor those values and for that reason is dedicated to making their foundation as close to a zero-overhead operation as possible. DPHF has been vigilant in applying for reduced rates available to 501 (c) (3) charities on services whenever possible. As of the time of this article, all administrative costs have been covered by generous benefactors. You can be assured that the money you send to the DPHF will be used for initiatives that support the mission statement.

What sets DPHF apart from the many other worthy canine health charities?

As mentioned earlier in this article, promoting research and providing educational information for and about the health of the Doberman Pinscher is the sole purpose of the organization.

There are other organizations, such as the Morris Foundation, AKC Canine Health Foundation, and others that are doing great work in research for genetic diseases, but they are not dedicated to the Doberman Pinscher and they all come with substantial administrative costs which reduce the percentage of each donation that can be used to fund research.

In addition to having a dedicated fund that will allow us to respond to requests for funds supporting research, the DPHF is actively creating a competitive process for an annual grant program to encourage the initiation of new and exciting research. Would you like to get involved? The DPHF wants to hear from you. Here are just a few ways you can help DPHF achieve our mission.

DPHF is actively looking for volunteers to sponsor more fundraising activities, especially in regions outside of the Pacific Northwest. The Foundation will provide educational materials to assist with these fundraising activities

Like and Follow DPHF on social media. DPHF uses Facebook (Doberman Pinscher Health Foundation) and Twitter (@Doberman_Health) to share information about upcoming fundraisers and research.

Do you know of on-going research projects that are beneficial to the Doberman breed? DPHF would like to hear about it.

Consider becoming a member or founding donor of DPHF. Memberships help us predictably budget for our on-going funding and grants. All donations are tax deductible in the U.S. and Canada.

Would you be interested in upcoming positions on the Board of Directors, a research committee, or be a regional sponsor? Just drop DPHF a line and information about your individual skills and we will keep you in mind for future opportunities. The DPHF Board of Directors can be contact at BOD@dobermaanhealth.org.

DPHF is grateful to all of the existing Members and Donors to date who, in a large part, have made the foundation a reality. Please join us! With your help DPHF will make a difference in the future of the breed.

The Doberman Pinscher Health Foundation – Funding the Future of Doberman Pinscher Health.

More information about the Doberman Health Foundation can be found at:

DobermanHealth.org