Our Impact

Since 1995, when the Foundation was established

• DCAF has invested nearly $684,000 in support of 28 research studies in canine health that matter to Dalmatian owners.
• Studies have been on a wide range of topics including allergy issues, blastomycosis, various forms of canine cancer, copper storage disease, deafness, ear infections, epilepsy, heart disease, renal disease, stem cell tissue regeneration, urate stones, and urinary tract infections.  Surveys of Dalmatian Club of America members, the most recent in 2021, help us choose studies of most importance to our donors. 
• We have invested more than $26,000 in subsidizing Dalmatian DNA submissions to the OFA DNA Repository available to scientific researchers.  Our breed is one of the leaders in submission with more than 200 full litters represented in the repository.
• We encourage health testing and public posting of the results through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and Canine Health Information Center (CHIC).
  • We have underwritten 23 health clinics at an estimated cost of nearly $70,000
  • We subsidize OFA full litter BAER and DNA Repository submissions
  • We’ve awarded financial bonuses to Futurity winners whose sire and dam both have their CHIC numbers at a cost of more than $17,000.
• We’ve invested an estimated $50,000 in educational programs including
  • The Betty Garvin Seminars at the DCA National Specialty shows which feature educational speakers on topics of interest to the fancy.
  • The Urinary Stone Pamphlet distributed to the DCA Membership and a wide group of veterinarians and now available online
  • The membership education booklet that covers a broad range of health topics related to the Dalmatian, as well as education materials. This booklet was distributed to the entire DCA membership.
  • The Copper Storage Disease pamphlet available online and the Copper Storage Disease Facebook group
  • Since annual CHF Parent Club Health Conferences began in 2002, DCAF has supported travel costs and registration fees for a member to attend. 
• Since 2018, when DCARE (Dalmatian Club of America Rescue Education) funding moved from DCA to DCAF due to the Foundation’s 501(c)3 status, we’ve reimbursed $79,000 in Dalmatian rescue and rehoming related costs to our partner rescue organizations. The goal of DCARE is to help increase the likelihood of successful rescue placements and to ensure that the placements are in the best interest of the public, the dog and the breed