The future of the Otterhound depends on what we do today." Betsy Conway, Inspiration for the Bank and long time OH breeder
Welcome to the First Newsletter from the OHCA Reproduction Bank Inc.
Our Board of Directors wants to keep you informed about the exciting activities of the bank.
A Letter From Our President
Welcome to our inaugural newsletter! In this issue, you will find lists of accomplishments of the OHCA Reproduction Bank, Inc., over the last several years. I am very excited with the progress of the Bank and look forward to a fruitful future. With generous donations, we have been able to achieve all we have and I, along with the Board of the OHCA Reproduction Bank, Inc., are eagerly awaiting the first use of the semen from the Bank and the registration of the first litter from Bank semen. However, the purpose of the Bank is not for today, as much as it is for the future.
If you have semen frozen on your Otterhound and you do not have a plan for it should something happen to you, please let us know! We can make sure that your dog is not lost after you are gone. If you have a wonderful Otterhound companion now, we encourage you to have him health tested (see the article in this edition!) and donate semen to the Bank. If you have any questions on how the process works, or where you can go in your area to have this done, please reach out to the Bank and we can help direct you.
Please watch our website for new dogs that have been collected, new video that is being edited for the website to document the dogs from the past, and future editions of our newsletter that will include information for breeders and owners alike.
We could not achieve all we have without your generosity, and we thank you. Please watch for our annual Art auction in the spring.
Happy Holidays!
Joellen Gregory DVM
President, OHCA Reproduction Bank, Inc.
If you have semen frozen on your Otterhound and you do not have a plan for it should something happen to you, please let us know! We can make sure that your dog is not lost after you are gone. If you have a wonderful Otterhound companion now, we encourage you to have him health tested (see the article in this edition!) and donate semen to the Bank. If you have any questions on how the process works, or where you can go in your area to have this done, please reach out to the Bank and we can help direct you.
Please watch our website for new dogs that have been collected, new video that is being edited for the website to document the dogs from the past, and future editions of our newsletter that will include information for breeders and owners alike.
We could not achieve all we have without your generosity, and we thank you. Please watch for our annual Art auction in the spring.
Happy Holidays!
Joellen Gregory DVM
President, OHCA Reproduction Bank, Inc.
Top Ten Accomplishments of the OHCA Reproduction Bank Inc. 2017-19
- First collection of semen at the 2018 National Specialty in Des Moines, Iowa
- Additional dogs’ semen ownership transferred to the Reproduction Bank by owners
- Fundraising for start up of the organization in 2017.
- Working with artist Janet Cain, we held a successful fundraising art raffle conducted by the board of directors with assistance of 2 supporters (Thanks to Cindy Huffman and Alison Rosenberg). We earned $1265.
- Beautiful logo developed by artist. (Thanks to Cathy Lester)
- Business cards and stationery designed by another supporter using our logo (Thanks to Marilyn Hajjar)
- Christmas in July clothing fundraiser designed to raise funds and gain logo recognition. This activity netted us $1040.
- Thank you gifts sent to top donors.
- Interest in the reproduction bank concept expressed by other AKC dog clubs.
- Second collection of semen held at the 2019 National Specialty in Pleasanton, CA.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Barry Gruber for his very generous donation to pay for the recent collection of Otterhounds at the National Specialty in Pleasanton, CA.
Our StewardshipThe board of the OHCA Reproduction Bank is making every effort to be good stewards of our resources. Thoroughly researching for a great place to store our semen, we chose to place them at Iowa State University where we can stow them at a good rate with confidence they will be well cared for. Currently we have 15 dogs on our rolls though many are not presently available because the dogs are either still producing semen or their owner has frozen semen which must be used before any in the bank. Additionally some dogs have not yet completed their health testing. We do have a few dogs that may be used at this time. Please check out this link to the page for needed information.
https://www.ohca-reprobank.org/dogs.html |
We have had the great fortune to have some generous donors that helped us get started and appreciate so much when folks endorse our mission by sending a check to support the effort. We have also done some fundraising activities this year that have netted us additional revenues. For more detail on our financial status, watch the minutes of our board meetings for a year end financial statement sometime in January. Donations are always welcome and much appreciated. Please remember that your gifts are tax deductible since our group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization as designated by the IRS. |
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Donations to the Reproduction Bank may be made by sending a check to: OHCA Reproduction Bank Inc., P.O. Box 494, Egg Harbor, WI 54209 or by using the Donate button on our homepage. You can also help us by designating us as your charity of choice on SmileAmazon.
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Those of you who already have contributed your dog’s semen to the Reproduction Bank should be sure that your dog has a CHIC number, indicating all the Health Clearances recommended by the OHCA have been done. Dogs who do not have all the health clearances are unavailable for use. If you have questions, contact the Reproduction Bank at [email protected].
Here are the three requirements.
1. X-ray your dog’s hips once he reaches the age of 24 months and check the box stating the results should be made public. Here is a link from the Orthopedic foundation for animals website explaining just how to do this. We recommend that you find a veterinarian that is experienced in doing this x-ray to get the best results. Though it is not currently required, we also recommend that you have your dog's elbows done at the same time since most people are doing that as well. https://www.ofa.org/diseases/hip-dysplasia
On this page you will also find a link to the application form needed to take to your veterinarian.
Here are the three requirements.
1. X-ray your dog’s hips once he reaches the age of 24 months and check the box stating the results should be made public. Here is a link from the Orthopedic foundation for animals website explaining just how to do this. We recommend that you find a veterinarian that is experienced in doing this x-ray to get the best results. Though it is not currently required, we also recommend that you have your dog's elbows done at the same time since most people are doing that as well. https://www.ofa.org/diseases/hip-dysplasia
On this page you will also find a link to the application form needed to take to your veterinarian.
2. Be sure your dog’s blood has been submitted to the DNA Bank at University of Missouri. Many breeders are doing this for all of their puppies. Check with your breeder to find out if your pup's blood has been submitted. If not, here is the information you need to send in your Otterhound's blood: https://www.ofa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/chic_dnabankapp_main.pdf The Otterhound Club of America requires a blood sample, not a cheek swab for our purpose of collecting blood for our epilepsy study. Be sure to contact us if you have questions about this process.
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3. Test your dog for Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia(GT) either through Auburn University: www.vetmed.auburn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/GLANZMANN-THROMBASTHENIA-IN-OTTERHOUNDS.pdf or
PawprintsGenetics www.pawprintgenetics.com/products/tests/details/73/?breed=159
If both parents have been tested for GT and found Clear, the offspring may be clear by parentage but for only one generation. In order for a dog to be Clear of Glanzmann’s via Parentage, the DNA from both tested- Clear parents and the offspring must be submitted to OFA.
PawprintsGenetics www.pawprintgenetics.com/products/tests/details/73/?breed=159
If both parents have been tested for GT and found Clear, the offspring may be clear by parentage but for only one generation. In order for a dog to be Clear of Glanzmann’s via Parentage, the DNA from both tested- Clear parents and the offspring must be submitted to OFA.
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Please think about contacting the OHCA Reproduction Bank Inc. before taking your Otterhound to the vet for "tutoring"! |
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Board of Directors
Joellen Gregory D.V.M, President Linda Schrader, Vice President |
Eibhlin Glennon, Secretary
Becky Van Houten, Treasurer Kathy Munger, Director |
Cindy Huffman, Alison Rosenberg, Fundraising
Comments or questions? Please contact us at: [email protected]