OUR MISSION
The Mission of the Basset Hound Club of America Foundation (BHCAF)
To inform and educate the public about Basset Hounds as well as other breeds of dogs;
To assist in furthering the understanding of the diseases, genetic defects, injuries and other ailments that afflict Basset Hounds and other breeds of dogs;
To promote and assist the development, publication and distribution of educational materials about the proper care, treatment, breeding, health, development and training of Basset Hounds;
To promote the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of displaced Basset Hounds.
OUR HISTORY
History of the Basset Hound Club of America Foundation (BHCAF)
The Basset Hound Club of America Foundation was established to fund projects that further the welfare of the breed.
Funding is obtained from various sources:
- Annual giving as an elected option through Basset Hound Club of America membership renewals;
- Proceeds from raffles/auctions at the National Specialty Show;
- Donations from generous donors;
- Estates/Bequests;
- Donations from independent Basset Hound Clubs
- Donate your vehicle to BHCAF. Complete our online donation form.
HEALTH RESEARCH SUPPORTED BY THE BHCA FOUNDATION
In the area of health research, the Foundation is very busy. We co-funded a grant with the AKC Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) to Dr. Catherine Mellersh, UK Animal Health Trust, to advance her work on Primary Closed Angle Glaucoma (PCAG). This research team has interest in BOTH closed and open angle glaucoma and has developed a genetic test for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG). The samples collected at the 2019 Nationals will further advance this research. We are also continuing our support for the AKC/CHF major program areas of lymphoma research and bloat research.
In addition, the Foundation fully funded the collection of saliva samples at the 2019 Nationals for a new project at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine to study what could be an emerging health issue, Mucopolysaccharoidosis Type 1. This devastating genetic disease has been confirmed in Bassets and this study will be the first to examine its prevalence in our breed.
In response to a request from the BHCA Health Committee in 2022 and 2023, BHCAF contributed over $29,000.00 to subsidize basset hound health testing. This included testing offered at a discounted rate through Pawprints Genetics for LaFora and testing through OFA for the disease, MPS-1. Through testing, responsible breeders can identify dogs that are “carriers” or are “at risk” for these newly discovered diseases and make appropriate breeding decisions. Working to eliminate these diseases in bloodlines is important for preservation breeders of basset hounds to breed the healthiest of dogs.
The Foundation has also been very proactive in funding cancer research grants, especially those related to lymphoma, which unfortunately is very common in most breeds including our own. We work closely with the AKC Canine Health Foundation in sponsoring grants for cancer and other disease research. With the combined resources of our Donor Advised Fund at AKC/CHF (which the Foundation manages) and your direct donations to the Foundation, The BHCA Foundation has funded over $200,000 of health research that has generated dozens of publications that advance the science of canine health. For example, in 2024 BHCAF was a major funder to the AKCCHF Grant #03294: Formulation of Radiopharmaceutical Cocktails with MIRDcell AI to Treat B Cell Lymphoma in Dogs. In 2025 we supported the AKCCHF Grant #03334: Antiparasitic treatment of Trypansoma cruzi-infected dogs (aka Chagas Disease) across different stages of disease for clinical cardiac improvements. We have also supported past research for Gastric Dialation Volvulus (Bloat) through the AKC Canine Health Foundation. For more info on the AKC Canine Health Foundation go to www.akcchf.orgYour support has been critical in all these efforts. It is our hope to be able to continue to fund new important projects in the future through your monetary donations.
