Editorial: October 27, 2023

AKC Humane Fund

This 501c3 charity was proposed to the board of directors of the American Kennel Club by president Dennis B. Sprung in 2008. Its mission is to bring together animal lovers and to promote responsible dog ownership. As its mission grew, it incorporated financial support to organizations that educate adults and children about the responsibilities of dog ownership; help with grants to support breed rescue; scholarships to full-time students enrolled in animal-related courses that address animal well-being, and grants to domestic-violence shelters that allow victims to bring their pets to the shelter. Not all domestic violence shelters allow dogs, and that keeps some victims from leaving the situations they face at home. 

The AKC Humane Fund Scholarship awards five students each year to help with their financial burden to further their education. It was named in honor of Sir John Spurling, KCVO OBE, who is synonymous is pet insurance: He was the former owner of a pet-insurance company in England that was endorsed by the Royal Kennel Club, and he brought that company, Pet Partners, to these shores many years ago. Even though John and his wife Gwyneth are residents of England, they have been very supportive of many of our charities here; to name a few, he has underwritten the first two Meet the Breeds, the Dog Museum Theatre Benefits and the Take The Lead Theatre Benefits. 

So with a special thanks to John and Gwyneth, we congratulate the five 2023 scholarship recipients. They are:

Kennedi Christina Crouch Robinson, 

Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine

Becca Nicole Contestabile

Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine

Steven Roert Hinkle

Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine

Lauren Lucille Thielmann

Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine

Rory Bi

University of Massachusetts Amherst