Welcome

AKC CANINE HEALTH FOUNDATION
251 West Garfield Road Suite 160   Aurora, Ohio 44202 
Ph: 330-995-0807     Fax: 330-995-0806
Email: akcchf@aol.com    Web: www.akcchf.org 

October 1999

To All Conference Participants:

Welcome to St. Louis and to the third bi-annual National Parent Club Canine Health Conference!  We are very pleased that you are here and we look forward to sharing with you the exciting progress that has been made in canine health since our last conference in 1997.

More importantly we are eager to hear what you have to share about the challenges you face in your clubs, with your breeds and your progress in meeting health challenges. The conference is designed for sharing- so take advantage of the table topics sessions and the Saturday evening "Meet and Greet the Speakers."

"Working together for the health of your dog" are not just words. They are in fact a guide that we can use to make the most of our opportunities to advance canine health. This conference would not be possible without the support of two great organizations with a long history of dedication to dogs. The Ralston Purina Company is the sponsor of the conference. They have contributed much to the development of the AKC Canine Health Foundation not in just dollars, but in many ways such as lending scientific expertise and marketing support. We would like to thank specifically Dr. David Bebiak, Dr. Steven Hannah, Michael Crawford, Jo Hellinger, and Ernie Plank for all of their help over the last year.

The American Kennel Club is a sponsor of both the AKC Canine Health Foundation and an important sponsor of this conference. We would like to thank the AKC Board of Directors for their ongoing support and specifically Al Cheaure and Nick D' Altillio for their participation.

Parent Clubs are at the center of the work we do at the AKC Canine Health Foundation. They are the partners we depend on to identify health issues, raise funds and assist in research studies by gathering samples and pedigrees. Without these important steps none of the research could go forward. The health of every breed is important and the health of every dog in every breed is our mutual concern.

Our continuing search for ways to improve the health of your dog would not be possible without you. We thank you for your leadership. It is our hope that this conference will continue to serve an important role in expressing our appreciation for your work and a gateway to the future of purebred dogs.

In appreciation,

Dr. Robert J. Hritzo President

In appreciation,

Deborah A. Lynch, Executive Vice President

Biographical Profile

Robert J. Hritzo, MD has been actively involved in the sport of purebred dogs for more than 25 years. He and his wife Pat have bred and exhibited Samoyeds and Papillons, finishing 76 homebred champions as well as a Greyhound, two. Pointers and an American Foxhound.

Dr. Hritzo has been the AKC Delegate for the Mahoning Shenango Kennel Club for 25 years and is also a member of the Samoyed Club of America, the Papillon Club of America and the Central Florida Toy Club. He has been President of the Mahoning Shenango Kennel Club for 12 years and has served as Show Chairman. Dr. Hritzo has also served as Treasurer and member of the AKC Board of Directors for several terms.

In his professional life Dr. Hritzo was a general surgeon, Director of the Research Laboratory and Chief of Staff of St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Youngstown, OH. The combination of his medical and research background with his experience and dedication to dogs led to his appointment as the first President of the AKC Canine Health Foundation. Dr. Hritzo and his wife currently reside in Dunnellon, Florida.

Dr. David Bebiak is Vice-President and Director for the Pet Products R&D Group for the Ralston Purina Company. Since joining the company in 1980, Bebiak has been an active scientist and managed an array of scientists ranging from nutritionists to regulatory experts.

Bebiak also is responsible for the Purina Pet Care Center which houses Purina's 1,000 dogs and 900 cats. The center has been working in conjunction with "the company's pets" for the past 65 years to learn more about the care and feeding of animals.

Bebiak currently is an active member of the "Research on Research" committee of the Industrial Research Institute and serves on the Board of Directors of the AKC Canine Health Foundation.

With a PhD in Nutrition from State University, Dr. Bebiak utilizes his experience as a professional and pet owner to education the public about the proper care of pets, from obedience to the food bowl. He shares his home with seven dogs and three cats.

Nick D'Altilio is Senior Vice President & chief Operating Officer for the American Kennel Club. At his Raleigh location reside the operational departments involved with the process of registering and validating pedigrees, approving competition events and recording information for and about the AKC's recognized breeds.

Mr. D'Altilio grew up in White Plains, NY and graduated from New York University, New York City. In his 28 years of management, all focused in Information Services, he has spent 19 years with the Bell System, seven years with The Jockey Club and the last two with the AKC.

His AT&T and Bell System responsibilities have included managing telephone operations, executing nationwide divestiture activities of the Bell System and managing software development divisions associated with AT&T Network Services and Bell Laboratories.

Prior to his appointment at the AKC, Mr. D'Altilio was the Vice President & Chief Information Officer for The Jockey Club family of companies in Lexington, KY. He led the planning, execution and completion of a four year re-engineering process resulting in enterprise wide business remodeling and the implementation of new information systems, including Web sites, utilizing leading edge technologies. He had been a frequent guest lecturer at the University of Kentucky Gatton School of Business and a panelist on various technology seminars and discussion groups.

Mr. D'Altilio currently resides in Cary, NC with his wife Rosalee. He has two daughters, Rebecca, a 1997 graduate of Purdue University who now resides in Naperville, IL and Marianne, a senior pre-veterinary student at Murray State University, Murray, KY. Mr. D'Altilio and his family have owned a German Shepherd and a Golden Retriever. Other interests include boating, automobiles and auto racing.