The Westminster Kennel Club Expands Art Contest Donation in Support of Breed Club Dog Rescue

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The Westminster Kennel Club, in its ongoing charitable efforts to give back to the sport, will donate $5,000 each to three American Kennel Club (AKC)-recognized national breed clubs to support the club’s dog rescue activities. The three donations totaling $15,000 will be presented at the 142nd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show held February 12-13, 2018.

Each year, Westminster donates to a dog-related charity from the proceeds of its art contest’s commemorative poster and notecards sales. For 2018, the donation will increase from $10,000 to $15,000 to assist three national breed clubs in offsetting rescue related expenses such as transportation, veterinary care, grooming, boarding, feeding and training. In addition, these funds will assist the clubs in educating new owners about the joy of owning their specific breeds while finding new homes for purebred dogs. Westminster will select the national breed club donation recipients based on meeting eligibility requirements and specific needs. Applications were sent by the AKC to its recognized national breed clubs with a deadline of September 30, 2017.

The increased donation joins recently announced awards for 2018 including a new $10,000 donation given on behalf of the winners of both the Masters Agility and the Masters Obedience Championships at Westminster to their respective training clubs and an increase in the scholarship amount awarded to the Best Junior Handler from $6,000 to $10,000. All of these awards directly support the mission of the Westminster Kennel Club to exhibit, study and improve breeds of dogs and related activities surrounding advancement.