Health Recognition Awards
Health Recognition Awards Program Description
Health Recognition Award Application
Rationale
Conventional wisdom dictates Health Screenings are beneficial in improving the health for future generations of dogs. With the scientific advances now available for heritable disease detection, health testing is an essential component of any breeding program. The purpose of the Great Pyrenees Club of America Health Award Program is to encourage both breeders and companion owners to have their animals screened and provide recognition for those who do so. This program is not a mandate for screenings, but an incentive which provides recognition for those individuals screening dogs they own or bred.
Disclaimer
Receipt of a GPCA Health Award is not intended to be an endorsement of a Dog for purposes of breeding or used as a means to promote an animal, but to recognize those members who are screening their dogs and disclosing the results.
The Awards
There are two levels of screening recognized:
Gold Awards are for owners of dogs passing six (6) of the recommended screenings: OFA Hip, Patella, Elbow, Cardiac, Thyroid, OCD Shoulder, CERF (eyes), BAER (hearing). GlanzmannsThrombasthenia Genetic Clearance, Canine Multifocal Retinopathy Genetic Clearance.
Silver Awards are for owners of dogs passing three (3) of the recommended screenings.
Star Awards recognize the owners and breeders who have achieved a Gold or Silver award for multiple dogs (cumulative). A Star Award will be received by the owner upon having three (3) of their dogs achieve a Health Award (cumulative). A Star award will be received by the breeder when five (5) dogs of their breeding achieve a Health Award (cumulative).
Requirements
Copies (not originals, please) of health certifications, dog's registered name, registration number, as well as owner(s) and breeder(s) information shall be submitted to the GPCA Health Committee's Health Award Program Administrator. A Health Award Certificate will be sent to the owner. Additional copies of the certificate may be purchased for $5.00 plus S&H. To be eligible for a Health Award, the dog must receive certified results & number (Passing evaluation) from the certifying agency. (OFA) Those eligible for participation must be GPCA members, Associate members, or a member of GPCA Affiliated Club & in good standing. Dogs possessing a CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) number may be eligible for this award -but the application process and submission must be completed. Recipients of the Award will be published in the Bulletin and posted on the GPCA Health Committee website on an annual basis.
Examination Requirements
- OFA Hip – certification 24 months of age and above to receive a number
- OFA Elbow – certification 24 months of age and above to receive a number
- OFA OCD Shoulder – 24 months of age and above to receive a number
- OFA Patella – certification 12 months of age or above to receive a number
- OFA Cardiac – certification 12 months of age or above to receive a number
- CERF (eye clearances) – 24 months of age or above to be cleared *
- OFA Autoimmune Thyroiditis (clearance) – 24 months of age or above to be cleared BAER (hearing) clearance – no age requirement *
- GT Genetic Clearance – no age requirement
- CMR Genetic Clearance – no age requirement
- CHIC DNA Bank
* Those examinations requiring re-certification on a bi-annual basis must be submitted within 12 months of the certification. (CERF and OFA Autoimmune Thyroiditis)