About the Australian Companion Animal Health Foundation
Please note that the Foundation now has its own website at acahf.org, where further information can be found.
The Foundation's purpose is to help make the lives of our pets longer, more comfortable, and free of disease by helping to fund research. The research projects help further our knowledge of the cause, treatment, and prevention of the clinical diseases of a companion animal, mainly dogs and cats.
Funding for this type of research is typically not available from government or university funding bodies. The foundation raises money through donations from veterinarians and companies associated with the pet industry, pet owners and other concerned members of the public. All gifts and donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible to the donor.
Elected Trustees oversee the operation of the ACAHF. Funds donated to the ACAHF are distributed to clinical research projects after careful assessment by a Research Committee, consisting of eminent veterinarians from veterinary schools and private practices around Australia.
Any research involving animals must conform to the very strict welfare guidelines of the AVA, the National Health, and Medical Research Council and the Research Committee. The Trustees of the Foundation monitor all research that is carried out under funding by the Foundation.
The Small Animal group of the AVA donates office space and administrative support to the Foundation. This helps to keep administrative costs to a minimum and allows virtually all the money donated to the Foundation to be used for the benefit of companion animals.
The type of research funded is wide-ranging, but it must be for the direct benefit of companion animals - for example, investigation into arthritis, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The research is primarily focused on having a better understanding of the basic disorder, leading to improved methods of treatment and prevention.
Any donation, no matter how small, helps to further our knowledge of companion animal health and disease. Donations may be made in memory of a pet. A record of these donations will be maintained by the Foundation and published in the Annual Report.
All gifts and donations to the Foundation are tax deductible to the donor under the Income Tax Assessment Act.
If you would like to make a donation to the Foundation, please visit our donations page.
