For Immediate Release - October 24, 2007

 Take The Lead establishes California Wildfire Relief Fund
to provide assistance to dog show people

 Take The Lead has announced the formation of The California Wildfire Relief Fund to help people in the dog show world who have suffered losses in the devastation of this tragedy. 

 The Westminster Kennel Club, PEDIGREE® Food For Dogs and the MB-F Dog Show Organization have stepped up to make the initial donations to help provide immediate assistance. 

“We have many friends who are in need and we want to help in whatever way we can,” said Take The Lead Chairman Edd E. Bivin.  “This fund will help provide some immediate relief for those touched by this disaster.  We thank Westminster, Pedigree and MB-F for their generous response and leadership in this effort.” 

The California Wildfire Relief Fund has been created to assist people who have been involved in the sport of purebred dogs for five years.  Immediate financial relief is available to those who live in the federally designated disaster area and have suffered loss as a direct result of the fire. 

For further information or to apply for assistance, contact Take The Lead via its web site (www.takethelead.org) or by calling 1-800-814-1123.  Checks should be made out to Take The Lead Disaster Fund and mailed to Take The Lead, P.O. Box 6353, Watertown, NY 13601.  For donations by credit card, please call the office.  All inquiries, applications and awards are held in strictest confidence.

For information regarding assistance from the American Kennel Club and the affiliated organization AKC Companion Animal Recovery, please contact Marcy Zigler at mlz@akc.org or 212-696-8346.

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 Take The Lead was established in 1993 to provide financial support to individuals and families in the purebred dog community who are facing the realities of life-threatening and often financially devastating illness.  Take The Lead is a not-for-profit foundation as designated under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.