St. Louis, MO – September 13, 2024 – Good evening. My name is Dr. Alyse Kanter, the Treasurer of our club and it is my distinct honor and pleasure to be standing before you today to present a very special award: The Lifetime Achievement Award for the Basset Fauve de Bretagne Club of America. This prestigious award recognizes an individual whose dedication, passion and tireless efforts have left an indelible mark on our Fauve club and on the broader canine community.
Today, we celebrate someone who has devoted countless hours, boundless energy, and unwavering love and commitment to improving the lives of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne. She has forever enriched our club, and her journey has been one of remarkable achievements, outstanding contributions and inspiring leadership. This person has been involved in the dog world since she was a small child and started competing in conformation events before the age of ten. She has since bred, trained, shown, trialed and hunted a variety of breeds, as well as drafted and advocated for the passage of Assistance Dog Laws. Her expertise in canine genetics, honed at Michigan State under world-renowned researchers, has also been invaluable as the breed has gained popularity in the United States.
Professionally, she is a seasoned expert in both nursing and master dog training. With over 55 years of experience, she has specialized in assistance dog training for people with disabilities, now focusing exclusively on Diabetic Alert Dog Training. Her significant contributions to the field include co-authoring legislation for service dog use in the airlines. Additionally, she has been instrumental in developing and promoting the genetic DNA test for Progressive Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG).
Her start with Fauves began in 2001 when she traveled to France to study under three French hunting judges and the President of the Club du Fauve de Bretagne and brought home her first pair of Fauves which were undoubtedly some of the first Fauves in this country. She returned to France in 2011 to further her education and attended the World Dog Show of the French Fauve Club’s International Breeder’s Exposition. She has returned many times since to study and learn more about Fauves and to improve the United States’ breeding program. This year she attended the Club du Fauve annual meeting as the American delegate to the French club as well as to shadow judges at the Elevage, which is the French Club sponsored dog show attended by Fauve owners from around the world.
She was also the founding president of the UKC national breed club and is the current President of our own Basset Fauve de Bretagne Club of America, which is the official breed club in the United States. She has been instrumental in developing this club and to furthering the status of Fauves at AKC. We are currently in the Miscellaneous Group and she has been working tirelessly with the club and AKC to get us fully accepted. She also was the impetus in educating Fauve breeders in the U.S. and France to test for POAG which is a life altering illness in Fauves that causes blindness.
From organizing events that bring joy to both dogs and their owners to advocating for better care and training standards, this person’s influence has been profound. Her commitment to education and mentorship of adults and juniors has helped countless new members and their canine companions thrive, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose that is the heart of our club. Many of us owe our love of Fauves and our actual Fauves to this person. Beyond the accolades and accomplishments, it is her compassion, kindness and dedication that truly sets her apart. Whether it’s offering a helping hand at a moment’s notice, sharing her wealth of knowledge, or simply being a friend to all, she embodies the very spirit of what our club stands for.
It is with immense gratitude and admiration that we honor Cindy Hartman with this Lifetime Achievement Award. Cindy your legacy of love and dedication to dogs and their owners will forever be a cornerstone of our club. We thank you for your years of service, your continuous enthusiasm, and for being an inspiration to us all. We would like to present you with this plaque, gift and lifetime paid membership to our club. Please join me in congratulating Cindy Hartman on this well-deserved recognition.
Dr. Alyse Kanter, Treasurer 2024
Beth Martin Tufts, Education Chair 2024
BFdBCA Board of Directors 2024
