
The goal is to attract renowned and relevant speakers to provide a valuable educational and entertaining opportunity to those who attend the National. The yearly honoree will be selected by a small committee of members of the Boards of Directors of the Dalmatian Club of America and the Dalmatian Club of America Foundation.
Betty Garvin was a long-time friend of the Dalmatian breed. She served on the Board of Directors and as Secretary of the Dalmatian Club of America, and she was one of the first female delegates to the American Kennel Club where she served for many years. She attended 40 consecutive DCA Specialties, and her family's Korcula Kennels, Reg. produced some of the top winners and producers in the breed.

March 19, 1920 ~ April 28, 2006
2020 DCA National Speaker
For the 2020 DCA National Specialty in Asheville, the Betty Garvin Speaker will be Bill Shelton of Coventry Corgis talking about Preservation Breeding, Tuesday evening, May 5, (approximately) 7 pm.
Hope to see everyone there!
Charlie Garvin DCA’s AKC Delegate
This tradition honoring Betty Garvin, has continued each year at the National Specialty:
- 2007 ~ Danika Bannasch DVM PhD, Suzy Hughes DVM, & Mary-Lynn Jensen PhD: "A Seminar On Dalmatian Urate Stones"
2008 ~ Keith Murphy PhD: "A Tale of Canine Genetics: A Dog's Life is Getting Better All the Time"
2009~ Eddie Dziuk: "CHIC, OFA, Dalmatians and Health Testing."
2010 ~ Terry Warren, CEO: AKC Canine Health Foundation
2011 ~ Tim Robbins: "Following The Dalmatian Standard Around the World: 1905 - 2011"
Click here for presentation and handouts on the DCA Members Education page.
2012 ~ Kirk Esmond, DVM: "I Want Puppies"
2013 ~ 2013 Melinda Fleming, DVM
2014 ~ David Waters, DVM PhD: "Whole Organism Thinking: The Challenge of Successful Aging and Cancer Avoidance in a U-Shaped World"
2015 ~ Robert Hutchison, DVM
2016 ~ Michael Halpern, PhD
2017 ~ Jason Gagne, DVM: "Nutritional Management of Canine Epilepsy and Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome."
2018 ~ Dr David Twedt: Copper Storage Disease in the Dalmatian
2019 - Jessica Hokamp, DVM, PhD, from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary medicine: Kidney Diseases in Dalmatians
click here for informational links on the DCA Members Education page.
You can make DONATIONS ONLINE.
If you prefer mail, please use our Contribution Form and mail your donation to:
Supporting Documentation from the Seminars
DCA 2018: Copper Storage Disease Presentation (Slide PDF) by Dr Twedt – DCA National Specialty, May 2018
DCA 2014: “Whole Organism Thinking: The Challenge of Successful Aging and Cancer Avoidance in a U-Shaped World” ~ David Waters, DVM PhD
- David Waters, DVM PhD. was the featured speaker at the 2014 National Specialty’s Betty Garvin Seminar with a
talk titled: “Whole Organism Thinking: The Challenge of Successful Aging and Cancer Avoidance in a U-Shaped World.”
Dr. Waters is well known for his studies on canine longevity, and the
Old Grey Muzzle Tour.
He research has revolutionized thinking about the long-term effects of
spaying. A Healthier Respect For Ovaries
Read Dr. Waters recent commentary on aging research in dogs titled “Longevity in Dogs: Understanding What’s
Missing”, which was published in a leading European veterinary journal. See why life course perspective (LCP) and
whole organism thinking (WOT) provide fresh insights into uncovering the secrets of highly successful aging.
DCA 2011: “Following the Dalmatian Standard Around the World: 1905-2011” ~ Tim Robbins
- Handouts (PDF format)
- Powerpoint Presentation (13 MB)