The Kennel Club of Philadelphia Dog Shows are sanctioned by the AKC, the principal registry for purebred dogs in the United States and the largest registry in the world. Every year, owners register approximately one million dogs with the AKC. The AKC's Canine Health Foundation is the world's largest funder of exclusively canine research with a mission to develop significant resources for basic and applied health programs with emphasis on canine genetics to improve the quality of life for dogs and their owners. The AKC and its affiliate, AKC Pet Disaster Relief, have been instrumental in providing long-term care to animals displaced by other natural disasters.