The Canine Cancer Campaign volunteers of Sacramento hosted a booth at the Morse Dog Park Grand Opening and Woof Walk on Saturday, June 20. About 150 walkers attended the opening of the latest dog park in Elk Grove, Calif. Pictured are volunteers Tristan Smith, with Miracle, and Justin Smith, with Dixie. The second photo is of a cancer survivor who visited the booth.
Click here to see a list of upcoming events
Raja, the official Canine Cancer Campaign “spokespuppy” came out to show his support on Saturday, May 16, at Thorntonfest in Thornton, CO. Unfortunately, golden retrievers are one of the breeds with the highest risk for cancer, and 60 percent of golden retrievers will die of this devastating disease. Click here to learn more about what Morris Animal Foundation is doing to cure canine cancer.
Patricia Olson, MAF’s president and CEO, and Paul Raybould, executive vice president, were guests of P&G Pet Care at the company’s third Pet Care Academy (PCA) in Cincinnati, Ohio. The PCA attendees consisted of veterinarians and veterinary students from around the world. The theme of this year’s PCA was gastrointestinal health for dogs. One of the events they attended was at the Cincinnati Zoo where they were treated to a feline show that culminated in a “Cheetah Run” – a cheetah chasing a lure. Paul got to meet one of the cheetahs, Tommy T, an 8 month old.
In our quest to provide practitioners with new tools, we’re pleased to announce progress from the field.
Dr. Craig B. Webb and his colleagues at Colorado State University are studying the efficacy of probiotics in suppressing ongoing intestinal inflammation in cats with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). If successful, probiotics treatment would stop clinical signs of IBD without the side effects associated with current treatments, which include antibiotics, steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Initial results from the three-year, Morris Animal Foundation–funded study are promising and may also be relevant to the treatment of dogs. To read more about Dr. Webb’s study, #D06FE-048, click here.
Safe & Effective Contraception to Control Deer & Elk Overpopulation
There has been a rampant increase in elk and deer populations in national parks and other areas where management by hunting is not allowed and/or natural predators, such as wolves and mountain lions, have been removed. The large numbers of deer and elk have negatively affected the native vegetation, which then influences the habitats of other wildlife species (e.g., beavers) and reduces their ability to survive. As a result, the diversity of wildlife in many national parks is declining. There is now a contraceptive vaccine that could successfully control elk and deer populations. Winter is the easiest time of year to gather and vaccinate deer and elk; however, females are normally pregnant during the winter. So, scientists are studying the vaccine further to determine whether immunizing females will affect their offspring’s ability to reproduce normally later in life. This knowledge should provide wildlife managers with the information needed to implement this means of contraception and to control these wild populations safely and effectively.
From the Miami Herald
By ROBERT W. BUTLER
McClatchy Newspapers
One problem with getting older, Betty White says, is that people assume you’ve picked up wisdom along with the wrinkles.
“They’ll come up to me and ask, ‘Could you advise me …?’ on this or that.
“I tell them to forget it. It’s all I can do to get myself through a day.”
White, 87, was chatting from Los Angeles to promote “The Proposal,” the comedy opening Friday in which she co-stars with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.
K9K walk to cure canine cancer
Pet owners and their furry friends walk to raise awareness and funds to cure canine cancer, a disease that kills one in four dogs. Organized by Sandy Vilahu, an amazing volunteer and California resident who lost three beloved dogs to canine cancer, the Sacramento K9K provided pet owners with a unique opportunity to hear veterinary cancer experts speak about the disease, ways to prevent it and effective new treatment options.
Help us raise $1,500 in 5 days to improve the health of shelter cats!
Millions of homeless cats lose their lives in shelters each year—often due to diseases as simple as the common cold. Morris Animal Foundation’s (MAF) Helping Shelters Help Cats program is funding three feline health studies that will ultimately help cats stay healthy and stress-free until they are adopted.
A generous cat lover will match every dollar given to this program up to $500,000, for a potential total of $1 million to help save cats!
This shelter-health initiative is part of MAF’s Happy Healthy Cat Campaign, an unprecedented global effort to increase funding for feline health research and training of new scientists.
Give and win: Everyone who makes a donation to Helping Shelters Help Cats will be entered into a daily drawing for a “Treats & Toys” gift basket (retail value approximately $15 each). Donate now.
Thank you for helping cats live healthier lives!
New Program Provides Tools, Resources to Veterinarians
Morris Animal Foundation Debuts Veterinary Outreach Program in Three Markets
Denver —Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) launched its Veterinary Outreach Program to strengthen ties with veterinary professionals, and hired three part-time outreach representatives to deliver resources and provide feedback from the field. Founded by veterinarian Mark Morris Sr. and dedicated to the success of veterinarians, MAF strives to provide resources to help professionals treat, protect and cure animals. The three consultants are based in California, Colorado and Texas.
“Research represents the future for veterinarians in private practice,” said Dr. Tom Duer, DVM, president of the Fort Worth/Tarrant County Animal Foundation (FWTCAF). “The challenge,” he added, “is to effectively communicate that fact to veterinarians out in the field.”
Veterinarians are “on the front lines helping pets have better lives, and [we] have no real time to find cures or develop new treatment options,” said Duer, whose Texas-based foundation recently donated $98,000 to fund four Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) studies this year.
