However, an estimated 6 million “backyard dogs” will face another lonely winter with nothing but a leaky doghouse, frozen water, no exercise, and agonizing cold. Perpetually chained dogs often become neurotic or aggressive from their constant confinement, often posing a danger to people. Dogs Deserve Better provides a variety of services to people who agree to take their dogs off their chains, including providing help with socialization and housetraining and building fences. To learn more, visit dogsdeservebetter.org.
Young helping hands reach paws in need Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals (OFOSA) will be presented with a check for over $1000 by the 5th Grade Ambassadors Club of Mary Woodward Elementary in Tigard this month. The donation is specifically to help pay for medical costs for Holly, a black Lab puppy whose leg was amputated due to injury. “We received Holly from a Washington shelter at eight weeks, after she was thrown from a moving car and injured her hind leg. Our efforts to rehab Holly’s leg failed, requiring surgery to amputate the leg,” says Cathy Nechak, president and founder of OFOSA. “Three legged dogs do surprisingly well, and this will give Holly the best opportunity at a full and happy life.” The Ambassadors, a group of 5th graders, hosted a schoolwide coin and can drive to raise funds for Holly’s surgery. Dr. Keith Gordon of Walnut Street Veterinary Clinic in Hillsboro challenged the students by offering to match their funds raised dollar for dollar.
AKC Canine Health Foundation calls for Westie samples
New film launches complete with companion game Hotel for Dogs, the video game based on the new feature film, Hotel For Dogs from DreamWorks Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies, is now in stores. Like the live-action movie, the video game focuses on dogs — lots of dogs. In the game, players enter the old hotel to help two siblings, Andi and Bruce, feed and entertain dozens of pups by building amazing gadgets, playing with the pooches and keeping the dogs happy in their new hotel home. Players also help Andi and Bruce explore outside the hotel as they attempt to find and rescue additional dogs in need of a safe place to call home.
The kids collected over $1000 for the surgery, which has already been completed. Holly has recovered well and is now available for adoption through OFOSA. “These kids did an amazing job and we are so proud to be the recipients of their hard
work,” says Nechak. “Holly is doing fine and full of puppy vigor. She doesn’t even know she’s missing a leg.”
The Ostrander Laboratory at the National Human Genome Research Institute at NIH in collaboration with the Purdue Comparative Oncology Program at Purdue University and the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the University of Minnesota is conducting research on the genetic susceptibility to transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder in the West Highland White Terrier and other breeds. This is a devastating disease with genetic underpinnings and the foundation’s goal is to identify the genetic variants responsible for susceptibility. Westies are five times more likely to be diagnosed with TCC than other dogs, and treatment of advanced TCC has often met with disappointing results. Many Westies die of the disease each year. continued next page
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