AnimalNEWS 11.2 - Morris Animal Foundation

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H E A L T H I E R
T O M O R R O W
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A N I M A L S®
IN THIS ISSUE
Special Report: Human Health Advances Benefit Animals
11.2
11.2
IN THIS ISSUE
0 1 Finding common ground
10 Going to bat for bats
02 Taking a smart approach to brain cancer
11 Improving captive breeding in wild cats
04 Happy, healthy hearts
12 Your donations at work
06 New growth in stem cell research
14 In loving memory
07 Big clinic offers big benefits
16 Simple T-shirt leads to lifelong love
08 The power of a gentle touch
17 Create your own cause
DEAR FRIEN DS,
It seems that nearly every week we hear about a new medical breakthrough—not just
OUR MISSION
Morris Animal Foundation
improves the health and
well-being of companion
animals and wildlife by
funding humane health
studies and disseminating
information about
these studies.
for humans but for animals, too. The rapid pace at which medical advances are taking
place is truly remarkable, and they couldn’t happen without scientific research that
studies genetics and disease processes across many species.
The news is full of stories about how discoveries in animals are improving human
medicine—this issue of AnimalNews focuses on how technologies developed for use in
people are being put to use to advance animal health. Foundation-funded studies taking
place right now are evaluating the use of magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose
canine brain tumors, the use of stem cells to treat spinal cord injuries and cancer and
the use of human drug therapies that may help manage feline heart disease. And these
are just a few examples—the advances in animal health over the next decade will likely
be staggering.
Also in this issue, we share the heartwarming story of Lovey, a cat rescued from
an animal hoarder, who became a therapy cat after he participated in one of our
Helping Shelters Help Cats studies. And we share information about some critical
research being done to save bats—yes, the world needs bats!—and some of the world’s
most majestic and endangered creatures—lions and tigers.
As the days grow longer and warmer, we hope that you are warmed by the knowledge
that, with your help, Morris Animal Foundation is doing its part to ensure longer,
AnimalNews
healthier lives for animals. Enjoy the summer!
Volume 11 Issue 2
May 2011
AnimalNews is published four times a
Warm wishes,
year by Morris Animal Foundation.
10200 East Girard Avenue
Suite B430
Denver, Colorado 80231
303.790.2345, 800.243.2345
www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
Paul Raybould
Executive Vice President
Wayne Jensen, DVM, PhD, MBA
Chief Scientific Officer
P.S. Love of animals starts in childhood. Check out our new website for kids at
www.MAFkids.org.
Special Report: Human Health Advances Benefit Animals
Finding common ground
BY HEIDI JETER
What two traits do Shar-Pei dogs and humans have in common?
Wrinkles are an obvious characteristic. The second trait may be a
genetic mutation that triggers autoinflammatory fever syndrome,
a condition that affects this breed and humans. The March
online issue of PLoS Genetics announced that researchers have
determined that the gene mutation responsible for the wrinkled
skin of Shar-Pei dogs is also linked to the fever disorder.
For many years, health research was a one-way street focused
on using animals as models for human health, but now
information is going two ways. Recent completion of the
genomes of humans, chimpanzees, dogs and many other species
has hammered home just how interconnected we are. These
genetic discoveries have led to greater emphasis on comparative
medicine, the study of disease processes across species.
The finding could help improve the health of both species,
and it’s just one recent example of how medical advances and
discoveries in one species can help another.
That’s great news for animals, who have reaped the benefits of
human medical technologies, such as chemotherapy, surgical
techniques, X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Morris Animal Foundation has played a significant role in
many of these advances. For example, the Foundation funded
the first study of its kind to use abdominal MRI to distinguish
between benign and malignant lesions in the liver and spleen
of dogs. In that study, which ended a few years ago, researchers
achieved a 90 percent diagnostic accuracy rate in using MRI.
These results mirror those seen in humans. Today, Foundationfunded scientists are testing the technology’s ability to accurately
diagnose brain lesions in dogs—and the results are promising.
(Read more on page 2.)
The concept of “One Medicine”—which emphasizes the overlap
and interdependence between animal and human health—has
been around for more than a century, but it wasn’t until recently
that the world really took notice.
In the area of stem cell research, the Foundation is funding
studies that are evaluating the use of adult stem cells derived
from the animal’s own fat or bone marrow to treat cancer and
spinal injuries in dogs and musculoskeletal injuries in horses.
(Read more on page 6.)
When it comes to drug therapies, many of the drugs used to
treat conditions like cancer, hyperthyroidism and heart disease
in humans are now used regularly for treating dogs and cats.
Researchers are currently studying whether four different drugs
developed for humans are effective in treating feline heart
disease and preventing associated blood clots. (Read more on
page 4.)
These are just a few examples of how human technologies
are being used to improve the lives of animals. The more
we learn from one another, the healthier we’ll all be.
www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
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Special Report: Human Health Advances Benefit Animals
Taking a smart approach
to brain cancer
BY Kelle Y Weir
novel tool may improve diagnosis
and treatment of tumors
When Dr. Annie Chen-Allen first saw Jade, an 11-year-old
Pit Bull cross, the usually happy dog had been having seizures.
The diagnosis was a lesion in her brain. The important question,
though, was what kind?
A lesion is any area of the
brain that has been damaged
due to infiltration of abnormal
cells. It sounds simple, but
treating brain lesions can be
complicated because there are
many types. Lesions can range
from small to large, from few
to many, or from relatively
harmless to life threatening.
In some cases, the lesion could
be a brain tumor. These tumors
are not uncommon in older
Jade, whose brain tumor was
dogs. Adult dogs of several
successfully diagnosed.
related short-nose breeds, such
as Boxers, English Bulldogs and Boston Terriers, are often cited
as having the highest incidence of brain tumors among domestic
animals. A recent study indicated that Golden Retrievers also
have a high incidence.
Brain tumors vary widely in their level of malignancy. Some can
be treated quite effectively—if the veterinarian can identify the
exact type.
getting a definitive diagnosis
As with many diseases, a biopsy is the only definitive way to
diagnose a tumor and determine what treatments are possible.
Until recently, performing a biopsy required brain surgery, which
has the potential to cause postoperative complications. Jade’s
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owners had brought their dog to the right place, Washington
State University, where Dr. Chen-Allen is working on a Morris
Animal Foundation–funded study to evaluate a promising, less
invasive brain-biopsy procedure for dogs.
“In veterinary medicine, definitive brain tumor diagnosis is
often made postmortem,” Dr. Chen-Allen says. “Although the
advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has increased the
sophistication for detection and characterization of lesions in the
brain, tumor diagnosis is only presumptive with imaging.”
She is testing an MRI-guided frameless stereotactic brainbiopsy system, a fairly new method that takes a sample the size
of a grain of rice from a brain tumor using a neuronavigation
system. The stereotactic system uses three-dimensional
coordinates from a previous MRI to locate the tumor.
Conventional stereotactic systems required a metal frame
to be attached to a patient to acquire images, which can be
complicated, but the frameless technique does not. This novel
procedure shows potential to be superior to open brain biopsies
because it allows a surgeon access to places a scalpel cannot
reach and to access the brain without damaging surrounding
tissue. The procedure is done in real time so that the clinician
knows exactly where and how far to advance the needle.
“A clinically applicable stereotactic brain-biopsy system that can
improve brain lesion diagnosis is greatly needed in veterinary
medicine,” Dr. Chen-Allen says. “A neuropathological diagnosis
is critical for implementation of appropriate therapy.”
moving on to treatment
The options for treating brain tumors include radiation therapy,
chemotherapy and palliative treatment. But brain tumors present
unique problems related to their location and the tissues they
affect. Dr. Chen-Allen’s study shows that frameless stereotactic
biopsy of lesions is a valuable and safe tool for diagnosing brain
lesions, regardless of lesion location.
Special Report: Human Health Advances Benefit Animals
Potential risks of this type of biopsy, like bleeding at the area of
surgery, are the same as those reported with the conventional
biopsy technique. Patients are usually kept in intensive care for
24 hours after the procedure, allowing clinicians to administer
supportive care, monitor vital signs and detect any signs of
neurologic deterioration. Patients are usually discharged 48 to
72 hours after the biopsy.
“The clients that have enrolled in this study have all been very
thankful to the Foundation for providing the financial support
for this clinical trial,” Dr. Chen-Allen says. “Although there are
always risks associated with procedures like these, owners are
comforted knowing that they are able to provide their pets with
the most advanced medicine available.”
So far, five dogs have successfully undergone the advanced
biopsy technique and follow-up treatment. Within days of Jade’s
biopsy, Dr. Chen-Allen and her team knew the type of tumor
she had and, knowing that Jade’s type of tumor responds well
to radiation therapy, the team prescribed 18 treatments. Luckily,
Jade responded well and was able to add precious months to her
life at home with her family.
Signs of brain disease
• Seizures
• Circling
• Headtilting
• Leaningorfalling
Tucker was diagnosed
with a brain mass in
the right piriform and is
undergoing treatment.
• Lackofcoordination
• Paralysis
• Eyeoscillations
• Blindness
• Unsteadinessorstaggering
• Forgettingcommands
• Failuretorecognizefamiliarpeople
familiar people
• Unexplainedaggressivenessor
aggressiveness or
puppy-likebehavior
Roy is being treated for
a brain mass in the right
olfactory and frontal lobe.
www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
Ifyourpetexperiencesanyofthesesymptoms,
seeyourveterinarianimmediately.
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Special Report: Human Health Advances Benefit Animals
Happy, healthy hearts
BY AmY ETTINgER
human medical advances help felines
Heart disease can strike cats in the prime of life—usually
between the ages of 5 and 8 years. Cats with heart disease may
not show any symptoms until it’s too late for treatment. They
can also quickly experience devastating complications, such as
heart failure and life-threatening blood clots.
With Morris Animal Foundation funding, scientists at four
universities are studying whether drugs developed for humans
can be beneficial for treating feline heart disease and preventing
associated blood clots.
evaluating outcomes
Researchers at North Carolina State University College of
Veterinary Medicine are evaluating whether beta-blockers
can help cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the
most common type of feline heart disease. Beta-blockers are
prescribed in people to block the effects of adrenaline on the
heart, making the heart beat slower and improving oxygenation.
Researchers hope to see a similar response in cats, says Dr.
Teresa DeFrancesco, a researcher at North Carolina State.
Health warning signs
The warning signs of heart failure or
life-threatening blood clots include
• Lossofappetite
• Lethargy
• Vomiting
4
Every day, Dr. DeFrancesco sees at least one cat with HCM
in her clinical practice. Current treatment of HCM usually
includes beta-blockers and calcium-channel blockers, but their
effectiveness isn’t really known.
“We don’t know if anything we do for these cats will change
the outcome in the preclinical stage of the disease,” Dr.
DeFrancesco says.
During the six-month study, 30 cats will be given either a betablocker or a placebo. Scientists will measure the activity levels of
the cats using an accelerometer attached to a collar. Blood tests
will measure cardiac biomarkers to assess ischemic injury to the
heart and strain on the heart muscle. Finally, veterinarians will
perform echocardiograms to see how the heart is filling with
blood during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle.
Dr. DeFrancesco says she’s grateful for the Foundation funding,
which has allowed her to pursue this important research.
“Morris Animal Foundation is a non-biased, independent way of
funding these studies,” she says. “The Foundation purely has the
interest of the animal in mind.”
increasing survival rates
Researchers at Kansas State University recently completed a
Foundation-funded study looking at how the drug pimobendan
behaves in healthy cats. The drug has been used for more than
15 years in Europe and more than 3 years in the United States
to increase life expectancy and quality of life of dogs with
heart failure.
Researchers hope the drug can help cats, too. In this study,
researchers measured how quickly healthy cats absorbed the
drug and the rate at which it was eliminated. This is the first
step in determining if the drug could help cats—and the results
were promising.
“Essentially it was very similar to how the drug behaves in dogs,”
says Dr. Michele Borgarelli.
Special Report: Human Health Advances Benefit Animals
preventing blood clots than aspirin. Dr. Hogan has already
completed one Foundation-funded study, and he received
additional funding to enroll 70 more cats into the clinical trial.
So far, researchers have seen a 30 percent reduction in recurrence
of blood clots between groups, but to eliminate any bias, Dr.
Hogan won’t know which cat received which drug until the
study is over.
At the University of Illinois, researchers are studying a different
approach to preventing feline blood clots. Current anticlotting
pills are costly and are difficult for pet owners to administer, says
Dr. Stephanie Smith.
So, Dr. Smith and her team are looking at an injectable drug,
idraparinux, which is an anticoagulant given just once a week
in people. Dr. Smith is studying the effect of the drug in eight
healthy cats to determine the best dosage. Idraparinux also has
a reversal agent, which can be given if the cat needs to undergo
surgery, and Dr. Smith will study the dosage of that as well.
Dr. Borgarelli and his team concluded that the optimal dosage
for the drug is the same for cats as it is for dogs. They reported
no side effects of pimobendan in the studied cats. Dr. Borgarelli
says the next step is to look at the effects of the drug in cats
with heart failure and determine if it improves their survival and
quality of life.
“Maybe the survival rate with treatment will be as good or better
in cats than it is in dogs,” he says.
She says there are plenty of drugs on the market to prevent
feline blood clots, but it’s difficult to know which ones are
most effective.
“Blood clots are fatal more often than we would like, but less
often than they used to be,” says Dr. Smith.
Those medical improvements are due, in part, to previous studies
funded by Morris Animal Foundation. We hope these current
studies can save even more feline lives.
preventing fatal blood clots
Blood clots are a common complication of feline heart disease,
and cats frequently die or are euthanized because of blood clots
that often occur in the rear legs. Two studies are looking at drugs
that could prevent the condition in cats.
At Purdue University, Dr. Daniel Hogan is looking at whether
the drug commonly known as Plavix is more successful at
www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
Join us
We now have a Facebook page just for cat lovers.
Join us at www.facebook.com/HappyHealthyCat.
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Special Report: Human Health Advances Benefit Animals
New growth in stem cell research
BY KEllE Y WEIR
Stem cell research has blown the door of science wide open for
new therapies to address diseases that animals face. Currently,
adult stem cells are being investigated as treatments for a variety
of conditions that affect dogs, including cancer and spinal cord
injuries. Adult stem cells—also called somatic stem cells—can
be derived from the dog’s own fat tissue and marrow.
“Adult stem cells are highly applicable to many diseases, and
their significance lies in how they can somehow find a site of
injury in need of repair, create an environment that is conducive
to repair or even become cells that are incorporated in the
repair itself,” says Dr. Jorge Piedrahita, a leading stem cell
researcher at North Carolina State University’s College of
Veterinary Medicine.
Additional research is needed to determine the full potential
of stem cell treatments. Funding the necessary studies is where
Morris Animal Foundation shines.
determining the effectiveness on
spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries are a common problem in dogs. About 20
percent of these injured dogs suffer from incontinence and lose
all motor and sensory function to the hind legs. For most, the
damage is permanent.
One Foundation-funded study is evaluating adult stem cells
taken from fatty tissue in a patient’s shoulder or abdomen.
These cells have the powerful ability to reduce inflammation
and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types. Dr. Natasha
Olby, from North Carolina State University, hopes these cells
can help treat dogs that suffer from severe spinal injuries.
Numerous studies have shown that transplantation of a variety
of stem cell types into an injured spinal cord is safe and effective.
Cells can be successfully transplanted into the canine spinal
cord via a needle instead of “open” surgery, which was used in
the past. This approach is much less invasive, but more research
is needed to establish this type of stem cell therapy as traditional
practice in veterinary offices.
6
“With the recent explosion of stem cell therapy, poorly
controlled studies are resulting in contradictory results, making
it unclear whether transplantation is effective,” Dr. Olby says.
She also points out that there is an alarming lack of scientific
support for different therapies that are requested by owners and
a real need for more careful assessment of the value of stem
cells taken from the patient. Controlled studies, like the one
Dr. Olby is conducting, will help determine the effectiveness
of this technique.
tackling cancer with stem cells
Cancer therapy doesn’t always lead to long-term remission. A
major reason for failure of conventional treatments may be their
inability to eradicate cancer stem cells. These cells are selfrenewing, can spread to new areas of the body and can produce
rapidly dividing daughter cells. This means that leaving behind
even one cancer stem cell after treatment can cause the cancer
to return.
Dr. Alex Davies, from the University of California–Davis, is
identifying early changes in the stem cell niche that contribute
to tumorigenesis and the generation of cancer stem cells. When
the research is completed, it will provide important insights
supporting the design of future therapeutic strategies to block
cancer progression.
At the University of Minnesota, Aric Frantz, a former Morris
Animal Foundation veterinary student scholar, hopes to develop
more effective therapeutic strategies that target cancer stem cells
and cause fewer side effects for dogs with cancer.
“If we can successfully identify and target these cells, owners
may be able to keep their companions at their side much longer,”
Frantz says. “Even after a diagnosis of cancer.”
More research on stem cells
Learnmoreaboutresearchintotheuseofstem
cells for horses at
www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org/windybill.
Big clinic offers big benefits
BY AlEx JImENEz
veterinarians excel at personal touch
and charitable giving
A quick visit to North Portland Veterinary Hospital (NPVH)
shows all the signs of a happy, healthy veterinary practice. It’s
warm and welcoming, full of engaging doctors and staff and
offers a full range of small animal services from surgery to
dental work, general treatment and more. This large practice,
owned and managed by Dr. Don McCoy, isn’t just your typical
animal clinic though.
With 10 doctors with degrees from nine different veterinary
schools, including Purdue University, Colorado State University,
Texas A&M University and Liverpool University, NPVH
stands among the few practices that are able to mesh a team of
veterinarians with such varying backgrounds and still maintain a
personal and professional feel.
“The program really helps create a genuine bond with our clients
during a tough time,” Dr. McCoy adds.
Dr. McCoy has been a long-time supporter of Morris Animal
Foundation even beyond the memorial card program. He is a
big fan of the Foundation’s founder and namesake, Dr. Mark L.
Morris Sr., and he often shares the Foundation’s inspirational
beginning with colleagues and associates.
The Foundation is proud to have Dr. McCoy and his diverse
team as partners and friends in helping to create a healthier
tomorrow for animals.
“We are one great big family,” says office manager Sherri Penner,
who has been with the hospital for more than 20 years. “We
get along amazingly well for a staff of over 45 people. It is a
testament to Don and Melinda McCoy [office bookkeeper] and
how the business is run.”
Dr. McCoy points out that the benefits of having such a
cooperative and diverse staff are seen in the exam room as well.
“Each doctor brings their own individual strengths to the
team, but together we all contribute to the same goal—creating
the best possible experience for both the owner and pet,” says
Dr. McCoy.
Recently, Dr. McCoy and his practice were honored for ongoing
support of Morris Animal Foundation (photo at right). NPVH
was the top clinic user of the Foundation’s Veterinary Memorial
Card Program in 2010. The memorial card program allows
veterinarians to make a donation in honor of a recently deceased
pet, and the Foundation sends a customized card to the pet’s
family notifying them of the memorial gift. The donation funds
research that could potentially find a cure for the very same
disease that took the animal’s life. Dr. McCoy believes the
card program helps his clinic build the kind of personal client
relationships that have made the practice a success.
www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
Honor your vet
This year marks the 250th anniversary of
veterinary medicine. As part of World
VeterinaryYear,youcanrecognizeyour
veterinarian’s outstanding care and
commitment by sending an Honor Card or
addinghimorhertoourVeterinaryHonor
Roll.Visitthe“SupportAnimalHealth”
section at www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
andclickon“Honor a Veterinarian.”
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The power of a gentle touch
BY HEIDI JETER
Lovey is a beautiful white cat who lives with his little cousin
Pepsi in a wonderful home where he helps his owners care for
foster kitties. He’s earned the nickname “therapy cat” because
he is able to befriend any animal who enters his home. And
this remarkable cat is so attuned to his human family that when
their daughter was bedridden from a bad cold, Lovey stayed by
her side giving her comfort and love.
His life sounds picture perfect, but Lovey likely wouldn’t
be alive today if it hadn’t been for a unique Morris Animal
Foundation study led by researchers at the University of
Queensland in Australia. Lovey was rescued from an animal
hoarder, in a house where most of the 50 cats were living
in holes in the walls. Lovey had mites, fleas and internal
parasites. He was missing patches of fur, was very dirty and
had overgrown claws. He was so terrified of humans that he
wouldn’t let himself be touched.
Fortunately, after receiving medical attention, Lovey entered
one of the Foundation’s Helping Shelters Help Cats studies,
where he was soon under the care of Nadine Gourkow, a PhD
candidate at the University of Queensland. Gourkow says that
although she has worked as a shelter professional for more than
12 years, she would not have believed that cats like Lovey could
be rehabilitated, but as part of the Foundation–funded study
team, Gourkow has discovered a lot about the resiliency of cats
when handled with love.
handled with care
Under the mentorship of Dr. Clive Phillips, Gourkow is
evaluating the effectiveness of a process called “gentling,”
which involves touching the cat in a way that resembles
grooming by other cats. Cats receive short sessions that include
petting and massage several times per day. Gourkow pets the
cats on the head and under the chin using a circular motion. The
key is to pay close attention to the cat’s response and pull away
as soon as it seems agitated. Petting and food gifts are always
given together.
8
When he first entered the shelter, Lovey spent most of his days
hiding under his bedding and would eat only when food was
placed under his blanket. He would only let himself be stroked
through the blanket, and even then he would flatten his body
and try to crawl away. Eventually, Lovey let Gourkow touch
him on the forehead and behind the ears, though still only
through the blanket.
After a few days of gentling, Lovey began to relax, and Gourkow
could pet his body directly. Near the end of the study, he would
crawl toward the front of the cage, though still under his blanket,
and he would start purring and kneading when Gourkow talked
to him.
“Every day was a miracle with this cat,” she says.
Photo courtesy of Nadine Gourkow
one cat’s journey from a
hoarder’s house to a loving home
Give shelter cats
a second chance
Donate to Helping Shelters Help Cats today
and every dollar donated, up to $500,000, will
be matched by an anonymous donor. We need
to raise $140,000 by June 30 to qualify for the
final year of dollar-for-dollar matching funds.
Visitwww.Research4Cats.org today to
have your donation doubled.
a healed soul becomes a healer
When Lovey was ready for adoption, he was transferred to a
communal area with some of his brother and sisters from the
hoarder’s house. The care team then learned that Lovey had
a special talent. He very quickly gravitated toward Theo, an
aggressive and fearful cat who had been at the shelter for several
months. Lovey jumped on Theo’s perch, cuddled in close and
licked the terrified cat’s forehead. In less than a week, Theo was
a transformed cat and was able to be adopted.
“We could put Lovey with any cat who was terrified, and he
would take care of them,” Gourkow says. “He has a beautiful
soul and he’s just a helper.”
Lovey later went to live in a foster home, where his caretakers
quickly saw how his unique gift to calm other cats could help
other foster cats in their care. They decided to adopt him so
that he could continue working to help other cats become
more adoptable.
Before gentling, Lovey huddled terrified under his blanket.
Lovey is just one of the cats that have gone through the
study that would have been deemed unadoptable and likely
euthanized under usual shelter conditions. Gourkow plans to
use the results from this study to develop practical training
manuals and videos for shelter personnel. These educational
materials will help shelter personnel identify the types of
emotional states of cats in shelters so that they can take the
right approach to rehabilitate them—and get them into happy,
loving homes.
Photos courtesy of Nadine Gourkow
“Had it not been for the gentling, Lovey might not have
survived the trauma of sheltering,” Gourkow says. “I feel
privileged to have been part of his life and to have been there for
him when he needed a little human therapy.”
Lovey quickly befriended Theo.
Learn more
Watch video of Lovey’s transformation at
www.Research4Cats.org.
www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
9
Going to bat for bats
B Y K AT E J o R D A N
researchers rush to battle rapidly
spreading epidemic
Though viewed as symbols of good health and fortune in many
parts of the world, bats have often been maligned in Western
culture as evil, bloodthirsty creatures. In truth, bats play a crucial
role in our ecosystem. Capable of devouring thousands of
insects in a single night, bats are a tremendous asset in helping
to maintain healthy crops, such as cotton and corn. They also
serve important aesthetic and economic functions by pollinating
countless flowers and vegetables.
Bats’ significant contributions are starting to be recognized.
Over the past two years, about one million bats in North
America have died of a disease called white-nose syndrome.
Some species, including North America’s most common bat,
the little brown myotis, are likely to become regionally extinct
within 16 years.
team is also researching whether there is a genetic basis for the
small percentage of bats that appear to be resistant to the fungus.
By simultaneously studying the bat population’s genetic
structure and variations in the fungus found in different regions,
Dr. Kunz and his team may be able to identify populations that
can still be saved.
“At this point we are doing damage control,” Dr. Kunz says. “But
the fact that the Foundation has backed this research so far has
been vital.”
Morris Animal Foundation is honored to provide funding to
Dr. Kunz, one of the preeminent bat scholars in the world, in
the race to save as many bats as possible.
“We’re facing the biggest wildlife crisis in history,” says Dr.
Thomas H. Kunz, a professor of biology and director of
the Center for Ecology & Conservation Biology at Boston
University. “There have been times during this epidemic when
we couldn’t even walk inside certain caves due to the piles of
dead bats.”
With Morris Animal Foundation funding, Dr. Kunz and his
students and colleagues are tackling the disease with a focus
on molecular genetics. By studying the genetics of the little
brown myotis—the species most likely responsible for the
disease’s prevalence and spread—his team hopes to determine
the dispersal patterns of this widespread species. From this
information, they hope to be able to predict the spread of whitenose syndrome and protect bat colonies not yet affected. His
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Photo Credit: Alan C. Hicks
The disease, caused by a fungus, appears to spread from
bat to bat, and it is also spread by human cave visitors who
inadvertently move the fungus to different caves. The fungus
invades the skin on a bat’s ears, nose, tail and wings—ultimately
causing severe body-fat loss and fatal dehydration.
This hibernating little brown myotis has white-nose syndrome
(see the white spot on its nose). The fungus is rampantly killing
off entire bat populations.
Improving captive breeding in wild cats
BY AlEx JImENEz
Today, it is estimated that there are fewer than 10,000 cheetahs,
7,000 tigers and 5,000 snow leopards left in the wild. These
are just a few of the world’s wild cats whose populations have
dwindled to critically endangered levels in recent decades.
Shrinking numbers are largely due to the combination of
poaching and habitat destruction. Conservation scientists and
activists are aggressively addressing both problems, but sadly,
it’s becoming more evident that ending poaching and habitat
destruction won’t be enough to ensure a stable future for many
of these big cats.
That’s where Dr. Alexander Travis’s research at Cornell
University may play a pivotal role in feline conservation. In a
study funded by Morris Animal Foundation, he explored ways
to more effectively preserve the genetic diversity of the
remaining cat populations.
“This is especially important in the management of small
populations, such as endangered species or those in captive
conditions,” explains Dr. Travis.
The process has been slower with cat tissue than with tissue
from other species. In comparison, Dr. Travis says their ferret
xenografts produce much more sperm than those from cats.
Dr. Travis focused the initial part of his research on defining the
age range for which xenografting would be effective. He found
that the procedure works for tissue from neonatal donors up
through donors at the start of puberty.
After successful completion of the Foundation-funded study,
Dr. Travis is continuing this important work by assessing
whether the sperm produced from xenografting have the ability
to fertilize an egg.
Results from these studies have been so promising that Dr.
Travis is encouraging zoo veterinarians and conservationists
to begin banking testicular tissue from deceased prepubertal
animals that could one day advance captive-breeding efforts.
Most attempts to preserve genetic diversity have focused on
freezing sperm. However, sperm cannot be collected from
animals until they reach reproductive maturity, and neonatal and
juvenile mortality affects a number of endangered species. For
captive breeding, this poses a massive problem. If a genetically
valuable male dies before puberty, his genes are forever lost from
the population.
Dr. Travis’s research is primarily based on a technique called
testis xenografting—a means of producing sperm from
testis tissue collected from juvenile animals just after death.
Xenografting takes advantage of the fact that although these
young animals do not possess sperm, they do possess the stem
cells that would one day produce sperm. By freezing the testis
tissue, it can be stored so that sperm can be produced through
xenografting at a later time when that animal’s genes are needed
for breeding.
www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
A unique reproductive technique could help save endangered cats,
like the beautiful snow leopard.
11
Your donations at work
Your donations truly make a difference in the lives of animals worldwide.
At any given time, Morris Animal Foundation manages about 300 active
studies and about 70 veterinary student scholar projects. Here’s a look at
some recent successes made possible through your support.
evaluating osteoarthritis
drug treatments
Dr. Eric Troncy
University of Montreal
for cats
therapy reduces incidence
of urinary stones
Dr. Jody Lulich
University of Minnesota
Urinary stones cause painful, bloody
urination and are a common problem in
cats. About 5 percent of these stones are
made of urate, a salt of uric acid. Urate
stones represent the third most common
stones that form in the urinary tract of cats.
Understanding what causes urate stones
to form is essential to developing effective
therapies to manage the disease and
prevent recurrence.
Researchers from the University of
Minnesota hypothesized that cats that form
urate stones have higher concentrations of
uric acid in their blood and urine compared
with healthy cats. The researchers confirmed
that an increased concentration of uric acid
is a risk factor for urate stone formation.
Osteoarthritis is a common and painful
joint disease in cats. However, no
medication is currently approved to help
alleviate the painful clinical symptoms
of this disease in felines. To assess pain
treatment, it is important to know how and
where the pain occurs.
Dr. Eric Troncy and his team used
quantitative gait analysis to determine how
osteoarthritis affects the animal’s function
levels and magnetic resonance imaging
to assess structural changes in the cat. By
determining how osteoarthritis affects
joint and articular movement, researchers
were able to develop a platform to validate
the nature of disease-induced alterations
in cats and evaluate the efficacy of drugs
or nutraceuticals for alleviating limb
impairment. The end goal is to use this
evaluative information to improve quality
of life for arthritic cats.
This finding confirms that dietary and
medicinal therapy to lower uric acid levels
will reduce the incidence of this painful
condition in cats.
for dogs
study identifies causes
of brain inflammation
Dr. Scott Schatzberg
University of Georgia
Meningoencephalitis, a general term for
inflammation of the brain and its outer
covering, is a naturally occurring disease in
dogs that is believed to be caused by genetic
and environmental factors. The disease has a
grave prognosis when the cause is unknown,
and unfortunately, the cause is unclear in
75 percent of cases in dogs. In humans with
meningoencephalitis, a polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) test is used to definitively
diagnose causes of infection, and as a result,
survival rates have improved.
Researchers from the University of
Georgia used PCR to identify suspect
microorganisms in canine
meningoencephalitis. They identified two
viruses that are not typically considered
to be pathogens in dogs, La Crosse virus
and Merkel cell carcinoma virus, and
determined that La Crosse virus may be
associated with specific forms of canine
meningoencephalitis. In addition, two
bacteria (Mycoplasma spp. and Bartonella)
were also identified.
This knowledge should result in better
diagnoses and allow for specific therapeutic
intervention, thereby improving survival
rates for affected dogs.
You can help
Every gift you make, no matter how large or small, helps Morris Animal
Foundation create a healthier tomorrow for animals. Simply return your
gift in the enclosed envelope or visit www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.
The animals will thank you.
12
© Greg Neise LPZ
overcoming
chemotherapy resistance
Dr. Steven Suter
North Carolina State University
Canine lymphoma is one of the most
common tumors in dogs. Though dogs
initially respond well to treatment, the
disease has a dismal overall cure rate of less
than 10 percent. The lymphoma usually
develops chemotherapy resistance and
spreads, which is why most dogs eventually
succumb to the disease.
Scientists at North Carolina State
University determined that the area of
DNA that is responsible for turning on
and turning off gene expression is
significantly altered in cancer patients. The
affected genes, depending on their role
in the cell, can lead to cancer progression
if they are not regulated properly. These
data provide compelling evidence that
chemotherapy resistance may be overcome
by using specific drugs that reverse
resistance. The results of further research
could benefit both human and companion
animal patients with lymphoma.
for horses
insight into vaccine
development
Dr. Steeve Giguere
University of Georgia
Pneumonia is the leading cause of illness
and death in foals in the United States.
The bacteria Rhodococcus equi causes most
cases of pneumonia. Because R. equi is
highly prevalent, most foals are exposed to
the bacteria very early in life. Giving them
a vaccine before they are a week old could
save lives, but very little is known about the
ability of a newborn foal’s immune system to
respond to vaccines in general.
New data indicate that newborn foals have
poor immune responses to vaccination
compared with adult horses. Researchers at
the University of Georgia determined that
although a newborn foal’s immune system is
somewhat functional, its immune responses
are much lower than that of older foals or
adult horses after vaccination with a killed
vaccine, the type of vaccine most commonly
used for horses. This information can be
used to develop vaccines that will stimulate
the appropriate type of immune response in
newborn foals.
for wildlife
monitoring stress
in injured owls
Dr. Patrick Redig
University of Minnesota
Fecal hormone monitoring is a noninvasive
tool used to monitor stress responses in
many species of wild and captive animals,
but this tool hasn’t been used to assess
stress in injured wildlife undergoing
rehabilitation. Rehabilitation of raptors
sometimes involves stressful procedures, yet
it is difficult to quantify how stress levels
affect rehabilitation outcomes in these
animals. Researchers at the University of
Minnesota used fecal hormone analysis to
assess stress hormone levels and responses
in injured great horned owls as they went
through the stages of rehabilitation.
Stay up to date
Get more health breakthroughs supported by Morris Animal
Foundation. Sign up for eNews at www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.
www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
The findings provide a way to clearly
quantify the stress response of an individual
animal at any given time and could help
rehabilitators intervene to reduce stress. All
of the birds in the study were successfully
rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
This study contributes to the understanding
of the dynamics of stress responses and
how animals adapt to captivity, thereby
improving the management, health care
and health outcomes of injured raptors
throughout the rehabilitation process.
better to breed
wild cats at young age
Dr. Suzanne Kennedy-Stoskopf
and Charlotte Farin
North Carolina State University
At about 7 or 8 years old, many wild female
cats experience reproductive senescence, or
the inability to conceive or maintain viable
pregnancies. Older females often fail to
become pregnant with natural breeding
or assisted reproductive techniques, even
though they are still considered in prime
health and have half their life expectancy
remaining. This phenomenon has major
implications for species survival plans that
manage captive populations. Understanding
the basic biology of how aging affects
female reproductive potential will help in
managing small populations of felids.
Using the Pallas’s cat as a model,
investigators examined several potential
factors that may be contributing to
senescence. The researchers discovered that
older Pallas’s cats produce as many oocytes,
or immature eggs, as younger cats, but the
fertilized oocytes of older cats fail to develop
into competently dividing embryos. These
findings suggest that the age of a female
wild cat is a factor, and breeding should
occur by 2 to 3 years of age. Researchers
also said it is important to pair young
animals rather than waiting to determine
whether older animals that have never bred
will succeed.
13
In loving memory
At Morris Animal Foundation we know how difficult
it is to lose a special pet. Pets are part of our families,
and this section honors the amazing animals that
have touched their families’ lives.
The pets in this section were honored through
qualifying donations made between December 16,
2010, and March 15, 2011. These gifts will be used to
improve animal health by funding research that can
help protect, treat and cure the animals of the future.
14
Gifts of $200 or more per pet qualify a special pet
to be listed in the “In loving memory” section of
AnimalNews. Please send a photo for consideration
with your donation. For donations of $500 or more,
a brass plate engraved with your pet’s name will
also be added to our Pet Memorial Wall.
For more information, please contact us at
800.243.2345 or [email protected].
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
Andrew
Chloe
Magic
Rusty White Feathers LB (28)
Beloved Cat
D O N OR : Phyllis Levine
FA M ILY : The Levine Family
Beloved Dog
DONOR : Richard Rudman &
Karen Greenberg
FAM I LY : Stephanie Spooner
Beloved Arabian Mare
DONOR: Chuck & Linda Weir
FAMILY : Chuck & Linda Weir
Beloved Friend & Dog
DONOR: Edward &
Marjorie McDowell
FAMILY : Edward &
Marjorie McDowell
Archie
Beloved Pet
D O N OR : Susan Engelhardt Irwin
FA M ILY : Donna Toole
Cole (11)
Beloved Dog
D O N OR : Maury Wollff
FA M ILY : Elizabeth Evans Haynie
Corrie
Beloved Chihuahua
D O N OR : Friends of Bella Sophia
FA M ILY : Anonymous
Cosette (12)
Auggie
Bella Sophia (1)
Ben
Beloved Dog
D O N OR : Gordon & Edith Harper
FA M ILY : Gordon & Edith Harper
Benji (2)
Beloved Dog
D O N OR : Colleen Haggerty
FA M ILY : Colleen Haggerty
BILBO (3)
Constant Companion, Guide,
Humorist & Shoulder
D O N OR : Friends of BILBO &
the BILBO BASH
FA M ILY : Marcelle LeCompte &
Rick Friedman
Brandy (4)
Beloved Friend & Companion
D O N OR : Joel Pritkin
FA M ILY : The Sener Family
Bronwyn (5)
Beloved Dog
D O N OR : Elizabeth Delfosse
FA M ILY : Elizabeth & Erik Delfosse
Buster (6)
Beloved Labrador Retriever
D O N OR : Mark Steele
FA M ILY : The Steele Family
Candi & Heather
Beloved Flat-coated Retriever
DONOR : Jack Faul & Debbie Davis
FAM I LY : Jack Faul & Debbie Davis
Beloved Companion
DONOR : Janis Koch
FAM I LY : Janis Koch
Beloved Pet
DONOR : Richard & Margrit
Lichter Foundation
FAM I LY : Richard & Margrit Lichter
Cutter
Beloved Pet
DONOR : Colleen Henling
FAM I LY : Richard & Alice Reese
Daphney
Beloved Greyhound
DONOR : Rolf & Sharon Tandberg
FAM I LY : Rolf & Sharon Tandberg
Daqx (13)
Beloved Companion for 16 Years
DONOR : Bob & Barbara Loer
FAM I LY : Bob & Barbara Loer
Echo (14)
Beloved Brown-eyed Girl
DONOR : Dr. A. C. & Margaret Lee
FAM I LY : Angela Lawrence
Gracie (15)
Beloved Companion
DONOR : Edward Hammond
FAM I LY : Gregory Parr &
Edward Hammond
Gracie
Beloved Pet
DONOR : Hunt Valley
Animal Hospital
FAM I LY : The Greenberg Family
Beloved Pets
D O N OR : Carol S. Martin
FA M ILY : Carol S. Martin
Hershey Flanagan
Beloved Dog
D O N OR : Fred & Judy Goosen
FA M ILY : Fred & Judy Goosen
Hogan (16)
Cane
Cassidy (7)
Beloved Dog
D O N OR : Stephanie & Mike Perry
FA M ILY : Stephanie & Mike Perry
Ceci (8)
Beloved Bouvier
D O N OR : Nick & Carol Buonato
FA M ILY : Nick & Carol Buonato
Cedric (9)
Beloved Pet
D O N OR : Richard & Kathryn
Marshburn
FA M ILY : Richard & Kathryn
Marshburn
Chipper (10)
Beloved Dog
D O N OR : David & Ryne Badgley
FA M ILY : Ryne, David &
Jennifer Badgley
Beloved Dog
DONOR : John Flanagan
FAM I LY : Catherine Huang
Beloved Pet
DONOR : Daniel Webster
Animal Hospital
FAM I LY : Frederick & Patricia Gibbs
Julian
Beloved Cat
DONOR : Kristen Smith
FAM I LY : Laurie A. Smith King
Kaput (17)
Beloved Cat
DONOR : Nancy Hallam
FAM I LY : Carolyn Hallam
Lacey
Beloved Pet
DONOR : Earl & Sheran Flippo
FAM I LY : Jeff & Rose Flippo
Lila & Harmony
Beloved Pets
DONOR : Diane & Owen Lynch
FAM I LY : Diane & Owen Lynch
Logan (18)
Beloved Dog
DONOR : Shari Sarris
FAM I LY : George Sarris
www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
Major
Beloved Pet
DONOR: Heather Lilly
FAMILY : Stephanie Foster
Marley (19)
Beloved Golden Retriever
DONOR: Cindy Affolder
FAMILY : The Gooch/Williams Family
Max
Beloved Australian Shepherd Mix
DONOR: Chuck & Linda Weir
FAMILY : Chuck & Linda Weir
Minnie & Mickey
Beloved Pets
DONOR: Phyllis Levine
FAMILY : The Levine Family
Morgan
Beloved Cat
DONOR: Suzanne Underwood
FAMILY : Candace Carlson
Mouse (20)
Beloved Cat
DONOR: Nancy Hallam
FAMILY : Nancy Hallam
Mozart (21) & Gismo (22)
Beloved Cats
DONOR: Bob & Mary Schwartz
FAMILY : Bob & Mary Schwartz
Natasha (23)
Beloved Fluffy Girl
DONOR: Joann & Michelle Kazdin
FAMILY : Nicole Kazdin
Patch (24)
Beloved Companion
DONOR: Edward Hammond
FAMILY : Gregory Parr &
Edward Hammond
Phoenix (25)
Beloved Dear Heart
DONOR: Jo Elizabeth MacNair
FAMILY : Jo Elizabeth MacNair &
Ann L. Dupuis
Pippin
Beloved Pet
DONOR: Susan Engelhardt Irwin
FAMILY : Nancy Hartman
Pivot
Beloved Pet
DONOR: Ann & Peter Anderson
FAMILY : David & Karen MacMillan
Remington (26)
Beloved Samoyed
DONOR: Dr. A. C. & Margaret Lee
FAMILY : Marsha Carfield
Remington
Beloved Pet
DONOR: Henry Roath
FAMILY : Michael & Michelle Simms
Robbie’s Fritzie,
Robbie’s Penelope Katrina
& Penny K. Wahl
Beloved Pets
DONOR: Barbara J. Wahl
FAMILY : Barbara J. Wahl
Roxy (27)
Beloved Friend of 17+ Years
DONOR: Scott DeBruhl
FAMILY : Scott & Lynda DeBruhl
Samson
Beloved Cat
DONOR: John & Billie Harwood
FAMILY : John & Billie Harwood
Sandy
Beloved German Shorthair
DONOR: David & Erlene Price
FAMILY : David & Erlene Price
Sara (29)
Beloved Pet
DONOR: The James P. Sullivan Jr.
Charitable Trust
FAMILY : Margaret T. Sullivan
Sinckers, Murphy & Charlie
Beloved Pets
DONOR: Linda McBain &
George Waters
FAMILY : Linda McBain &
George Waters
Snoopy
Beloved Dog
DONOR: Colleen Henling
FAMILY : Gail & Bert Gavin
Sugar
Beloved Pet
DONOR: Kim Harris &
Scott Weiner
FAMILY : Mike & Priscilla Costello
Sugarbear, Daisy,
PattiAnne & Panda
Beloved Great Pyrenees
DONOR: Sandra McCrady
FAMILY : Sandra McCrady
Teddy Bear
Beloved Cat
DONOR: Elizabeth A. Biddick
FAMILY : Elizabeth A. Biddick
Tessa (30)
Beloved Dog
DONOR: Hal & Marty Hendershot
FAMILY : The Jackson Family
Truman (31)
Beloved Friend & Companion
DONOR: The Truman Collar website
FAMILY : Debby & Terry Fitch
Tucker-B
Beloved Dog
DONOR: Mary Headley
FAMILY : Mary Headley &
Juliet Headley Smith
Vanessa (32)
Beloved Greyhound
DONOR: Stuart & Cindy Stratton
FAMILY : Stuart & Cindy Stratton
Wiley (33)
Beloved Beagle
DONOR: Brenda Heaster &
Keith Ritter
FAMILY : Brenda Heaster &
Keith Ritter
Zack
Beloved Pet
DONOR: Scott Weiner
FAMILY : Joan Payden
15
MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION
Simple T-shirt leads to lifelong love
BY AlEx JImENEz
If you had asked her 15 years ago, Sandi Heffner would never
have guessed that something so simple as a friend’s choice in
dress attire would have changed her life, and the lives of so
many others, forever.
“Dogs are my family,” she says. “There is simply nothing
that compares to the feeling of watching them being born to
watching them grow old—it’s truly been a joyous high point in
my life.”
“My friend was wearing a T-shirt one day that had a Maltese
on it,” Sandi explains, “and I commented that I had always
wanted a Maltese. Ironically, she knew a show handler who had
a Maltese recently retired from the ring that was literally living
in a cage.”
It was this love for her Maltese and Doberman Pinschers
(another breed she has been very involved with), coupled with
losing many of them to a wide array of diseases, that propelled
her to first donate to Morris Animal Foundation.
Appalled at how such a beautiful creature could be living under
such sad conditions, Sandi was moved to action. Later that
week, and with the permission of the owner, Sandi brought
home CH Marcris Heaven Sent, called Angel—the first in her
long line of Maltese.
Angel’s history in the show ring intrigued Sandi and eventually
led her to a close friendship with a handler who, Sandi realized,
exemplified the positive side of the sport. Over the years, Sandi
and her husband, Steve, became the parents of several other
Maltese dogs, even breeding a pair that resulted in their first
and only litter.
“It kills me to think that there are owners and dogs out there
going through what I’ve been through—being torn from a loved
one. That’s why I support research, so we can find cures and
answers,” Sandi says.
In 1995, Sandi strengthened her commitment by becoming
a member of the Foundation’s Lamplighter Society, which
consists of people with hearts so big that they choose to include
Morris Animal Foundation in their estate plans. Sandi’s
donations, along with the donations of others, light the way for
Foundation-funded studies to prevent, treat and cure disease in
dogs, cats, horses and wildlife.
Every Lamplighter has a story behind why he or she gives, and
Sandi is no exception. Like many others, she donates because
of her love for her dogs, those who have died and those who are
alive. Yet, unlike many others, her story just happened to begin
with a shirt.
Learn more
After falling in love with her first Maltese, Sandi Heffner
became devoted to dogs and Morris Animal Foundation.
16
TolearnmoreabouttheLamplighterSociety,
contact Stacie Kelly at 800.243.2345 or
[email protected]
Create your
own cause
You can tell your pet’s story and support Morris Animal Foundation’s efforts to help animals
live longer, healthier lives with our personal fundraising tools. Simply set up your own personal
Webpagetomemorializeabelovedpetoranimallover,recognizeanaccomplishmentor
milestone, celebrate a special occasion or just say thank you to a special person. Once you set up your page, you can tell friends and family about your cause and fundraising
goals.Thedonationsyouraisewillhelpusadvanceanimalhealthandwelfareworldwide.Visit
the“SupportAnimalHealth”sectionatwww.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org to create
your cause page today.
STAFF
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SPONSORS
executive
officers
Thank you to the generous animal lovers who
sponsored studies featured in this issue at a level
ranging from $3,000 per year to the full cost of
the project:
Paul Raybould, Executive Vice President
Wayne A. Jensen, Chief Scientif ic Off icer
John Taylor, Chief Operating Off icer
Debby Altendorf, Executive Secretary
Mark J. Carter, Chair (Evergreen, CO)
Roger H. Bohart, Treasurer (Boulder, CO)
board members
administrative services
Carol Baptiste, Database Administrator
Karen Boster, Donations Analyst
Serena Everett, Meetings & Operations Manager
Dan Liphardt, Technology & Accounting Specialist
Darcy Nelson, Donations Analyst
Marie Scherer, Accounting Manager
development
Tilman Adair, Director of Development
Letitia Czachor, Canine Cancer Events Manager
Megan Hampton, Development Manager
Stacie Kelly, Director of Planned Giving
Susan Kohut, Development Manager
Brenda Lopez, Donor Relations Manager
Christy Oakes, Donor Relations Associate
Dan Reed, Director of Corporate Partnerships
Rebecca Richman, Administrative Assistant
Thomas Stevens, Veterinary Outreach Manager
Jean Vore, Study Sponsorship Associate
MK Wohlenhaus, Volunteer & Events Coordinator
marketing & communications
Jenny Herren, Online Manager
Heidi Jeter, Director of Marketing & Communications
Alex Jimenez, Communications Coordinator
Tina Martinez, Marketing & Media Relations Manager
Kelley Weir, Content Manager
April Altman (Fort Worth, TX)
Prema Arasu (Pullman, WA)
Deborah Davenport (Lecompton, KS)
Jim Dickie (Boulder, CO)
Robin A. Downing (Windsor, CO)
Susan Giovengo (Mason, OH)
Amy Hunkeler (Lee’s Summit, MO)
Arlene Klein (Sarasota, FL)
James A. Kutsch Jr. (Morristown, NJ)
Hugh B. Lewis (Vancouver, WA)
Lon D. Lewis (Topeka, KS)
Patrick O. Long (Corvallis, OR)
Betty White Ludden (Los Angeles, CA)
Bette M. Morris (Topeka, KS)
David R. Morris (Shawnee, KS)
Judith Needham (Hunt Valley, MD)
Janice Peterson (Ocean Park, WA)
Richard J. Swanson (Denver, CO)
Melanie Smith Taylor (Memphis, TN)
Stanley M. Teeter (Topeka, KS)
Dominic Travis (St. Paul, MN)
Cheryl A. Wagner (Roswell, GA)
Projects Coordinator
Cherie Cassel, Senior Grants Specialist
Nancy Clark, Study Participants Manager
Kristen House, Grants Specialist
Tobie McPhail, Director of Scientif ic
Programs & Advancements
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Australian Shepherd Health &
Genetics Institute Inc.
Batchelor Foundation Inc.
Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research
Sandy & Scott Campbell
Fred C. & Katherine B. Andersen Foundation
George Sydney & Phyllis Redmond Miller Trust
Germinder & Associates
Hal & Marty Hendershot
Dr. & Mrs. Lon D. Lewis
Douglas & Kathryn Miller
Ann B. Moore
North American Falconers Association
Pepper Memorial Classic Fund
Pfizer Animal Health
Portuguese Water Dog Foundation Inc.
Precious Cat Inc.
Janet Swanson
Richard & Kathy Swanson
Neil & Sylvia Van Sloun, the Van Sloun Foundation
Waltham Foundation
Rebecca & Dean M. Willard
The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Foundation Inc.
scientific programs & advancement
Allen Byrne, Communications & Special
American Spaniel Club Foundation
HOURS & CONTACT INFO
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time
TOLL-FREE
800.243.2345
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PLEASE CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN
TO ASK PET HEALTH QUESTIONS.
Our staff is unable to provide veterinary medical advice.
The opinions of study investigators may not necessarily be
those of your companion animal’s veterinarian.
Morris Animal Foundation is a nonprofit organization
and is tax exempt under the Internal Revenue Service
regulation 501(c)(3). Our audited financial statement and
state registration information are available upon request.
Materials, including photographs and artwork, in this
publication may be reprinted only with the permission of
Morris Animal Foundation. Please write or call to receive
financial information or permission to reprint materials:
Morris Animal Foundation, 10200 E. Girard Ave, Suite B430,
Denver, Colorado 80231, or call us at 800.243.2345.
To remove your name from Morris Animal Foundation’s
mailing list, send an e-mail to
[email protected]
or call us at 800.243.2345.
©2011 Morris Animal Foundation. All rights reserved.
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