Campaign against canine cancers expects eradication of disease within 10 to 20 years! Chagrin Falls, Ohio- June 27, 2008- More than half of the dog-owning households in North America will experience the pain and distress of learning their beloved pet has cancer. But now, thanks to the efforts of the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) and their Canine Cancer Campaign, our pets may have an opportunity to beat this disease. Even better news is that this campaign may end up helping people in their own battle against cancer!
The Morris Animal Foundation has spent 60 years promoting and protecting animals through their funding of humane animal health studies and, more importantly, sharing the information from those crucial initiatives. Their current Canine Cancer Campaign hopes to raise $30 million in five years in order to cure and eliminate this canine killer. Cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs over the age of two. In fact, one dog out of every four will die from this dreaded disease. Owners of purebred dogs face even greater risk – estimates from the Golden Retriever Foundation show that about 60% of this breed suffers from cancer.
Working in conjunction with leading scientists, veterinary schools and pharmaceutical companies, MAF eventually hopes to involve all of the 44 million dog-owning households in their fund raising efforts. Their aggressive main goal is to eradicate canine cancer within ten to twenty years. But, MAF also hopes to more fully educate dog owners about their options if their pet is diagnosed with any sort of growth, malignant or benign. Already, early funding and collaboration has sponsored a tissue bank as well as multiple studies and an initiative to offer free cancer consultations for pet owners.
This campaign may also have far-reaching benefits. Since humans and dogs share many types of cancer, research into treatments and prevention of the disease may help us to understand and win our own battles with cancer. Hope is available for dogs and their owners. With a little luck and a lot of effort, we may defeat cancer by the time your new puppy reaches old age!
