WELFARE - Adoptable Dogs Return as Ball Dogs at Brazil Open

After a successful debut in 2016, ball dogs will once again participate in the Brazil Open tennis tournament.

The six dogs are from local animal shelters and will retrieve balls during warmups for the semi-final and final games.

All four dogs that appeared last year were adopted and organizers hope this year’s dogs will ‘fetch’ people’s attention and find homes as well.

Ball dogs Cindy, Nanda, Pretinha, Mia, Arlete and Ovelha range in age from four to ten years.

"They are dogs that have had a difficult trajectory, yes. But what we want to point out is not the history suffered from the past, but to prove that no matter what they have gone through, they can be great companions today and in the future,” Madalena Spinazzola, director of corporate marketing and strategic planning for PremieR Pet and event organizer, said on the Brazil Open website.

Having dogs retrieve tennis balls at the tournament places them in front of an audience that may not have considered adoption and that is the goal of many unique adoption promotions.

Other innovative examples include having adoptable dogs at a major league baseball game, as greeters in a hotel and dancing in a ballet.

The Science Behind Canine Athleticism

Have you ever wondered how dogs can jump so high and run so fast - what the science is behind their athleticism?

Purina Pro Plan’s video series ‘Incredible Dog Science’, featuring volleyball athlete Misty May-Treanor and canine athletes, provides some very interesting observations.

For example, if episode two's Jack Russell terrier's body was scaled to the same size as a human, his speed would be the same as somebody running a 2.6 second 100 metre dash.

The three-part series explores the physics, evolutionary advancements, and mechanics of the canine body with analysis provided by experts Dr. David Raichlen, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Arizona, and Dr. Brian Zanghi, Research Nutritionist at Nestle Purina, as May-Treanor competes against Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge competitors.

The first episode, Agility, analyzes the differences in velocity and trajectory between May-Treanor and competitor Schemer, a border collie, as they dart through weave poles.

Episode two, Speed, demonstrates the significant effects that body mechanics play in enabling and inhibiting mobility as May-Treanor takes on the Jack Russell terrier.

Episode three, Power, puts May-Treanor's volleyball skills to the test by focusing on activities like jumping and diving to highlight the sheer strength that propels a dog like the Belgian malinois in its movements versus a human.

While the video series is also an obvious promotion of their dog food, the insight into the mechanics of the canine body is very interesting to anyone curious about how things work, especially with their dog friends.

WELFARE - It's National Dog Day

National Dog Day celebrates all dogs, mixed breed and pure.

It was founded to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep people safe and bring comfort.

Dogs do truly amazing things for humans - personal protection, law enforcement, assisting the disabled, detecting bombs and drugs, pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage, providing formal and informal therapy, and even detecting diseases and seizures.

It’s a great day to give your dog some extra love and attention, a new toy, special treats or an extra walk.

Some National Dog Day suggested activities include:

• Adopt a dog
• Donate blankets or other supplies to an animal rescue organization
• Take photos and enter the National Dog Day photo contest
• Give your dog a massage
• Teach your dog a new trick
• Send a dog related gift to a friend or relative

Microchipping Dogs to Become Mandatory in England

Scanning for a microchip

As reported in The Telegraph, as of April 6^th this year microchipping dogs will be compulsory in England.

Failure to comply will result in fines of up to £500.

George Eustice, animal welfare minister, told The Telegraph, “Microchipping our dogs will not only reunite people with their lost or stolen pets, but also help to tackle the growing problem of strays roaming the streets and relieve the burden placed on animal charities and local authorities.”

The hope is that by returning dogs to their owners more quickly and efficiently, local authorities and charities will save millions in pet food, housing and re-homing costs.

It will also reduce the stress on the dog – less time wandering or in a shelter - and dog owner, who will have more confidence the dog will be identified and returned.

Westin Hotel Ottawa Fosters Rescue Dogs

Most every humane society, SPCA and pet rescue has a foster program where individuals take animals into their homes prior to adoption, but the Westin in Ottawa may be the first hotel that is a dog foster home.

Taco

Since November, Ottawa Dog Rescue has partnered with the hotel on a program called Westin Wags where a rescue dog lives in the Westin lobby and hotel staff and guests become his foster family. The foster dog has kennel space, with staff and registered guests able to take him for daily walks.

When choosing dogs, Ottawa Dog Rescue focuses on the animal’s sociability, size and tendency not to bark. Two puppies, a Chihuhua named Taco, and a border collie mix called Ellie have successfully been fostered and adopted through the program to date.

Ellie

 

While the dogs at the hotel are giving the guests a taste of being at home, they are also getting great exposure to find a new life-long loving family.

It is hoped that this successful program will encourage other businesses to become foster homes for rescue animals.

New App Identifies Dog Breed From a Photo

There’s a fun new Microsoft app called Fetch! that uses artificial intelligence techniques to classify images of real-world dogs into breeds. Available for iPhones and on the web, users upload a photo of a dog or take a picture with their camera and the app confirms the dog’s breed.

For example, if you upload a photo of a Labrador retriever, the app should say it's a Lab.

Created with a sense of humour, it includes a mode that lets you find out what breeds you and your friends are.

Fetch! was released by Microsoft Garage, an “outlet for experimental projects” and like other Microsoft artificial intelligence apps, it should become more accurate as users upload more photos and data.

A small experiment with a variety of photos came up with these mixed results:

Pretty close - poodle/golden retriever.

Sorry - Lab/boxer mix. A profile shot may not be the best for this app.

Fetch! was fooled with this goat. Maybe you can see a bit of cocker spaniel in the shape of the face?

 

The app did not get fooled twice. It recognized the cat right away.

While Fetch! may never replace a DNA test, it's a fun app for dog lovers.

Researchers Working on New Botanical Anti-Anxiety Medicine for Dogs

Canadian researchers have potentially found a botanical anti-anxiety medication for dogs that works similarly to Valium. Researchers at the University of Ottawa have discovered that chemical components from Costa Rican vines and sycamore bark can be combined to create an effective anti-anxiety medication. So far the compound has been tested on dogs, piglets and rats. All animals appeared calmer after administration and no harmful side-effects have been observed.

Chemistry Professor, Dr. Tony Durst said, "We've compared dogs treated for anxiety with Valium and we found our compound acts similarly. It acts almost as well as Valium but it has none of the side-effects Valium is known for."  Valium can cause several side effects in humans including agitation, aggression, drowsiness, hallucinations, hyperactivity, and muscle weakness.

Durst said, "Dogs are known to be anxious, among other things. When thunderstorms arrive, when their owners leave them at home all day, they show anxiety."  Animal behaviourist, Kelly French said, "Anxiety plays a big role in dogs. People don't realize that. They don't think, 'my dog is anxious,' because a dog can't tell you, 'I'm freaking out right now.' "Most of the behavioural problems I see are related to anxiety and fear. The dog is usually fearful, nervous, shy, trying to cope with a situation."

Durst is working with a distributor and hopes the medication will be available in veterinary clinics in Spring 2016. Durst is also working to get the drug approved for human use. Durst said, "We've made an application to Health Canada for permission to do human safety studies. We fully believe that based on the data we have, a human safety study will be very successful."

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Chinese Producing Custom Dogs Through Gene Editing

Chinese scientists believe they are the first people to create custom dogs using gene editing. Gene editing is a process in which scientists can disable genes or rearrange DNA. Scientists have created a Beagle that has twice the muscling that a normal Beagle would have. This mutation has been created by deleting the gene myostatin. Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health’s, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology researcher, Liangxue Lai said regarding the gene edited Beagle, “More muscles and are expected to have stronger running ability, which is good for hunting, police (military) applications.”

Not only are dogs being created for work purposes, the researchers will also be creating dogs with DNA mutations that will allow the dogs to mimic human disease including Parkinson’s and muscular dystrophy. Lai said, “The goal of the research is to explore an approach to the generation of new disease dog models for biomedical research. Dogs are very close to humans in terms of metabolic, physiological, and anatomical characteristics.” Dogs are not the first animals in China to undergo gene editing. Prior to dogs, this technique has been used on goats, rabbits, rats, monkeys, and human embryos.

Deletion of the myostatin gene is not a novel event. Rarely, humans are born without myostatin. Belgian Blue cattle lack myostatin The mutation also occurs in Whippets and creates dogs called “bully whippets”.

Eva Engvall, retired scientist and Whippet breeder said, “The point of this work was not to re-create myostatin knockouts. The point was to use the CRISPR technology in dogs. And in this project, the authors overcame some obstacles, in that dogs are a bit tricky when it comes to manipulating embryos.” Regarding myostatin deletion in Beagles, scientist Eliane Ostrander said, “The number of dogs is still small. It will be interesting to see what types of variation come up as more dogs undergo the process.”

Out of Lai’s experiment, so far two Beagles posses myostatin deletion. The deletion is complete in a female and incomplete in a male. Since the gene alteration was done when the dogs were still embryonic the editing can affect every cell in the dog’s body. The male (with partial deletion) produces sperm that contain the full myostatin mutation. Lai said, “The favorable traits that result from gene editing can pass generation by generation… which can be commercialized.”

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Dogs Losing Popularity in Japan

The dog population in Japan has been decreasing for approximately 5 years according to the Japan Pet Food Association. In 5  years the number of dogs has decreased by 13%; down to 10.3 million dogs. The human population of Japan has also been shrinking but only by 0.8% in the past five years.

It is thought that the decreasing dog population is partially due to available housing options and changing lifestyles. People that live in condos are often unable to have dogs due to condominium rules and many others feel that they could not take good care of a dog. One reason people feel they could not take good care of a dog is because they may pass away before the dog does.

Pet cats on the other hand have been increasing in popularity. Over the past five years the number of cats has increased approximated 4%; up to 10 million cats.

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New Device Might Tell Owners How Their Dog Is Feeling

DogStar has created the world’s first dog emotion tracker. While many owners have strong understanding of their dog’s emotional state, DogStar is hoping to help owners further understand their dog with TailTalk. TailTalk is a wearable device that records and translates tail movement for owners.

TailTalk is durable, water-resistant, chew-resistant, and each battery will last up to six months. It features a 3-axis accelerometer, a gyroscope, and Bluetooth capabilities. TailTalk will record tail position and movement and then sends that information to the owner via a mobile app in an easy to understand language (inferred emotions). TailTalk determines an emotional state based on canine behavioural research.

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Behaviour Resident, Dr. Pamela Perry, PhD., said, "Tail wagging doesn’t automatically imply that a dog is happy. The tail is a dog’s social interface, signaling behavioral nuances that other dogs recognize, but which humans do not always understand."

TailTalk is seeking funding on Indiegogo and raised 28% of their goal on their first day. $99 USD will allow people to pre-purchase TailTalk which will retail for approximately $120 USD. TailTalk should become available in June 2016.

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Winnipeg Animal Services Decreases Euthanasia Rate

In 2014, Winnipeg Animal Services euthanized the fewest number of dogs in their recorded history. Chief Operating Officer, Leland Gordon said, “Euthanization numbers are way, way down and that makes everybody happy. In the last three to five years, it’s nosedived to the lowest number we’ve ever had.” In 2014, only 52 dogs were euthanized whereas in 2002 they had 486 euthanizations.

Gordon said, “Animal Services is being very progressive trying to help the animals. Our staff and volunteers do everything we can to save as many as possible. More animals are being saved at the end of the day.” Winnipeg Animal Service credits a partnership with the City of Winnipeg homepage, Facebook, and 311 agents. 311 agents can now return licensed pets without the animal entering the shelter.

The Winnipeg Humane Society has not seen a significant change in the number of dogs euthanized. Communications Director, Aileen White said that the Society helps the city and will take dogs that need extra training and veterinary care. White believes that the new Joyce Gauthier Behaviour and Training Centre will help keep more pets at home. White said, “Most dogs in our community would benefit from it in some way.”

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How Similar Are Canine and Human Diabetes?

Both dogs and humans are susceptible to developing diabetes. Diabetes in dogs presents itself similarly to type 1 diabetes in humans. While the disease appears similar on the surface there are some key differences between canine and human diabetes.

Researchers have been examining pancreatic tissue from 23 diabetic dogs and 17 unaffected dogs. The pancreas contains islet cells which contain beta cells. Beta cells produce insulin which turns sugar into useable energy for the body. Diabetic dogs and humans with type 1 diabetes all show a loss in beta cells and therefore their bodies cannot produce enough insulin. The diseases still appear quite similar however Dr. Jake Kushner (Chief of Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology at Baylor College of Medicine) said "There were some real surprises. Dogs had very few islets. In man and mouse, there are often residual islets, but these dogs had very little left. It suggests some sort of really aggressive process destroying those cells."

The method in which these islets are destroyed are not yet known. The researchers did not see evidence of inflammation or autoimmune problems. Type 1 diabetes in humans is caused by the immune system attacking islet cells. Kushner believes that the dogs included in the study may have been in such an advanced state of disease that an autoimmune attack was no longer occurring.

Dr. Kushner found that the composition of islet cells is different in dogs than in humans. In healthy humans islet cells consist of approximately 50% of beta cells compared to 80% in dogs. It is possible that this is why diabetic dogs are typically older since they have more cells to die. Dr. Kushner said, "Dogs get diabetes at a pretty significant rate, about the same rate that humans get type 1 diabetes. But, they get it later in life." Chief of Internal Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Rebecca Hess said, "If they're starting with a larger supply of beta cells, it may give them a longer time before they develop the disease."

Montefiore Medical Center’s Director of Clinical Diabetes, Dr. Joel Zonszein said, "Although diabetes in the dog resembles type 1 in humans, they don't have the same inflammatory process we see in type 1 in humans. In dogs, we don't understand what triggers it yet. And, the anatomy of the islets is completely different in dogs. This is a nice study, but we still have to learn more."

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Science-Based Dog Breeding Standards Soon in Testing Phase

Purdue University has started a research project that will help develop standards for commercially bred dogs. Breeders will begin adhering to the draft standards by the end of 2015. Canine welfare will be measured before and after the breeding draft standards are implemented. The goal is to create nation-wide standards that ensure a decent quality of life. Lead researcher, Dr. Candace Croney (head of Purdue’s Center for Animal Welfare Science) said, "Breeders have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to participate."

The research project is funded by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, Pet Food Institute, and the World Pet Association. Additional support is provided by the Science Fellows program of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIC)and the USDA-APHIC Center for Animal Welfare.

The draft standards include access to food and water, shelter, veterinary and preventative health care, behavioural wellness, and genetic selection. The research will also examine ethical issues such as rehoming dogs and ending breeding careers. Croney said, "All animal care policies must be grounded in science as well as ethics and social responsibility." The draft standards have been created with help from breeders, veterinarians, reproductive experts, and welfare experts. Experts including Temple Grandin, Bernie Rollin, and James Serpell provided input.

The scientific literature has large gaps concerning housing and management of kenneled and breeding dogs. One of the goals of Croney’s research is to collect data on these topics. These data and the final standards will be publicized in 2016. A summary, table of contents of the draft standards, research updates, and dog welfare articles may be found here.

Croney said, "The dialogue, constructive feedback and collaboration offered by breeders and animal health and welfare experts and others have greatly facilitated Purdue's capacity to develop scientific and educational approaches needed to advance the welfare of dogs in commercial breeding operations. The research team looks forward to the continuing support and input of the various communities invested in improving dog welfare."

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Is Single Injection Sterilization of Male and Female Animals in Our near Future?

There is currently a vaccine that causes the animal’s immune system to produce antibodies that block gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). This hormone is required for egg and sperm development. By blocking both egg and sperm development the vaccine is effective for male and female animals. Unfortunately, like other vaccines, the immune response will decrease over time and revaccination may be required.

Scientists at the California Institute of Technology have created an injection that causes mouse muscles to produce hormone-blocking antibodies. If the same injection works for cats and dogs then it could be used on pets and feral animals to assist population control. Current sterilization procedures are often limited to surgical procedures. The cost and invasiveness of surgery can often prevent pets and stray animals from being sterilized. In 2014, nearly 2.7 million dogs and cats were euthanized in America's shelters. An easier method of animal sterilization will help save lives.

The researchers created a piece of DNA and put it inside inactive virus shells. When injected into mice the muscles begin producing anti-GnRH antibodies. Muscle tissue is long lasting and could produce antibodies for more than ten years and would therefore not require revaccination in certain animals. This injection takes two months for efficacy to be reached. Biologist Bruce Hay said, “That 2-month delay is because of how long it takes the muscle to start producing enough antibody. Going forward, one goal is certainly to try other systems that wouldn’t have that time lag.”

Using a similar approach (injecting modified DNA) the eggs of female mice can become impenetrable by sperm. The benefit of this approach is that the hormone levels and males and females will remain the same which can be behaviourally beneficial. Hay said, “There might be some instances in wild animals where you just want to inhibit fertility but not disrupt an animal’s behavior.” Researcher, Dr. Robert McCarthy performed a study that suggested that feral cat population control is likely to be much more effective if reproductive hormones remain intact.

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Director of Animal Research, William Swanson said, “This looks incredibly promising. We’re all very excited about this approach; that it’s going to be the one that really works.” Swanson will be testing the DNA injection approach in cats. Swanson said, “The challenge is always moving between species.” If the injection works it could change the way we control feral cat populations. “We have to figure out how to control these populations without being harmful to individual cats. And this kind of lifelong contraception might be a safe, effective way to do that,” said Swanson.

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STUDY: When Dogs Look Back

Monique Udell has published her study entitled: When dogs look back: inhibition of independent problem-solving behaviour in domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) compared with wolves (Canis lupus). Her research examined problem-solving behaviour in domestic dogs in comparison to wolves.

Domestic dogs are well known for their ability and willingness to work with humans. Research has shown that dogs will seek help when faced with a problem they cannot solve, this is termed soliciting necessary help. Wolves, when faced with an unsolvable problem will keep trying to solve the problem. A dog’s willingness to seek help has been seen as socio-cognitive advancement by some while others feel that domestic dogs have decreased persistence.

Udell’s study included pet dogs, shelter dogs, and wolves. All animals were provided with three chances to open a puzzle box in three different scenarios. The scenarios included a neutral human, alone, and with human encouragement.

It was found that wolves were more persistent when faced with the puzzle box and were therefore more successful (80% success rate). Dogs had a much lower success rate (5%). When encouraged by a person dogs were more persistent problem-solvers however there was not a large spike in success. Udell wrote, “Social sensitivity appears to play an important role in pet and shelter dogs' willingness to engage in problem-solving behaviour, which could suggest generalized dependence on, or deference to, human action.”

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Harvard Medical School Releases Report: Get Healthy, Get a Dog

The Harvard Medical School is selling Get Healthy, Get a Dog: The health benefits of canine companionship. The health report highlights the health benefits of dog ownership and can be purchased online.

The report overview highlights that dogs offer unparalleled companionship and compiles research that shows that dogs offer health benefits. Some of the key benefits of dog ownership are:

• Reduces stress, increases mindfulness.
• Increases the activity of children and helps them feel secure and develop responsibilities.
• Improves the quality of life for seniors.
• Decreases isolation and increases social behaviours.

Through petting a dog, people can have lower blood pressure and decrease heart rate. Petting can also have a positive effect on the dog. Just as petting can benefit both parting, obesity and low activity rates often affect people and their dogs. The report has suggestions on how to increase physical exercise.

If someone is interested in getting a dog, the report helps walk people through the process of getting a suitable dog. If someone is unable to own a dog the report also contains information about service dogs and how one can benefit from contact with an appropriate service dog.    

READ MORE ABOUT THE REPORT

2015 Summit Forum: Service and Assistance Dogs

It is a widespread belief that service dogs can enrich the lives of people yet there are so many barriers for people requiring their use. In Canada there are provincial standards with each province having different requirements. This can allow a service dog to legally work in one province while it cannot in another one. What guidelines should govern whether an animal is a service animal or not?

National standards are currently being developed for psychiatric service dogs that serve Veterans. What needs to be done to develop federal standards for other service dogs?

In the spring, British Columbia introduced a “Guide and Service Dog Act” which would require all service dogs to be trained by a facility accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF). This would prevent internationally certified trainers and behaviourists from training service dogs. Who should be able to decide who trains a service dog? Why is British Columbia limiting training to a duopoly? Why does it matter who trains the dog, provided the dog can perform its required duty while remaining impeccably well behaved in public?

Communities, airlines, school boards, penal institutions, service industries and breeders need industry help to recast this dilemma so more lives are enriched using companion animals.

Get the facts, have your say, move the industry.

If you are interested in participating at the 2015 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies please contact Shannon Woodward, Urban Animal Program Manager.