Dog Gene Offers Clues to Rare Human Brain Disease

Mutation may be similar in both species, study suggests

MONDAY, Aug. 30 (HealthDay News) — Scientists who discovered a gene mutation that causes a fatal neurodegenerative disease in American Staffordshire (Pit Bull) terriers say the same gene may also be linked to a similar, rare fatal brain disease in humans.

The discovery of the gene associated with a variant of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) — a family of diseases that lead to mental and motor deterioration and death — may lead to improved screening and diagnosis of the disease in dogs. It may also be an early first step in developing a cure for NCLs in both dogs and humans, according to the multinational team of researchers.

In American Staffordshire terriers, also known as American Pit Bull Terriers, the disease causes mental and motor deterioration leading to death. Adult-onset NCL affects one of every 400 registered American Staffordshire terriers, according to research team member Dr. Natasha Olby, an associate professor of neurology at North Carolina State University.

“The disease became so prevalent because it was a recessive disease with late onset. Carriers of a single copy of the mutated gene never develop symptoms, and dogs with two copies of the gene might not show symptoms until five or six years of age, so the mutation was able to take hold in the breeding population,” she explained in a university news release.

Genetic analysis revealed the location of the specific gene and an entirely new mutation that has not been reported in people.

In humans, NCLs such as Batten disease mostly affect children, but there is an adult-onset form called Kufs’ disease that causes gradual death of brain neurons, resulting in vision loss, epilepsy, loss of coordination and dementia, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

The unique nature of the mutation in dogs means that researchers can now conduct tests to determine if the same mutation is responsible for Kufs’ disease in humans, according to Olby.

“The canine disease is a good model of the adult human form of the disease. We hope that this discovery will provide insight into the development of this disease,” she said.

The study was published in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Can You Teach a Bad Dog New Tricks | Parade.com.

Chihuahua Mix Attacked By Coyote, Saved By Pit Bulls

Neighbors Say Attacks Becoming Commonplace

Russell Haythorn, 7NEWS Reporter
POSTED: 8:46 pm MDT July 31, 2010

LITTLETON, Colo. — A Littleton neighborhood is on edge after a coyote attacked and nearly killed a woman’s dog Saturday morning…

Buster is a Chihuahua-Terrier mix. He was attacked Saturday morning.

“He woke me up at 6:30 to do his thing. I let him out and I came out with him,” said Jodi Robinette of Littleton. “And about a minute later, he screamed like I’ve never heard an animal scream.”

Robinette ran after Buster and the coyote behind her home at 949 West Peakview Circle near Angeline Little Greenway Park.

“And right when I came around this corner, the coyote had my dog in his mouth, shaking him as he was running,” she said. “And then, I see the coyote at the very middle of this field drop my dog.”

Turns out the neighbor’s pit bulls were going after the coyote…

As for the pit bulls – they scared off the coyote and then protected Buster under a bush.

“They were circling him and sitting by him. Making sure he was all right,” said Robinette. “So it needs to be said that there’s some good (in pit bulls) and not all bad.”

Back at the animal clinic, Buster’s got a polka-dot bandage, a heated blanket and some pain medicine. He’s had a rough day.

He will need surgery Monday. He has a collapsed lung, chest injuries and many deep lacerations.

The Division of Wildlife suggests never allowing your pets to roam, especially at night.

The division also suggests you keep your pets in a fenced area, or a completely enclosed kennel at times when you’re not able to keep an eye on your pet.

Pit bull saves family from house fire

Share By KPIC.com staff

Story Published: Jul 29, 2010 at 12:05 PM PDT

CANYONVILLE, Ore. – As Teresa Holt and her children slept, an electrical fire silently smoldered in her closet.

Before the flames erupted and destroyed their home and possessions, the family’s pit bull mix Grizzly woke up Holt’s son Justin.

“The dog trampled over me and stuff,” Justin Holt said. “It was acting weird and I was like, ‘What’s wrong?’ And then I thought I smelled something on fire, and I thought it was the stove at first. Then I realized when I rolled back over it was coming out of my mom’s (closet) into my closet.”

The small house quickly went up in flames and everything was a total loss.

“I still don’t know how we got out because the house was so full of smoke, and I’m surprised it wasn’t further inflamed before we woke up,” Teresa Holt said.

She credits Grizzly with saving the family’s life.

It’s the second time in her life Teresa had to flee a house fire. When she was 16, Teresa’s parent’s house also burned to the ground.

“It was pretty scary then,” she said, “and it was really scary this time.”

The community and the Red Cross have assisted the family. People can also make donations at any Umpqua Bank branch for Teresa Holt.

Pit bull joins police search and rescue team

By NBC 10 News
Published: July 23, 2010

For the first time in Rhode Island, a pit bull has been certified to be part of the State Police Search and Rescue Disaster Team.

The dog, whose name is “X” was trained by Rhode Island State Trooper Matt Zarella.

The dog just completed the Disaster Search course, one of the most difficult tests. Earlier she completed the agility course and training to find a person under rubble.

SOME Pit! provides pit bull education in Bangor

7/17/10 12:00 am
By Nok-Noi Ricker
BDN Staff

BANGOR, Maine — Pit bulls have gotten a bad rap, representatives from Southern Maine Pit Bulls, or SOME Pit!, said at a presentation Saturday at the Bangor Humane Society.

“They are social, affectionate, face-licking sweethearts,” Jessica Dolce, co-founder and educator for SOME Pit!, said after the hourlong presentation.

Media reports about pit bull attacks have made the public scared of the dogs, she said.

“I don’t blame people for being afraid,” she said. “That’s the information they’re receiving. It’s caused a hysteria.”

Dolce and Adam Ricci, training coordinator and co-founder of SOME Pit!, said that explaining to people the misinformation that surrounds pit bulls can change people’s perceptions. The duo travel the state educating people about pit bulls and ask pit bull owners to be educators themselves by being good examples while out in public.

“You need to be ambassadors for the breed,” Dolce said. “You have to hold yourself to a higher standard. It’s not fair, but the truth is people have all these misconceptions.”

The term “pit bull” refers to three breeds: the American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, and Staffordshire bull terrier.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, and one in five are injured badly enough to require medical attention. From 1979 to 1998, more than 300 people were killed by dogs, and pit bulls tallied 76 of those deaths.

The National Canine Research Council estimates that dogs cause 25-30 fatalities each year.

The data are shocking, but considering there are an estimated 72 million dogs in the U.S., people are “five times more likely to be killed by a cow,” Dolce said.

Patt Pinkham, Bangor animal control officer for the past 27 years, has plenty of experience dealing with dogs and says pit bulls are no different than other breeds.

“My theory is all dogs have teeth, so any dog is capable of biting given the right circumstances,” she said. “A bite is the last resort with most of these dogs.”

The group of 22 people at the SOME Pit! seminar included shelter volunteers, those thinking about adopting a pit bull and others who own pit bulls.

“I used to have a pit bull but had to give her up when I moved,” one man said. “I want another one.”

Hampden residents Maggie and Bill Villarreal said they adopted their 11-year-old pit bull, Hondo, from their son nine years ago.

“We love our dog,” Maggie Villarreal said.

No matter what breed of dog people own, they must be responsible for their pets, she said.

The couple acknowledged that the public is apprehensive about their loving and friendly dog because of his breed.

“He [gets] walks every morning and we’re cognizant of the fact people are wary,” Bill Villarreal said.

Shelter volunteer Karen Littlefield of Stillwater, who began working at the shelter in January and is qualified to take dogs home, said she has had a major change of heart over the last seven months.

When she was first assigned a walking detail with a pit bull, she responded by saying, “I’m only here for the easy dogs,” she recalled Saturday. “Now my husband is asking, ‘Are you ever going to bring home any dogs that aren’t pit bulls?’”

“Out of all these dogs, the pit bulls are the easiest” to handle, Littlefield added.

SOME Pit! has three upcoming seminars in the next month, including one in Westbrook and another one at Portland’s Irish bar Brian Boru on July 29.

Pit Bull helps alert Mary Tyler Moore when blood sugar drops

Mary Tyler Moore’s Pit Bull Spanky lets her her know when her blood sugar gets too low.

The actress has diabetes and told People that Spanky comes and stares at her until she takes care of herself.

Want to know more about how Moore approaches type 1 diabetes, a life-threatening illness? She talked with our reporter Mary Brophy Marcus last year.

ASPCA’s ‘Operation Pit’ Offers Free Pit Bull Vasectomies

Posted: Thursday, 15 July 2010 5:30PM

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is launching “Operation Pit,” a new program offering free spay and neuter surgeries for pit bulls. In addition, the ASPCA is offering free pit bull vasectomies for the very first time.

Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine and Interim Director of the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, where the program is headquartered, says pit bulls and pit bulls mixes make up the majority of homeless dogs in city shelters.

“One of the most effective ways to manage pet overpopulation is to provide free spay/ neuter,” Murray said.

Beginning today, pit bull owners can make appointments for the surgeries. “Operation Pit” will take place every Thursday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m at the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, 424 East 92nd St., New York, NY 10128 (between First and York Aves.)

ASPCA says all appointments must be scheduled prior to the surgery date. Owners will leave their animals in the morning and pick them up in the evening, according to the ASPCA.

To find out more and to schedule and appointment, you can call 877-900-PITS (7487), or visit: www.aspca.org/aspca-nyc/ .

It’s a good thing for this family that their dog wasn’t banned. Councilmembers might want to be reminded of this.

E-mail addresses for city council:
dave.osborne@coei.org ; brian.thomas@coei.org ; david.henke@coei.org ; ron.troyer@coei.org ; brent.curry@coei.org ; thines@elkhart.k12.in.us ; mary.olson@coei.org ; ralph.bean@coei.org ; rodregina@comcast.net

http://www.fox28.com/Global/story.asp?S=12773449 

Pit bull saves family from house fire

Posted: Jul 08, 2010 9:46 AM CDT

An Elkhart family is alive thanks to their pit bull dog. The Red Cross of Elkhart County is crediting the dog with waking the family when their home caught fire early Thursday morning.

The Red Cross says “Thor” woke up the family of three and even tried to pull the baby and basinet out of the house. The family were asleep when a fire began in the hallway.

The fire happened early Thursday at a trailer home at 53500 County Road 27 in Bristol. The fire heavily damaged the trailer.

Shelter’s Pit Bulls Certified As “Canine Good Citizens” Under Special Training Program

By Jo Murray
06/29/10 02:28 PM

To help combat their undeserved reputations as troublemakers, pit bull-type dogs are getting special training to pass the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test under an innovative program at the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley.

So far three dogs have passed the test in this program, believed to be one of the first in the nation at an animal shelter. “We heard about it from a pit bull rescue organization in New York state,” said Nadia Novik, operations manager. “However, I’m not aware of any other shelters with similar programs.

The Canine Good Citizen program, started in 1989, is a certification program to recognize dogs that have good manners at home and in the community. The test has 10 parts, including walking on a leash through a crowd without pulling or barking at other dogs, remaining quiet when the owner greets another person with a dog, staying in a given spot when the owner is out of sight temporarily, and coming when called.

“Many dogs at the shelter have had little or no training or interaction with humans,” said Novik. “People adopting a pet are more likely to take home a well-behaved, confident dog, so we have made it a priority to work with all our dogs in teaching them basic manners as well as socializing our more fearful canine residents.

“The pit bull type dogs seem to make up a majority of our long-term residents, so making an extra effort with them makes sense. They need the enrichment and socialization, and generally are at the shelter long enough to complete the training for the test. When dogs are adopted prior to completing the test, we encourage their adopters to continue the training and take the test when they feel their dog is ready.

“In addition, pit bulls, Rottweilers and similar mixes suffer from prejudice because people are concerned that they are potentially dangerous. We do not adopt out any aggressive dog and we hold our pit-bull type dogs to the same standard as any of our other dogs. It is important that people understand that these breeds are just like any other breed — we’re just taking the extra step to make it easier for these dogs to find homes,” she added.

Training is provided by Novik, as well as Hillary Hayward and Sabine Muskari, adoption counselors and trainers at the shelter. It takes approximately three hours of one-on-one training each week for a month for a dog to pass the test.

The first dog to achieve certification was Seven, an 18-month-old pit bull/cattle dog mix, who was surrendered when his owners could no longer care for him. He was frightened, shy, nervous and distrustful when he arrived.

Today, in addition to being a Canine Good Citizen, he is very playful with other dogs and greets people with enthusiasm. He is still available for adoption. Since then two more dogs have qualified and are available for adoption. They are Shake, a German shepherd mix, and Bill, a 2-year-old Rottweiler mix who was abandoned at the shelter along with 12 puppies. There are currently four other dogs in training for the test as well.

The Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley, the first “no kill” shelter in Idaho, promotes companion animal welfare by providing temporary shelter for homeless animals, adopting them to qualified homes and reducing animal abuse, neglect and overpopulation through community education and spay/neuter services. More than 90 percent of its funding comes from private donations.

In 2009 more than 1,500 animals received services from the shelter. This includes 350 animals that were adopted, 252 lost animals that were reunited with their owners, 255 shelter animals spayed/neutered, and 387 privately owned animals that were spayed or neutered at no cost to their owners. On an average day, the shelter cares for 45 dogs and 45 cats.

The shelter’s annual benefit, raffle and auction will be held July 16, and tickets are still available. The winner of the raffle will receive a $10,000 gift certificate at Atkinsons’ market and does not have to be present to win.

Additional information is available by calling 208-788-4351 on the Internet at www.animalshelterwrv.org.

Jo Murray is a public relations consultant to the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley.