[Cagdu] Morris Animal Foundation Guide Dog Health Survey

[Dillon, Shannon]

Below please find a survey that interested guide dog handlers are being asked to participate in.  The survey is a Morris Animal Foundation Guide Dog Health Survey.
-Shannon
-----Original Message-----
From: Rueda, Richard A. [mailto:RARUEDA at dor.ca.gov] 
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 11:32 AM
To: Dillon, Shannon
Subject: re:

FYI: as it may be useful for your upcoming seminar.

Richard

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Rueda [mailto:richardrueda at sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 10:48 AM
To: Rueda, Richard A.
Subject: FW: [leadership] Morris Animal Foundation Guide Dog Health
Survey: last chance, August 14




-----Original Message-----
From: Sheila Styron [mailto:sheilastyron at everestkc.net]
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 8:18 AM
To: gdui-leaders at yahoogroups.com; 'GDUI'; GDUc-l at yahoogroups.com; heartlandgdu at yahoogroups.com; leadership at acb.org
Subject: [leadership] Morris Animal Foundation Guide Dog Health Survey:
last chance, August 14



There are just a few more days left to take the Morris Animal Foundation's guide dog health survey. As you read this, almost 900 handlers have filled out the survey to date, and here are some unofficial preliminary numbers.
* About 30% of guide dogs will eventually be diagnosed with some kind of cancer.
* Almost 10% will be victims of vicious dog attacks.
* Hybrids now make up approximately 15% of the working dog population.
* About 65% of handlers pay for vet care without school subsidies.
 I am recirculating this link in case you meant to take the MAF survey and just haven't gotten around to it yet. Thanks to some of the guide dog schools for helping spread the word, and thanks to those of you who have already filled out this important survey. Wide distribution is encouraged, and hopefully, as many of you as possible will take the time to participate.


Dear Guide Dog Handler:

Morris Animal Foundation, the world's largest nonprofit foundation dedicated to funding research studies to protect treat and cure animals, has received a grant from the Laura J. Niles Foundation to address health and injury issues that may lead to early retirement of a guide dog team or prevent the team from optimally performing. We are requesting your help by asking you to complete an on-line survey. The goal of the survey is to provide a statistical snapshot by breed, sex and age of types of health conditions and injuries that affect working guide dogs. INDIVIDUAL AND SCHOOL IDENTITIES WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS.  The results of the survey will be used by the foundation to prioritize research funding for advancing guide dog health. Morris Animal Foundation will be calling for proposals from scientists worldwide to address one or more health or injury issues of high significance. We anticipate that submission of proposals, review by scientific advisors and contracting of the successful grant will be completed by the end of this calendar year.  One hundred percent of the grant will be awarded to the successful investigative team.  Based on matching funds, we anticipate awarding $100,000/year for three years.

An accessible version of the survey will be available online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=RiNJEVZAjSvFT7J_2fFIxTGw_3d_3d.
from July 14 to August 14. This comprehensive survey has been designed to be as complete as possible for the purpose of collecting all the information necessary to identify which health issues to fund and study.
Although it may take longer than 30 minutes to complete, your careful responses are the first important step in the process of researching how to more successfully breed and maintain healthier guide dogs with longer working lives.

Sincerely,


Patricia N. Olson, DVM, PhD
President/CEO
Morris Animal Foundation

Sheila Styron
Kansas City
816-896-6552
sheilastyron at everestkc.net


--
Join the Monthly Monetary Support program (MMS) and help improve tomorrow today in ACB.
For details, contact Dr. Ron Milliman, MMS Program Committee Chair, by
e-mail:
rmilliman at insightbb.com or by phone at 270-782-9325 and get started making tomorrow look brighter today in ACB!

This message has come to you from the ACB Leadership List:  a special List for use by the leadership of the American Council of the Blind.
This communication is privileged and may contain confidential information intended only for the person(s) to whom it is addressed.
Any unauthorized disclosure, copying, other distribution of this communication is strictly prohibited and may result in immediate removal from the List.  If you have received this message in error, please notify ACB immediately by writing to support at acb.org.