Eleven years ago, across the country 3,000 Golden Retrievers set off on a mission to end canine cancer by participating in the Morris Animal Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study (GRLS). This groundbreaking study is the largest and most comprehensive prospective canine health study ever undertaken in veterinary medicine in the United States. Its purpose is to identify the nutritional, environmental, lifestyle and genetic risk factors for cancer and other diseases in all dogs. Each year, with the help of veterinarians and dog owners, the Foundation collects health, environmental and behavioral data on 3,000+ enrolled Golden Retrievers, known as “Heroes.”
This year the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study reached a significant milestone goal of 500 cumulative diagnoses of four major canine cancers – hemangiosarcoma, high-grade mast tumor, lymphoma and osteosarcoma. This large collection of prospective data and samples is available to researchers by request and at no charge, to help spur more studies seeking to address canine cancer and other health challenges in dogs. This milestone highlights the commitment of these Heroes and the Morris Animal Foundation to find answers to canine cancer.
However, these Heroes can’t do it alone, and need your support! On Saturday, August 26, 2023, you can lend a helping paw by joining us for a virtual walk to raise awareness and funds during the Morris Animal Foundation’s National Dog Day Virtual Walk! Together, we can spread awareness and support research solving urgent health threats affecting millions of dogs around the world, not just Golden Retrievers, but ALL dogs. Best yet, now through August 31, 2023 any gift to the virtual walk fundraiser is eligible to be matched, up to $75,000, making twice the impact for dogs everywhere!
Register today! Your walk can be done anywhere – at your favorite beach, hiking trail, park, or neighborhood. And it can be done with anyone, so invite your friends and family with two legs and four to walk as a pack with you! Whether you challenge yourself to walk the distance of a 3K to honor the 3,0000 Golden Retrievers enrolled in the study, or simply a mile, each step along the way supports their important mission to to understand the genetic, environmental, lifestyle and nutritional risk factors for cancer and other diseases in dogs in this on-going study.
To learn more about the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, including recent publications, companion studies, and nested studies, and links to their podcasts and Golden Zoomies webinar series, please visit MorrisAnimalFoundation.org. To learn more and to Register, please visit the National Dog Day Virtual Walk. For all the latests updates follow the Morris Animal Foundation on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram!
Asa and I are NOT Heroes enrolled in the study, but we are longtime supporters of the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. This year we dedicate our walk in memory of our dear friend Angel Chompski, Hero #59, whose legacy lives on in the information gained from her participation in the study. We are also walking because too many of our dear friends are fighting canine cancer. Please join us in walking on August 26, 2023 in the National Dog Day Virtual Walk.
