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10/19/2016 09:00 AMTwo-legged and four-legged friends are coming together to fight cancer. On Sunday, Oct. 30, humans and canines will be crowding the Guilford Fairgrounds for the Puppy Up walk, a comparative oncology fundraiser that raises money for cancer research.
Luke Robinson founded the Puppy Up Foundation back in 2010. After losing his dog, Malcolm, to cancer in 2006, Robinson wanted to try and educate more people about canine cancer. With his two remaining dogs, Robinson walked from Austin, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts to try to raise awareness.
“When Malcolm was first diagnosed, I didn’t know that dogs got cancer and we are talking about 10 years ago, so by the virtue of my effort and the efforts of others, now we are talking about cancer in dogs now,” he said.
While his mission may have begun with his dog, the Puppy Up Foundation now funds comparative oncology research as Robinson said human and canine cancers are virtually identical.
“Unfortunately the vast majority of people don’t understand that dogs get virtually get the same kind of cancers that people get,” he said. “So if you look at the vast majority of cancers in dogs, it looks the same and behaves the same as the cancer in people. What science has taught us is cancer is a cross-species disease.”
By studying cancer in dogs, Robinson said this provides a good model for human cancer and helps cut down on lab animal testing.
“When we look at a model to study cancer in people, we look to a dog and this is significant because there are a lot of people out there that don’t want animal testing,” he said. “The interesting thing about funding comparative oncology studies is dogs get cancer naturally, which means we don’t have to give dogs cancer—dogs get cancer all on their own. With lab animals that is not true.”
By helping to fund research into comparative oncology studies, Robinson said both humans and dogs benefit from the research. He pointed out a recent study the foundation helped fund through the Animal Medical Center, which was taking a look at non-resect able bladder cancer in dogs. While the study is still ongoing, treatments have already helped extend the life of some dogs with this cancer and may now more on to human trials.
“We live in a society where people value the lives of dogs differently than the lives of people,” he said. “Science doesn’t value lives differently. Cancer is cancer—it is cross-species.”
The foundation now holds walks around the country to raise awareness about comparative oncology and to raise money for research and education. Guilford Animal Control Officer Danielle Borrelli said this will be the fifth walk held on the shoreline and she is expecting a big turnout.
“Our largest walk to date had around 600 walkers,” she said. “We are hoping that this year, due to the increase in our promotions of the event, it will be even bigger. Our goal is to raise $35,000 this year, In the last four years, our walk has raised over $118,500.”
At the walk, a human cancer hero and a canine cancer hero are named to reinforce the partnership between the two species against cancer. Borrelli said there will be lots of fun activities as well including a band, food vendors, a silent auction, a canine costume contest, an agility course for dogs, and much more.
“We will also hopefully have a trainer who will be administering the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test,” she said. “My dog was certified as a Canine Good Citizen at the walk a few years ago, and it’s fun to do. We will have a groomer doing nail trims for the dogs. We’re also going to be setting up a photo area so people can take their official Puppy Up picture with their dogs.”
The Puppy Up walk will be held Sunday, Oct. 30 at the Guilford Fairgrounds. Registration begins at 11 a.m. and the walk runs from 1 to 3 p.m. Registration on site is $25 or people can register in advance for $20 at www.puppyup.org.