AR-News: (NY - US) Happy Birthday to Ithca pup: turns 16, survived research, cancer

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Dog day afternoon: Ithaca pup turns 16
15 canines gather to honor dog that survived research, cancer

By MICHELE REAVES
Journal Staff   
<IMG  SRC="http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20040223/localnews/458316-161552.jpg" WIDTH="248" HEIGHT="209" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="6400">
BILL WARREN/Journal Staff 


Linda Homco holds Cody, her 16-year-old Labrador retriever, during a birthday 
party she held for the dog Sunday at Kiwanis Hall on Lower Creek Road. About 
15 other dogs along with their owners attended the celebration.

ITHACA -- It's been a rough 16 years for Cody, a yellow Labrador Retriever, 
whose life began in a research lab at the University of Illinois at 
Urbana-Champaign. So a Sweet 16 birthday party Sunday afternoon seemed just the way to 
celebrate to his owner Linda Homco. Food, games, prizes and about 15 curious 
dogs kicked off festivities at the Kiwanis Hall on Lower Creek Road in the Town 
of Ithaca.

Cody was born with hip dysplasia, as part of a litter birthed for a research 
project. Early x-rays showed he had badly formed hips. But Homco still adopted 
him as a 1-year-old puppy, along with his brother, Bruce, from a group of 53 
put up for adoption. 

At age 7, Cody was diagnosed with skin cancer, which had already metasticized 
around his body. "They didn't think he was going to make it," Homco said of 
veterinarians in Texas. 

Doctors gave him less than a year to live, said Homco, a veterinary 
radiologist. But a friend, who specialized in veterinary oncology, suggested a 
chemotherapy treatment to help the dying dog. The treatments -- that can cost $3,000 
to $4,000 -- worked. Seven months later, Cody was cancer free.

Now in old age, he suffers from arthritis and reduced hearing capabilities. 

The difference in age and health was distinct as Cody, virtually a senior 
citizen slowly meandered around the hall. In contrast, Homco's younger yellow 
labrador retriever, Walker, and most of the other 15 dogs present at the party 
wrestled, explored and participated in a variety of games, including musical 
mats -- a spin-off of musical chairs. 

Cody's age translates to 112 human years and in larger animals this is a 
tough time. The average lifespan for retrievers is 12 to 14. 

"The aging process seems to be more accelerated," said Town of Ithaca 
veterinarian Brian Collins. 

Collins, who provided dog-friendly cake for the party, has also adopted dogs 
used in research. He and Homco agreed adopting a research dog is not the same 
as buying a puppy from a pet store. The animals are not housebroken, having no 
concept of indoors and outdoors, Collins added. 

Collins' dog, Anita, now 12, still paces in circles as she did 10 years ago 
when she was cooped up in a laboratory kennel. It also took a long time for her 
to become housetrained. Almost 600 dogs were used in some type of research at 
Cornell University between October 1, 2002 and Sept. 30, 2003, according to a 
the school's United States Department of Agriculture annual report. The dogs 
are used to "investigate human and canine disease, investigate basic questions 
in physiology and genetics, and in the instruction of veterinary students," 
according to Luce Guanzini, the technician at the Center for Research Animal 
Resources. 

"Some dogs in research and teaching must eventually be euthanized, in 
accordance with federal regulations, because prolonging their lives -- after certain 
research or educational procedures -- would not be humane," said H. Roger 
Segelken, a Cornell spokesman. In the past two years, 31 dogs have been adopted -- 
13 in 2002 and 18 in 2003, according to Guanzini. The adoption process begins 
with a rigorous interview process, Segelken said. Those interested in 
adopting a research dog can contact the Center for Research Animal Resources at (607) 
253-4082. Contact: <A HREF="mailto:mreaves at ithaca.gannett.com">mreaves at ithaca.gannett.com</A>
Originally published Monday, February 23, 2004

    
    
 
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