They call their dogs heroes, the people who enrolled their 3,044 golden retrievers in a lifetime study aimed at finding the causes and cures of cancers that kill dogs and people.
John Osheka of Conway, Beaver County, was proud to be one of the very first people to answer the call. His young dog became Hero Sundance No. 14 in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study conducted by the Morris Animal Foundation.
Mr. Osheka, president of the Greater Pittsburgh Golden Retriever Club, is also proud that 15 canine members of the local club are enrolled.
Sixty percent of this breed will get cancer at some point in their lives. That’s why the Denver-based Morris foundation picked them for the study, although research is expected to apply to all dogs, and even to people.
Six golden heroes have already died from cancer — including Sundance. All 3,044 dogs were younger than 2 years old when enrolled in the study in 2012-2015.
Sundance’s death in January was sudden and shocking. He was 4 years old. He spent his last morning doing what he loved best — attending Sunday search and rescue training with Mr. Osheka.
“He was working just a bit slower than usual. I thought he might have a cold,” he said.
After they got home, the dog began showing signs that something was seriously wrong. I was online when I saw Mr. Osheka asking his Facebook friends for prayers for Sundance, who was fighting for his life at an emergency veterinary hospital.
His updates said blood was flooding the dog’s heart. When veterinarians couldn’t stop the bleeding, Mr. Osheka chose to stop the suffering by having Sundance euthanized.
Veterinary specialists determined that Sundance had hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive cancer that attacks major organs. The bleeding was caused by a tumor on his heart.
Sundance didn’t die in vain. His veterinary records are an important part of the lifetime study that will continue for 10-14 years, until the last golden retriever dies.
Owners of dogs in the study fill out a 72-page questionnaire every year. Their veterinarians collect yearly samples of blood, urine, feces, hair and toenails.
Researchers want to know what the dogs eat, what they drink and where they sleep. They want to know about pipes in the houses where goldens live and the toys they carry around in their mouths.
Mr. Osheka got a golden retriever, Kiaih, when he retired eight years ago as superintendent of the New Brighton Area School District. After working 38 years as an educator, he was determined to continue living an interesting and productive life.
Though he hadn’t had a dog for 20 years, he decided to become active in search and rescue. Kiaih is more of a lap-sitter than a searcher, so four years later he adopted Sundance. Mr. Osheka recently adopted Sundance’s nephew, Sunny, a 1-year-old who shows enthusiasm and talent in search and rescue training.
Top volunteer
Here’s happy news from the Greater Pittsburgh Golden Retriever Club. Candace Verduce of Sewickley, owner of Hero Stoli No. 1773, has been given the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study Volunteer of the Year award.
In 2014 she put the photo faces of Sundance, Stoli and 98 other dogs on T-shirts that raised $25,000 for the lifetime study. Her 2016 shirt with a heart graphic has raised more than $9,000 so far.
In 2012 Mrs. Verduce lost two goldens to the same cancer that killed Sundance. Dixie, 12, and her son, Dusty, 9, died within 11 days of each other.
While golden retrievers all over the county go on a virtual walk May 22 to raise money for the Morris Animal Foundation, Mrs. Verduce and Stoli will be actually walking through North Park. They’ve raised $1,300 so far. To support them, go to http://morrisanimalfoundation.donordrive.com and click on “support a participant.” Go to www.morrisanimalfoundation.org for more information.
Spaghetti for cats
The Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser to benefit the Homeless Cat Management Team will run from 4 to 7 p.m. next Saturday at the Baldwin Borough Building, 3344 Churchview Ave., 15227. Dinner is $10, $5 for kids 5 and under. There will also be a bake sale and auctions. Go to www.homelesscat.org for tickets.
$10,000 Grant
Animal Friends has won a $10,000 Make A Difference Day award from USA Today and Newman’s Own.
Since 2012, Animal Friends staff and volunteers have participated in Make A Difference Day on the fourth Saturday in October. They held activities at the Ohio Township shelter with Boy Scout Pack 848, and Kate Pfeifer’s students at Pine-Richland Middle School raised $2,465 at Paws in the Park at Pine Community Park.
Therapets volunteers took their therapy dogs to hospitals and nursing homes, and Eagle Scout candidate Charles Boone delivered more than 600 pounds of pet food and supplies.
Linda Wilson Fuoco: lfuoco@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3064 or on Facebook.
First Published: May 14, 2016, 4:00 a.m.
