Guide Dog Health Survey

Last Updated on: 1st October 2014, 03:17 pm

I received this on a guide dog list, and the message asked that it be distributed far and wide, so here’s my attempt.

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

I have not done the survey yet, so I don’t know if they were successful in creating an accessible survey, and I don’t know how long and involved it is. But for all who are interested, there it is.