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Dr. Terry Fossum, a board-certified veterinary surgeon with 35 years of experience as a clinical surgeon, researcher, academic administrator, and entrepreneur. Experience in clinical trial design, naturally occurring animal disease, drug and device development, animal health, and good laboratory practices. Proven track record as an executive leader, program developer, and fund-raiser. Broad experience in company start-up, R&D, corporate finance, consulting, and program management. Author of the best-selling veterinary textbook, Small Animal Surgery.
Dr. Fossum is currently the CEO and Co-founder of Dr. Fossum's Pet Care and the CEO of Epic Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Fossum was the Vice President of Research and Strategic Initiatives at Midwestern University and was formerly the Vice Chancellor for Global and Corporate Partnerships for the Texas A&M University System, as well as a co-founder of Rescue Therapeutics, Inc. (a TAMU spin-out company developing novel therapeutics for cancer and immune-mediated disease).
Dr. Fossum received her D.V.M. degree in 1982 from Washington State University, completed a surgical residency and Master of Science degree in 1986 from the Ohio State University and received a Ph.D. in Veterinary Immunology from Texas A&M University in 1992. She received Board Certification in Veterinary Surgery in 1987 and joined the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M later that year. In 1992, she completed a Ph.D. in Veterinary Microbiology.
Dr. Fossum also established the no longer active National Veterinary Cancer Registry (NVCR) in 2013, which is a national database formed to identify and register pets diagnosed with cancer in order to facilitate and promote medical treatments that lead to advances, higher success rates and eventual cures for cancer in pets and people. A joint effort between the CARE Foundation, Baylor University Medical Center (BUMC) at Dallas and the Texas Veterinary Oncology Group – the NVCR advances veterinary cancer research by gathering information from pet owners whose pets are diagnosed with a naturally occurring cancer and pairing them with emerging medical treatments.
Jaguar Health Announces Launch of the First U.S. Canine Cancer Registry and Canine Cancer Care Index
"Canine Cancer: Take C.H.A.R.G.E." (Canine Health And ReGistry Exchange) Based on Nationwide Gallup Poll of Pet Owners and Initial Assessment of More Than 35,000 Canine Medical Records
Initial Data from Gallup Poll of More Than 3,500 Dog Owners Suggest Nearly Five-Fold Greater Incidence of Canine Cancer Than Human Cancer; More Than 80 Percent of Respondents Believe a Registry is Needed to Help Dogs with Cancer
Take C.H.A.R.G.E. Scientific Advisory Board of Veterinary Oncologists and Experts Support Adoption of New Comparative Oncology Diagnostic Codes to Strengthen Registry Impact
Join us TODAY for Special NYC Media Event and Performance to Celebrate the Launch of Take C.H.A.R.G.E. on National Canine Cancer Awareness Day
SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2022 / Jaguar Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAGX) today announced the launch of Canine Cancer: Take C.H.A.R.G.E. (Canine Health And ReGistry Exchange), a first-of-its-kind national Canine Cancer Registry and Canine Cancer Care Index to provide the veterinary community and dog owners with important incidence and prevalence data to help guide canine cancer diagnosis and treatment decisions. Launched on the first National Canine Cancer Awareness Day and co-sponsored by Jaguar Animal Health, TogoRun, and Ivee, the initiative will initially access information about canine cancer from two key sources: a nationally representative multi-year Gallup survey of U.S. dog owners, and a retrospective review of more than 35,000 anonymous canine patient records uploaded into a secure customized database with more than 830 confirmed cancer diagnoses.
The Gallup survey, conducted in March 2022, estimated the prevalence - the percent of U.S. dogs with cancer in 2021 - was 3.4 percent, less than the approximately 5 percent prevalence in humans that year. The survey also found that the incidence - the percent of U.S. dogs newly diagnosed with cancer in 2021 - was 2.8 percent, which is approximately five times the 0.57 percent incidence of newly diagnosed cancer in humans that year. This finding is startling since researchers have assumed that canine cancer rates mirror human cancer rates.
"We established Take C.H.A.R.G.E. to fill a major research gap among the veterinary community and dog owners in the United States because, until now, there has been no nationally based dog owner survey or registry focused on canine cancer," said Jaguar Health founder, president and CEO Lisa Conte. "The information from Take C.H.A.R.G.E. will provide the first ever national representation of the incidence and prevalence of canine cancer and will help inform decisions that advance the quality of life of both dogs with cancer and their owners. The data may also provide insights to help better understand cancer in humans."
Other key findings from the Gallup survey include:
- More than 8 in 10 dog owners favored the creation of a canine cancer registry to better understand the disease and advance treatments
- After mixed-breed dogs, the 10 most represented breeds in the survey were: 1) Labrador, 2) Chihuahua, 3) Pitbull, 4) Golden Retriever, 5) German Shepherd, 6) Yorkshire, 7) Dachshund, 8) Boxer, 9) Beagle, and 10) Shih Tzu
- 68 percent decided not to treat their dog for cancer due to the age of their dog (54 percent), treatment cost (39 percent), treatment side effects (38 percent), or other reasons
- Across all dog owners, the vast majority (92 percent) said they did not have pet insurance at the time of diagnosis
- Nearly 3 in 4 dog parents who experienced canine cancer in the past 10 years were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall experience during treatment, even though only 39 percent reported that their dog was actually cured or went into remission
- While a high proportion of dog owners (46 percent) ‘strongly agreed' that their dog received high quality cancer care, only 30 percent strongly agreed that they knew what to expect during their dog's cancer treatment
- When asked to imagine how difficult it would be for members of their household to manage various chemotherapy-related side effects, the percent of all dog owners rating them as difficult or very difficult were: pain (60 percent), urinary incontinence (43 percent), diarrhea (41 percent), vomiting/nausea (39 percent), decreased appetite (20 percent), and fatigue/lethargy/lack of energy (19 percent)
- Dealing with canine cancer has a major impact on dog owners' well-being, including depression, anxiety, lack of sleep, and missing work or other obligations; for example, 63 percent of respondents reported feeling a lot of stress and 58 percent reported feeling down and depressed a lot during their dog's cancer
- Dog owners' ability to manage their dog's side effects from cancer treatment, such as pain, urinary incontinence, and diarrhea, is the best predictor of key well-being outcomes of the pet owner
- However, many dog parents find managing treatment side effects especially challenging:
- 92 percent of dog owners with no canine cancer experience and 65 percent of those with canine cancer experience said they knew little or nothing about side effects
- Only 22 percent ‘strongly agreed' that they have been able to manage their dog's cancer treatment side effects well, and only 29 percent have a clear understanding of potential side effects of treatment
- Having a veterinarian who cares about a dog's comfort, high quality of care, and thorough explanation of treatment options were most critical to overall treatment satisfaction, whereas management of side effects was the most important factor in determining the negative impact canine cancer has on dog parents' well-being
The complete results of the Take C.H.A.R.G.E. Gallup survey of pet owners can be found here.
Canine Cancer Care Index
In addition to assessing canine cancer incidence and prevalence, and dog owners' perceptions, emotions and experiences related to canine cancer, Gallup used data from the survey to calculate a Canine Cancer Care Index that reflects three dimensions related to canine cancer care: knowledge, quality of care, and canine comfort. Ranging from 0 (the worst possible score) to 100 (the best possible score), the Index will help assess whether canine cancer care experiences are improving, worsening, or staying the same for dog owners and their dogs over time. Gallup determined that the baseline for the Canine Cancer Care Index is 80.5 or a B-, indicating a clear need for improvement.
"Protecting dogs from cancer begins with knowing its impact by breed, type, age, gender, and location," said Take C.H.A.R.G.E. Scientific Advisory Board co-chair Dr. Terry Fossum, DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate ACVS. "The U.S. has lagged behind other countries where there are multiple canine health registries and there have been several attempts by other groups to establish a U.S. registry without success. We have to do better for our dogs and we believe Take C.H.A.R.G.E. finally will give us the tools we need to advance canine cancer care."
Take C.H.A.R.G.E. Scientific Advisory Board
The Take C.H.A.R.G.E. Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) includes eight leading U.S. veterinarians specializing in canine oncology and surgery. One of the SAB's first and most important activities is driving adoption of a consistent canine cancer diagnostic coding system and supporting the goals of the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute Comparative Oncology Program.1 Comparative oncology is the study of naturally developing cancers in pet dogs and other animals as models for human cancers. It provides a novel approach to generate new information about cancer, for example environmental risk factors, genetic determinants, and evaluation of new treatment approaches. In support of comparative oncology, the SAB is encouraging veterinary clinics to adopt coding practices that align with the recently published Veterinary International Classification of Diseases for Oncology Canine Tumors First Edition, or Vet-ICD-O-canine-1,2 which is based largely on the most recent version of the human cancer coding system, ICD-O-3.2.3
"The heart of any cancer registry is its cancer coding system," said SAB co-chair Dr. Craig Clifford, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology). "As we continue to enhance the Take C.H.A.R.G.E. registry, we will incorporate Vet-ICD-O-canine-1, as it is a user-friendly, easily accessible, comprehensive resource for veterinary doctors, researchers, and specialists. This will allow us to make more ‘apples to apples' comparisons of canine cancers in the United States and other countries and regions, which in turn will help us better understand and treat canine cancer."
The Take C.H.A.R.G.E. SAB members include:
- Dr. Craig Clifford, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), SAB Co-chair. Director of Blue Pearl Science and Medical Oncologist at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Malvern, PA.
- Dr. Theresa (Terry) W. Fossum, DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, SAB Co-chair. CEO and Co-founder of Dr. Fossum's Pet Care and CEO of Epic Veterinary Specialists.
- Dr. Susan Ettinger, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), also known as Dr Sue Cancer Vet®. Practicing veterinary cancer specialist, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Fidu, a teleconsulting company for veterinarians.
- Dr. Trina Hazzah, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), CVCH. President and co-founder of the Veterinary Cannabis Society, the first US-based non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization building awareness of cannabis as medicine for pets.
- Dr. Chad M. Johannes, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM, Oncology). Associate Professor, Colorado State University, ACVIM Oncology Specialty President Elect.
- Dr. Doug Thamm, V.M.D., Diplomate ACVIM (Oncology). Barbara Cox Anthony Professor of Oncology at Colorado State University and Director of Clinical Research for the Flint Animal Cancer Center.
- Dr. David Vail, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology). Professor of Oncology, Barbara A. Suran Chair in Comparative Oncology, Director of the Barbara A. Suran Comparative Oncology Research Institute, University of Wisconsin.
- Dr. Rachel Venable, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology). Owner, Pet Cancer Care Consulting, Arizona.
Take C.H.A.R.G.E. Website
Data from the Registry will be accessible to the public via an interactive, easy-to-use dashboard on the Take C.H.A.R.G.E. website, with open access for clinical practitioners and academia to all canine cancer medical record data for research purposes. The Registry will continue to grow as veterinary clinics and pet owners upload medical records of dogs with cancer at no cost to the clinic or pet owner. The data is de-identified, anonymized, and protected following General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines to ensure participant information privacy.
Take C.H.A.R.G.E. will also focus on raising awareness of canine cancer by promoting the first annual National Canine Cancer Awareness Day on May 23rd so dog owners will have access to the latest information on types of cancers by breed, symptoms, and treatment options.
Take C.H.A.R.G.E. SAB member Dr. Sue Ettinger said, "Recent advances in chemotherapy, as well as advances in managing chemotherapy side effects such as vomiting, poor appetite, or diarrhea, should be discussed with veterinarians and canine oncologists to ensure dogs are benefiting from the latest canine cancer science."
Take C.H.A.R.G.E. Launch Event
Dog owners and members of the veterinary community are encouraged to visit TakeChargeRegistry.com for more information, including how to upload canine cancer medical records and how clinics can participate in the Registry. The public and media also are invited to a special event and performance by multiple Broadway stars, including Academy-award nominated actor Chazz Palminteri and Grammy-award winning actress Jenn Colella, at Madison Square Park in New York City on Monday, May 23rd, 2022, from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. EDT to celebrate the launch of Take C.H.A.R.G.E. Those who cannot attend the event can still watch virtually here.
About Jaguar Health, Inc., Jaguar Animal Health, Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. & Napo Therapeutics S.p.A.
Jaguar Health, Inc. is a commercial stage pharmaceuticals company focused on developing novel, plant-based, non-opioid, and sustainably derived prescription medicines for people and animals with GI distress, specifically chronic, debilitating diarrhea. Jaguar Animal Health is a tradename of Jaguar Health. Jaguar Health's wholly owned subsidiary, Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., focuses on developing and commercializing proprietary plant-based human gastrointestinal pharmaceuticals from plants harvested responsibly from rainforest areas. Jaguar Health is the majority shareholder of Napo Therapeutics S.p.A., an Italian corporation established by Jaguar Health in Milan, Italy in 2021 that focuses on expanding crofelemer access in Europe.
For more information about Jaguar, please visit https://jaguar.health. For more information about Napo Pharmaceuticals, visit www.napopharma.com.
About TogoRun
TogoRun is an award-winning, full-service strategic communications agency specializing in global health and well-being. Woman-owned, independent, and named after Togo, the hero sled dog from the 1925 Race for Mercy, TogoRun works in partnership with clients committed to advancing innovative solutions that support a healthier planet, close health disparity gaps, and embrace a vision of equitable abundance. TogoRun is part of the GMJ Global network of companies and a proud signatory of CEO Action of Diversity & Inclusion. The TogoRun Team has collectively been responsible for more than 220 industry awards. Visit Togo here: www.TogoRun.com.
About Ivee
Ivee (Intelligent Veterinary Enhanced Experience), is an animal health data-focused software company and is a product of Snowcap Innovations Inc. For more information about Ivee, visit www.Iveesoftware.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements." These include statements regarding Jaguar Health's expectation that it will host a launch event May 23, 2022 for the Take C.H.A.R.G.E. initiative, the belief that Take C.H.A.R.G.E. data may provide insights to help better understand cancer in humans, and the expectation that the Registry will continue to grow. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "aim," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "contemplate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this release are only predictions. Jaguar has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond Jaguar's control. Some of the factors that could affect our actual results are included in the periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by applicable law, Jaguar does not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
Prepare yourself for every step of the dog adoption process and make your new best friend’s life the happiest and healthiest it can be with these fostering and adoption tips and tales from dog-loving expert Victoria Schaffer.
Adopting a dog and making them the newest member of your family can sometimes feel like a daunting task. How do you know what dog is right for you? What do you need to know about the adoption process? And how do you make sure your new best friend has the best life possible while they’re settling into their new home? Pup Culture is here to help.
Pup Culture is a well-deserved ode to man’s best friend. Fostering-extraordinaire Victoria Lily Shaffer presents a wide-ranging collection of dog adoption and fostering tales, tips, handy checklists, heartwarming stories, and Q&A’s from both celebs—like Dan Levy, Glenn Close, and David Letterman—as well as everyday dog lovers.
These inspiring stories and lessons dig deep into the beloved relationships between dogs and humans, from exploring the harrowing journey of finding your perfect “fur-ever” companion to spotlighting the selfless, dedicated community of rescuers that help save and change lives.

RALEIGH, NC (August 5, 2021) - The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the health of all dogs and their owners, announces that Dr. Cynthia Otto is the recipient of the 2021 Asa Mays, DVM Excellence in Canine Health Research Award.
Named for Dr. Asa Mays, a member of CHF’s first Board of Directors in 1995, the award is a biennial honor presented to a research investigator who demonstrates meritorious achievements in furthering the mission of identifying, characterizing, and treating canine disease and ailments. Stephanie A. Montgomery, DVM, PhD, DACVP, Chair of CHF’s Scientific Review Committee, will present the award during the 2021 AKC Canine Health Foundation National Parent Club Canine Health Conference on Saturday, August 14. The conference, sponsored by Purina, will follow a virtual format this year and features distinguished researchers presenting the latest medical and scientific advancements in canine health.
The cornerstone of Dr. Otto’s AKC Canine Health Foundation funded research has been the 9/11 Medical Surveillance Study, now in its 20th year. Since 2001, Dr. Otto has received almost $600,000 in funding to study the physical and behavioral consequences of search and rescue dog deployment to the 9/11 disaster sites. To date, the work has produced 11 peer-reviewed publications describing the short and long-term effects of deployment on toxicology, behavior, mortality, the dog-handler relationship, and more. Findings will help us protect not only the health and safety of search and rescue dogs, but provide valuable translational information benefitting the health of human handlers and first responders.
“Dr. Otto’s groundbreaking research and dedication to advancing the health of working dogs and their handlers exemplifies the AKC Canine Health Foundation’s mission and vision,” says Dr. Montgomery. “This One Health approach can accelerate medical discoveries that impact both species. We are honored to present Dr. Otto with this award and look forward to our continued collaboration to benefit the health of all dogs and their owners.”
Data analysis from the 9/11 Medical Surveillance Study is ongoing with funding through CHF Grant 02322: Analysis of the Health, Behavioral, and Longevity Data Collected in the 9/11 Medical Surveillance Longitudinal Study. This work is part of CHF’s $11.4M active research portfolio encompassing all aspects of canine health. View CHF’s Research Grants Portfolio at akcchf.org/portfolio.
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About CHF
Since 1995, the AKC Canine Health Foundation has leveraged the power of science to address the health needs of all dogs. With more than $62 million in funding to date, the Foundation provides grants for the highest quality canine health research and shares information on the discoveries that help prevent, treat and cure canine diseases. The Foundation meets and exceeds industry standards for fiscal responsibility, as demonstrated by their highest four-star Charity Navigator rating and GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. Learn more at www.akcchf.org.
THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB’S WILDLY POPULAR
‘DOWN AND BACK’ PODCAST RETURNS FOR SEASON 2
New York, NY – The American Kennel Club (AKC®) is proud to announce the return of the popular podcast series, “Down and Back: Stories From the American Kennel Club Archives”. Season two kicks off today.
AKC Historian Bud Buccone returns with all-new stories of purpose-bred dogs that will continue to delight a new generation of listeners. The first episode, “Top Dogs and Underdogs,” explores the 2020 breed popularity list, a favorite topic among the dog-owning public. Other episodes this season include: “How Dogs Become Recognized,” “Dogs of Myth and Legend,” “Canine Heroes of 9/11,” and “Form Follows Function.” Each episode is a riveting look into the history and milestones of our canine best friends.
“No one tells a story quite like Bud Buccone,” said Gina DiNardo, AKC Executive Secretary. “We’re thrilled at how well-received season one was and cannot wait to continue bringing the world of dogs to people in this innovative way.”
“Down and Back: Stories From the American Kennel Club Archives” can be found on all podcast platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, Tunein, Castbox, Google Podcast) and on akc.org/podcast TODAY!
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About the American Kennel Club
Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization, which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its more than 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 22,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred and mixed breed dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite and the AKC Museum of the Dog. AKC Clubs comprise America’s largest rescue network. For more information, visit www.akc.org.
AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.
Become a fan of the American Kennel Club on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @AKCDogLovers