Collars to Help Beat Pet Cancer..More Pets Get Cancer than People

Cancer is more frequent in pets than people; charity collar sales help fund new cures.

Every year, millions of dogs and cats get cancer. To create new cures, bright orange Pet4Pets™ charity collars sold for the Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF) support the fight against pet cancer.

At least $2 from each charity collar sold, 30% of the retail cost, will go to clinical research on new therapies. Pets wear the decorative charity collars just as people wear wrist bands for good causes. The collars are sold nationwide at pet supply stores, such as PETCO, and online at htpp://www.pet4pets.com.

“We want to do all we can for our pets just as we do with the challenge of cancer in people,” said Dr. Gerald Post, a New York veterinary oncologist who leads the ACF. “We have seen an outpouring of support from the pet industry for this mission.”

Post proved that more can be done for pets when Smokey, his miniature schnauzer, was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma.
“Most dogs with this type of cancer survive only three months. Putting Smokey on an experimental cancer vaccine program plus chemotherapy gave us two and a half more years of companionship,” he said.

Now, Post hopes more people can enjoy more time with their pets by helping eradicate cancer, an idea getting support from pet product suppliers.

“We’re doing our part to sell Pet4Pets charity collars and help fund research into new cures for cancer,” said Paul Jolly, Vice President and Director of the PETCO Foundation. “Buying a charity collar is a fun, easy way to contribute to serious research and to show your compassion.”

The American Cancer Society predicts 1.44 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2007. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 6 million dogs and 6 million cats are diagnosed with cancer annually.

Pets get the same kinds of cancer as people, and often more of it – dogs get 35 times more skin cancer, four times more breast tumors, eight times more bone cancer, and twice as much leukemia.

Scientists studying pet cancer can also shed light on human disease and pets can benefit from new human cancer therapies. Post said the ACF focuses funding on new science that benefits both pets and people.

Pet4Pets™ is a Trademark of Genia LLC

Contact: Jamie Bishop, Genia, (402) 420-0909
Jamie.bishop@genia-intl.com