3rd Quarter 2022
NewfCare:
RESEARCH & RESCUE
Meet Guinness

In late 2021this puppy was sold by a producer to an elderly couple via an internet puppy sales site.  They were isolating in their home due to COVID and wanted a puppy for a companion. After a few months they decided they could not manage or train a Newf puppy and delivered the puppy to a veterinary clinic with their signed euthanasia order.  But the clinic refused to euthanize a young healthy Newfoundland and requested help from a client, a former Newf owner.  She agreed to provide foster care and contacted NCA Rescue to place him in a pre-screened adoptive home.  

This puppy now has lots of "news" - new owners, new toys, new classes, new name, etc. " He's super smart. He'll be starting doggy day care and official obedience training next week. He's been absolutely spoiled by us, our parents, and some of our coworkers with toys and treats. His favorite toy is probably his lion. He even sleeps with it! We decided on 'Guinness' for his name. ", report his new owners.

Rescue groups everywhere are experiencing a large uptick in surrenders as all of those "COVID puppies" reach adolescence, and the work at home reality of the pandemic is shifted back to a more traditional work model. If you are a rescue volunteer, make sure to make self-care a priority in your routine. Making time for yourself will help keep compassion fatigue and burnout at bay. If you are a rescue supporter, think about reaching out to a volunteer with a "pat on the back" or a note of support to let them know that you understand and appreciate the stress they are working under.

Your generous support of the NCA National Rescue Network means that we are able to provide financial support for veterinary care and to the hard working volunteers that provide transportation, foster care and adoption placement for Newfoundland Dogs in need, so there is one less worry on the overburdened shoulders of our volunteers.

If you are a rescue volunteer, know that there is support out there for you, and you don't need to "go it alone"





Charitable Trust Research Update
Grant 02880: Enhanced Surgical Margin Imaging with Polarization-sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography in Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Mammary Tumors
Laura Selmic, BVetMed, MPH, The Ohio State University

Surgery is the most common treatment used for skin and mammary cancer in dogs. Currently, a pathologist determines whether surgery has removed all cancer cells many days after the procedure.

Grant 02851-A: Development of Regional Anesthesia Techniques to Treat Chronic Painful Conditions of
the Stifle and Elbow in Dogs

Diego Portela, DVM, PhD, University of Florida

This project is focused on developing regional anesthesia techniques (local anesthesia) to block the pain sensation arising from the knee and elbow in dogs. The development of these techniques will focus on treating the pain associated with chronic osteoarthritis (joint pain) in dogs.

Grant 02682-A: The Effect of a Modified Approach on Early Weight Bearing in Dogs Following a Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture

Dominique Sawyere Hansford, BVSc, MS, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

In this study, dogs who undergo a modified approach to a TPLO will be evaluated to determine normalization of gait parameters and thigh circumference as compared to dogs who undergo a standard approach to a TPLO. Results from this study may change the approach to TPLO surgery in the future and provide canine patients with improved short- and long-term outcomes.

What We've Been Up To...
Advanced planning and sensitive conversations.

If your Newfoundlands are seen at multi-specialty practices, or you are close to a Veterinary School of Medicine, please consider having a conversation with your vet about the process for donating your dog's cadaver for research if they pass away. Especially if your dog has suffered from a chronic illness or orthopedic problem where research is currently underway.

One of the studies we have highlighted in this issue, Development of Regional Anesthesia Techniques to Treat Chronic Painful Conditions of the Stifle and Elbow in Dogs, may experience delays in reaching Phase 2 of their study because of the difficulty in procuring an adequate number of cadavers.

While none of us like to think about the eventuality of losing a beloved companion, knowing that your dog could make a contribution towards the future health of all dogs is a comfort.
OFA Health Survey
For the third time, the Newfoundland Club of America Charitable Trust, in partnership with The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), is conducting a comprehensive health surveys for Newfoundlands. The previous surveys were in 2010 and 2015. The goal of this survey is to get current health data on the Newfoundland since 2016.  

The survey will confidentially gather data which will provide a current base of statistics for making decisions to address diseases and other health issues which are occurring in the Newfoundland breed.

The NCA Charitable Trust Management Board (CTMB)is charged with reviewing proposed studies through the Research Advisory Committee and also funding those studies most beneficial to the health of the breed through the Newfoundland Health Challenge.

The future health of our breed depends on early identification of health problems and then funding research in those specific areas. Your input is vital to ensuring that our health and research dollars are spent wisely.

The submitted data for this survey goes directly to an OFA database which processes the information and compiles the statistics for review by any interested party. The data submitted for each dog is assigned a number and is treated confidentially – no names are used.

Over 1,000 dogs have already been submitted. If you have not had time to add your Newfoundlands to the survey, please take a moment now and submit them. 
Planned Giving
The NCA Charitable Trust has many planned giving opportunities, please contact us to learn more - - Learn More