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KS-Dog’s DNA saves its life
Dog’s DNA saves its life
Last Update: 9/01/2009 6:21 pm
SALINA, Kansas – What happens when you have a dog but nobody seems to know its breed and that dog resembles a pit bull in a city where pit bulls are illegal? It’s a situation that’s been playing out in Salina and now has a happy ending.
Lucey is now relaxing at her north Salina home after an ordeal that almost forced her to leave town – or worse.
“It is just our procedure, if it’s a pit bull or looks just like a pit bull, if noone’s claimed it, then they are euthanized,†said Rose Base, Salina Animal Shelter coordinator.
Since 2005, owning a pit bull in Salina has been illegal. But that didn’t bother Angie Cartwright, who was convinced her dog Lucey wasn’t at all pit bull breed.
“She looked half pit and half Lab to me,†Cartwright said.
About two months ago, animal control officers got a call that a pit bull was on the loose. They located Lucey and brought her to the Salina Animal Shelter, holding her until they could get a professional opinion from a veterinarian.
“I took a look at the dog and I said, ‘I’m sorry but this dog looks like it is majority pit bull,†said Veterinarian Karen Young.
But a second opinion from a Veterinarian wasn’t enough for Cartwright.
“People who love animals, they’ll do anything to save their lives,†Cartwright said. “I was standing in the vet saying, ‘what else can we do, is there DNA?’ — I was being sarcastic.â€
But Young said yes and pulled blood from Lucey. She, along with Cartwright, was surprised by the results.
“Everyone was wrong including me,†Cartwright said. “She wasn’t just lab and pit bull. She wasn’t even a Lab. She was like a Heinz 57.â€
“We haven’t done that many DNA tests because most people aren’t willing to shell out the money to do it,†said Young. “I give her a lot of credit for taking that risk financially that she may still lose her dog.â€
“I wonder how many dogs passed away because the owners did not know about DNA,†Cartwright said.
Veterinarians say in the majority of cases, A DNA test is the most reliable way to determine a dog’s breed. There are 38 million mixed breed dogs in the United States.
Video Link
Dog's DNA saves its life - KSN TV
Dog’s DNA saves its life
Last Update: 9/01/2009 6:21 pm
SALINA, Kansas – What happens when you have a dog but nobody seems to know its breed and that dog resembles a pit bull in a city where pit bulls are illegal? It’s a situation that’s been playing out in Salina and now has a happy ending.
Lucey is now relaxing at her north Salina home after an ordeal that almost forced her to leave town – or worse.
“It is just our procedure, if it’s a pit bull or looks just like a pit bull, if noone’s claimed it, then they are euthanized,†said Rose Base, Salina Animal Shelter coordinator.
Since 2005, owning a pit bull in Salina has been illegal. But that didn’t bother Angie Cartwright, who was convinced her dog Lucey wasn’t at all pit bull breed.
“She looked half pit and half Lab to me,†Cartwright said.
About two months ago, animal control officers got a call that a pit bull was on the loose. They located Lucey and brought her to the Salina Animal Shelter, holding her until they could get a professional opinion from a veterinarian.
“I took a look at the dog and I said, ‘I’m sorry but this dog looks like it is majority pit bull,†said Veterinarian Karen Young.
But a second opinion from a Veterinarian wasn’t enough for Cartwright.
“People who love animals, they’ll do anything to save their lives,†Cartwright said. “I was standing in the vet saying, ‘what else can we do, is there DNA?’ — I was being sarcastic.â€
But Young said yes and pulled blood from Lucey. She, along with Cartwright, was surprised by the results.
“Everyone was wrong including me,†Cartwright said. “She wasn’t just lab and pit bull. She wasn’t even a Lab. She was like a Heinz 57.â€
“We haven’t done that many DNA tests because most people aren’t willing to shell out the money to do it,†said Young. “I give her a lot of credit for taking that risk financially that she may still lose her dog.â€
“I wonder how many dogs passed away because the owners did not know about DNA,†Cartwright said.
Veterinarians say in the majority of cases, A DNA test is the most reliable way to determine a dog’s breed. There are 38 million mixed breed dogs in the United States.
Video Link
Dog's DNA saves its life - KSN TV