Schnauzer Shorts

Edited & Published by Dan Kiedrowski

Circulation Manager: Denis Shaw

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The AMSC
P.R.A.
Project Update

by John Hoffman

The PRA Research Has Begun!

Dr. Qi Zhang, the researcher the Baker Institute hired to try to find the defective gene which causes progressive retinal atrophy ("PRA") in Miniature Schnauzers, began on February 1, 1996. Dr. Zhang will first investigate a gene linked to a form of retinitis pigmentosa in humans that bears some similarities to the form of PRA found in Miniature Schnauzers.

The research agreement among Cornell University (on behalf of the Baker Institute), the American Miniature Schnauzer Club, and the American Kennel Club provides for three years of research at a cost of about $175,000. The AKC is paying half of the cost. The rest has been contributed by all-breed kennel clubs, Miniature Schnauzers Clubs, breeders and exhibitors. Almost 250 clubs and individuals in the United States, Canada and Australia have contributed.
Contributions Are Still Needed!

Now that we have succeeded in raising the $175,000 budgeted for the planned three years of research, we need to raise another $50,000 in contingency funds. We may need the additional money to complete the research if it has not been finished at the end of three years but enough progress has been made to warrant continuing the research. We may also need to help subsidize the first round of tests which will inevitably be the most expensive. If everything goes well and we do not need the contingency funds for the PRA Project, they will be a good head start toward raising money to research other health problems the breed faces.

Please continue to mail donations to the Co-Chair of the Fund-Raising Committee:

John Hoffman
4035 Robin Hill Road
Flintridge, CA 91011-3811

Contributors who can avail themselves of a tax deduction for the contribution should make checks payable to the AKC Canine Health Foundation. For the time being, it would be helpful if individuals and clubs who will not receive a tax benefit from making the contribution would make their checks payable to the AMSC. In either event, please mark the memo section of the check "Miniature Schnauzer PRA Fund."

Finally, a word to European and Asian Schnauzer Shorts readers: Please ask the Schnauzer clubs in your country to contribute to the PRA Project, as U.S., Canadian and Australian Schnauzer clubs have done. PRA is not just an American problem; and any test for PRA will benefit all breeders world-wide.

For more information on PRA Read On!

View the Top 50 Miniature Schnauzers for 1995

Any questions that we can help you with, please feel free to contact us anytime.

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