Breed test may help owners
of mixed breed dogs
HAS your dog’s breed got you puzzled? Barking up the family tree just got easier with cutting-edge DNA testing for mixed-pedigree pups now available to pet parents in all of PetCo’s nearly 950 stores across the USA. The Canine Heritage Breed Test (CHBT) and Canine Heritage XL Breed Test, which use DNA technology to genetically identify the make-up of mixed-breed dogs, have been available online at www.petco.com/dna and in limited markets since July 15, 2008.
“We’ve had some great results from the Canine Heritage Breed Tests since we started offering them online and in select stores earlier this year (2009) and we’re so pleased to make them easily accessible to even more pet parents now in all of our stores,” said John Dunn, PetCo vice-president for pet services. “We’ve now seen, first-hand, how these tests help improve animal wellbeing and strengthen the human-animal bond. They’re not only safe and fun, they also help our customers take better care of their dogs by learning more about the pet’s heritage and adjusting their nutrition, healthcare and training programs accordingly.”
Since the initial launch of the tests earlier this year, many pet parents have yielded some surprising results – like those of Bella – a newly adopted mixed-breed puppy owned by John Cheney, PetCo’s national pet services field director. Originally abandoned in Georgia, she made her way to a local dog shelter in the Northeast and was adopted by the Cheney family – who were told Bella was a Labrador retriever and boxer mix. As soon as the breed test was available through PetCo, Cheney decided to find out Bella’s breed background so he could learn how to better care for her. Four weeks after the DNA swab was mailed to the laboratory, the Cheneys learned of Bella’s true background – Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Chow Chow and Poodle.
“Canine Heritage Breed Testing is a great service PetCo offers to anyone that has adopted a mixed-breed dog. In some cases it may explain some behaviors or medical preconditions the dog may have, which is truly a plus when caring for any pet,” said Cheney. “Bella is a great addition to our family - she loves people, long runs on the beach, all her toys, and has claimed the leather chair in our family room. And now, we know the true background of all her lovable character traits.”
Developed by MetaMorphix, Inc. (MMI), a world leader in DNA-based marker systems, the non-invasive CHBT test includes a cheek swab that is rubbed along the inside of a dog’s cheek to collect cells. The swab is then mailed to MMI’s lab for DNA analysis. In four to six weeks the pet owner will receive the results on a certificate suitable for framing.
PetCo customers are offered two purchasing options: They can have their pets swabbed by an associate trained through a program developed by the two companies, or they may choose to purchase the dog DNA test and perform the swabbing at home. The standard CHBT test, which can detect more than 50 breeds, costs $69.95. The expanded XL version, which can detect more than 100 breeds, sells for $119.95.
The PETCO Foundation, a non-profit organization, has raised more than $45 million since its inception in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the foundation, PetCo works with and supports more than 5500 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 200,000 adoptable animals every year.
