1. The Yukon Quest sled dog race — which kicks off on Saturday in Whitehorse — isn't quite the epic race it used to be, and some young mushers say they're just fine with that. The annual event has changed dramatically in recent years, with the end of the 1,000-mile (1,600-kilometre) international race between Whitehorse and Fairbanks, in favour of shorter races held within the Yukon. Some mushers also say that challenges keep mounting for people who want to participate in the sport, but what they see happening at a community level has contributed to a sense of optimism about the future. (via CBC News)
2. As wolves have transformed into dogs, they’ve integrated into humans’ lives in more ways than any other animal. Dogs have been herding, hunting and guarding alongside people for thousands of years, and have been long valued for their abilities to find drugs and explosives, or locate missing persons. More recently, with growing pressures on the environment and many species on the brink of extinction, dogs are increasingly helping with conservation projects around the world. From oceans to deserts, forests to wetlands, dogs can find rare, elusive or tiny species in vast landscapes, help enforce environmental laws, assist in controlling invasive species and much more. (via Discover Wildlife)
3. The Ukrainian military has equipped its well-trained canines with cutting-edge radiation detection technology to ensure safe operations of soldiers. The device, created by England-based firm Kromek, is strapped around a dog’s body and can be linked to the mobile devices of handlers. If the dog gets too close to a contaminated area, the detector will immediately send an alarm to operators, who will be about 100 feet (30 meters) away. The radiation detection tech can help military commanders decide whether or not it is safe for troops to proceed to a specific area and carry out their missions. (via The Defense Post)
4. Recent studies have shown that nearly half of dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer, making early screening a crucial precaution for dog owners of any breed. Researchers in the College of Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine have developed a new, noninvasive, rapid test using a dog's urine that allows for potential early detection of cancer. Currently, there are three genomic blood tests that can test for tumor or cancer proteins, but no noninvasive rapid tests using urine currently exist. The team's findings were published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. (via Phys Org)
5. The first anti-aging pill for dogs is now in clinical trials, and researchers hope it will pave the way for lifespan-extending drugs for people. San Francisco-based veterinary medicine startup Loyal developed the chewable pill, and is waiting on approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an injectable anti-aging drug for large dogs. The drug is expected to be most successful in larger breeds, which tend to die younger. The pill, which works by altering metabolic processes, will be tested on 1,000 dogs over 10 years old and weighing at least 14 pounds. The dogs will be monitored over four years, and their lifespan and quality of life compared to those given a placebo. (via Semafor, Freethink)
6. On this blustery morning, Jojo wears a hooded jacket topped with a redundant pair of ears that flop, to comedic effect, over his own. He sniffs and pees like a guy without a care in the world. Jojo has no idea how narrowly he just escaped euthanasia, thanks to Rita Blackwell and the engaged community she’s built on Instagram. Blackwell has mastered the art of the shelter dog post as a volunteer predominantly at Lancaster Animal Care Center, which looks a bit like a preschool with its colorful murals of flowers and pets. Yet it also has one of the highest euthanasia rates across L.A. County. Her posts get the attention of celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and good Samaritans such as Terri Jackson, who stands by to transport Jojo to Frosted Faces Foundation, a San Diego-area rescue. (via The Los Angeles Times)
7. A new study finds that getting a family dog is linked with a big jump in physical activity in younger kids – especially in young girls. The finding is part of a growing body of research investigating how dogs can boost health, not just for kids but for people of all ages. Australian researchers followed 600 children over a three-year period, starting at preschool age. Half of the children didn't have a dog. About 204 kids had a dog the entire time, while 58 kids got a dog during the study period — and sadly, 31 kids lost a dog. That created a natural experiment for researchers to see how dog ownership affected the kids' activity levels. (via National Public Radio)
8. If you believe all the hype, having a dog can contribute to healthy aging. “They boost quality of life,” according to an AARP article titled “10 reasons to get a dog when you’re over 50.” “Dog ownership is associated with better cardiovascular health, decreased loneliness and lowered likelihood of depression,” Psychology Today says, and a study included in the National Library of Medicine database reached similar conclusions. (via The Los Angeles Times, AARP, Psychology Today, National Library of Medicine)
9. Weeks after Maria Sandomenico’s Chihuahua, Luigi, died last August, she shared a long post in a Facebook group for residents of the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn about how she was struggling to come to terms with her adopted rescue dog’s passing. Ms. Sandomenico said she turned to Facebook when Luigi died because she didn’t want to burden her friends with her feelings, and because she craved connection with others who had experienced the death of a pet. She was surprised by how many people responded to her post saying they were also grieving the loss of an animal companion and didn’t know where to find support. (via The New York Times)
Dog Photo of the Week
Photo by Howe London, “Pet Beds That Might Be Nicer Than Your Own” (via The New York Times)
Dog Video of the Week
By YanasaTV, “Herding Dog Demonstration | Border Collie Working Dog”.