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October 18, 2005

Dear Samoyed Owner,

I am pleased to report that with the help of the Samoyed Club of America we have received funding from the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation to continue our study of diabetes mellitus in Samoyed dogs.

The purpose of the study is to search for genes associated with increased risk for diabetes in Samoyed dogs. Early genetic identification of carriers and dogs that are likely to develop diabetes will enable breeders to determine which dogs are not fit for breeding with one another, years before clinical signs of diabetes develop. The ability to predict the disease in young, unaffected, breeding dogs may help prevent diabetes mellitus in the Samoyed breed at large. It may also protect potential owners of diabetic dogs from long term care for an animal with an incurable disease.

The study requires drawing 15 ml of blood (3 tablespoons) from your dog. This can usually be arranged with your local veterinarian. Please contact me with your name, phone number, and e-mail address and provide me with the name of your veterinarian and with their phone number. I will contact you and your veterinarian and arrange for Fed-Ex pickup of the blood sample at a time convenient for you and your local veterinarian. There will be no expense involved for you.

Blood samples are being collected from any Samoyed diabetic dog and also from any Samoyed dog that is 7 years of age or older that does not have diabetes.

Thank you so much for your continued assistance and support over the years. This project would not be possible without the help and devotion of Samoyed dog owners.

Sincerely,

Rebecka S. Hess, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM

Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine

Phone: (215) 898-9427

E-mail: rhess@vet.upenn.edu