A very belated farewell to a good friend and service dog.

Once again I have to report on the loss of a best friend, companion and assistant.
I do so more than one year after the fact because his loss hit me harder than any other before.

Honoring the Life of the perfect service Dog

Born of an inglorious conception into the dust, heat, filth and a cluttered backyard in Southern California he spent the first eight years of his life in an equally filthy, dirty, hot and uninspiring backyard of a dilapidated house.

Cats, squirrels and rats were his companions while human contact was a rare exception – except for more or less infrequent visits by two children of his “family”.

Not a good life for a Boxer that craves human company and affection!

In fact, that is not a good life for any dog.

Tys on guard duty.

Then it got even worse. One day the mother packed children and Boxer in to her car and headed for the nearest animal shelter. There she surrendered him to be killed.

The children fought desperately for his life. To no avail. No help, no compassion other than the sympathy of bystanders who treated the mother with scorn and contempt when she tried to explain her action:

“I am sick and tired to see his ugly black face sitting in my backyard.”

But you put him there, you despicable piece of human garbage!

I first saw him four hours before his scheduled execution.

He greeted me with the usual Boxer exuberance inviting himself to a round of play. Yet, when I looked straight into his eyes to explore his personality, they changed in an instant from happy, open and friendly to guarded, reserved and defensively stubborn.

“Oh, not with me, my friend”, I told him.

“You just lost your last chance of redemption”, I added walking away from his kennel.

Something prompted me to look back from 15 to twenty yards away. What I saw was amazing.

A dark paw was protruding as far as possible from between the bars of his kennel door vigorously waving up and down. I HAD to return to the death candidate.

“Hey, you just saved your life. But do not ever do this again”, I warned him walking away a second time.

And that is how Tyson the unloved, unwanted, neglected and abandoned Boxer from a filthy backyard from one of the most run down neighborhoods of the San Fernando Valley came into my life. He eventually morphed into my loyal, well behaved, gentle, considered and treasured service dog. His undying dedication to faithfully serving me in my lonely life lasted until the very last moments of the six years he gave me the honor of sharing his life and companionship with me.

Tyson was a wild man at first. He had a tendency to run away, was scared of everything unfamiliar and shunned the company of humans for many months. He even stayed away from me most of the time.

It took the better part of a year to teach him the basics of living in a house (though he strangely was house broken from the first moment on) and to rid him of fear of the unknown.

The stubbornness I first noticed at the shelter stayed with him causing chaos and disharmony until I accidentally discovered the key to his heart. After one of his infamous episodes of stubborn resistance that forced me to “boss” him unceremoniously into the car, I took his head into my two hands to explain to him the futility of his resistance. Unexpectedly and in the blinking of an eye it happened: His eyes glazed over and he smacked his lips in delight.

At that memorable instant Tyson, the wild man, became Tys, a Boxer that had revealed the way to his heart and undying dedication. From then on he was easy to train. In fact, he almost trained himself by diligently observing what pleased me and by then acting accordingly. It was his way to thank me for giving him what he had been missing for so many years: Affection and close contact with humans.

I am disabled for life with a fatal heart condition that can kill me at any moment. I also live all alone without relatives nearby. Getting sick and incapacitated even from a common cold can leave me helpless and unable to summon help. Tys understood that perfectly well.

When I stricken with a very, very bad cold that made me fall into coma like sleep over and over again for two nights and three days, I found Tys sitting straight up right next to me every time I awoke. His black face had a serious and worried look on it. He would carefully and closely examine my face, sniffing my nasal area most deliberately.

Thereafter I taught him the skills needed to become a licensed service dog. No, not one of the phony service dogs with a cheap, glaring service dog patch that one can purchase on the Internet. 

He had to do better.

Tys learned everything a real service dog must know to pass the rigorous test given by the local animal control service. Tys, grandpa Tys for his was already past his prime, passed his test with flying colors and became a licensed California service dog – SM#09. He wore his small official license tag with pride. It also opened an entirely new world to him that was closed and unreachable for so long. He enjoyed his new life immensely. It lasted for about five years. Five happy years for a happy dog. He was known as the "happy dog" in our local park - just as his predecessor Windsor.

But it is one of the tenets of life that happiness never can last forever. There seems to be a dark power that eventually will attempt to destroy it. Tys would not have any part of it. In 2012 he showed the first signs of myelopathy. Yet he

continued to run around in the park chasing squirrels even after his hind legs started to fail him. 

He stood up like a man to eat when they barely could hold him up. His condition worsened in early 2013. He needed a wheelchair to get around despite expensive treatments, chiropractic care and his undying fighting spirit. He simply refused to give up.

Tys served me for close to seven years with great dedication and loyalty.
He fought degenerative myelopathy for more than one year while still attending to his duties. Fully paralyzed on his hind legs, incontinent and increasingly unable to use his front legs to pull his wheelchair he carried on. A virulent, fast moving cancer finally did him in.
Tys died on September 27, 2013 at the age of 14 years and four months or slightly older.

His loss hit me harder than any other before because Tys was a fighter. He fought for his good life and to remain my companion to his last breath.
Even the vet who had never seen him before and knew nothing about him stated: "He is a fighter, a mighty fighter."

In fact, Tys, my incomparable, extraordinarily loyal and faithful companion and servant did not leave me without doing one last act of service and love.
Knowing that I am all alone, always in mortal danger of a quick demise and that I need assistance, Tys worked the greatest of all miracles: He managed to be reborn or at least to transfer his soul into a look-alike.

Nero is the new Tys.

It takes a good close look to see the difference.

Only the age difference gives it away. Tys and Nero look so strikingly alike that many of Tys' friends in the park believed that Tys was walking again when they first saw Nero.
No wonder, the mind and soul of Tys resides within Nero. He has taken on Tyson's personality and tasks. He became a trained, state licensed service dog like his two predecessors.

When I follow my three assistants, friends and companions, I do so in the certain knowledge that no man can experience greater blessings than a succession of three dedicated, selfless, loyal and faithful friends beyond the grave.
PJJ

Degenerative Myelopathy - Statistics To Consider

In the last seventeen years I have had two Boxers with symptoms of myelopathy. One was a confirmed carrier of the mutant gene. The other remains untested. Both were rescued from an animal shelter.
Both lived past 14 years.

That's pretty good for a Boxer and many medium sized breeds. Larger dogs have generally shorter life spans than small dogs.

Since myelopathy  does not manifest itself until a dog has reached his senior years, it is almost impossible to determine whether a larger dog you want to rescue is at risk of myelopathy.
It is also highly impractical when you adopt from a shelter because the dogs are not held until test results of a myelopathy test are available. It can take up to 3 months to get the results.

However, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals has published a list of breed related test results that can give an interested party some statistic hints of the chances for myelopathy carriers in certain breeds. For Boxers, for example, statistics show this picture:

BOXER
AT RISK	1054	45%
CARRIER	880	38%
CLEAR	396	17%
TOTAL TESTED	2330

It is therefore reasonable to expect that almost half of all Boxers are most likely to develop myelopathy at a higher age. And about 80 percent of all Boxers carry the mutated gene in one combination or other. Only 17 percent are not at risk. This is confirmed by my own two Boxers. Both developed myelopathy at about 13 years of age.

These statistics show indirectly something else: Popular breeds (that sell well) are very likely to be at risk or carry the mutated gene. The popularity of breeds leads many 'backyard' breeders to produce puppies by random choice of partners. They do not test for the gene before selecting breeding partners. The more popular a breed the higher the percentage of backyard bred dogs with all sorts of genetic disorders.

That is the irresponsible part of backyard breeding. I would apply stringent legal restrictions on it that would 'encourage' breeders to act more responsibly. But that is mainly wishful thinking as matters stand right now.
Even feeble attempts to get a handle on backyard breeding have largely failed. One of the consequences are animal shelters that are overflowing with unwanted dogs and cats. I just come from one that houses more than 370 dogs and close to 140 cats. Yesterday the same shelter had over 411 canine inmates.

Oh, how I love backyard breeders.

If you want to check your favorite dog breed for inherent chances of myelopathy visit http://www.offa.org/stats_dna.html?dnatest=DM
PJJ

My service dog Tys testing his new Doggon Wheels

Here is a brief video of Tys taking his first steps in his brand new wheelchair. It will take a while before he really gets the hang of it.

But it beats not being able to walk at all.

We have some newer videos showing him interact with other dogs. Will post soon.
Padre

Dog Breeds Affected By Degenerative Myelopathy

Here is a list of seventeen dog breeds that are prone to get degenerative myelopathy  at a later age. Other dogs may acquire the disease as well. The illness is caused by a mutated gene. Not all dogs with the mutated gene will eventually get myelopathy. Some dogs have two of the mutated genes (one from mother and father each), some have only one. The majority of the dogs with two mutated genes will eventually develop myhelopathy - usually at 8 to 10 years of age and above.
This disease is fatal. There is no known cure at this time despite of claims by websites that hawk phony service dog patches and cures for DM.
The best a dog owner can hope for at this time is to slow down the progression of the illness. Most dogs with DM are euthanized at around 8 to 12 months after first diagnosis. Some can persevere longer and enjoy some sort of a 'new' life in a doggie wheelchair.
There is a test for the disease. It costs $ 65.00 and can be ordered from the Orthopedic foundation For Animals (offa.org).

• American Eskimo Dogs
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Borzoi
• Boxers
• Cardigan Welsh Corgi
• Chesapeake Bay Retrievers
• German Shepherd Dog
• Golden Retriever
• Great Pyrenees
• Kerry Blue Terriers
• Pembroke Welsh Corgis
• Poodle
• Pug
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
• Shetland Sheepdog
• Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers
• Wire Fox Terrier

The National Academy of Sciences of the United States reported in an article on the research of numerous scientists from a number of famous American universities on the most recent research into the causes of DM and possible treatments. The article was presented by James E. Womack, Texas A&M University under the title

"Genome-wide association analysis reveals a SOD1 mutation in canine degenerative myelopathy that resembles amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease prevalent in several dog breeds. Typically, the initial progressive upper motor neuron spastic and general proprioceptive ataxia in the pelvic limbs occurs at 8 years of age or older. If euthanasia is delayed, the clinical signs will ascend, causing flaccid tetraparesis and other lower motor neuron signs. DNA samples from 38 DM-affected Pembroke Welsh corgi cases and 17 related clinically normal controls were used for genome-wide association mapping, which produced the strongest associations with markers on CFA31 in a region containing the canine SOD1 gene.

SOD1 was considered a regional candidate gene because mutations in human SOD1

can cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an adult-onset fatal paralytic neurodegenerative disease with both upper and lower motor neuron involvement. The resequencing of SOD1 in

normal and affected dogs revealed a G to A transition, resulting in an E40K missense mutation. Homozygosity for the A allele was associated with DM in 5 dog breeds: Pembroke Welsh corgi, Boxer, Rhodesian ridgeback, German Shepherd dog, and Chesapeake Bayretriever. 

Microscopic examination of spinal cords from affected dogs revealed myelin and axon loss affecting the lateral white matter and neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions that bind anti-super-oxide dismutase 1 antibodies. These inclusions are similar to those seen in spinal cord sections from ALS patients with

SOD1 mutations. Our findings identify canine DM to be the first recognized

spontaneously occurring animal model for ALS . . ."

If you want to know the real facts about the disease and possible remedies and also can handle 'science speak', go to http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/02/02/0812297106.full.pdf+html and become an expert in the most up-to-date research into this insidious disease.

 PJJ

Myelopathy Struck Again - Lord Protector Hit

Six years ago Windsor, founder, publisher and main editor of this blog, was taken away from me by this insidious disability that afflicts mainly larger dogs.
German shepherds, Rottweiler, Doberman, Golden and Boxers are just a few. Some of the smaller breeds are also susceptible to the disease, such as the Welsh Corgi.
The illness strikes dogs in their later years, 10 years and beyond. It is caused by a mutated gene that apparently remains latent until the later years of a dog. Some dogs with the gene never show any symptoms. Myelopathy sometimes also goes into remission.

Before his passing I had given Windsor the 'Lord Protector', named Tys. He is a strong brindle Boxer man whose job was to protect old man Windsor in  his wheelchair.
In time Tys became a California state licensed service dog. He served with great distinction and honors despite his formerly unruly and unrefined behavior when he first came to us. His greatest challenge was to tame his overbearing desire to run and to play at any cost. He did.

Just about one year ago disaster struck. Tys began to lame on one leg, then crossed his legs while walking, bumbled along with an unsteady stride like a drunken sailor. Oh no, not again, was my first thought.

Well, the one thing I loathe so much about having an older dog happened: Tys developed myelopathy.
At first barely noticeable, then more and more obvious, Tys is now barely able to walk. He is putting up a tremendous fight never giving up, never stopping to attempt to get up and walk, always following me around (on  his knees when necessary) as a true, dedicated service dog ought to do.

Tys is still full of life, with a sane mind and a fighting spirit matched by only a few, but he needs our help to give him a better chance of survival than good words and encouragement can do.
Right now he is receiving chiropractic treatments that help get him on his feet for brief periods of time. He is scheduled for physical therapy in the water or on an underwater treadmill.
He also will get a wheelchair to give him his daily chance of being a fun loving dog again that can sniff around freely and run and play with other dogs at will.

These treatments are all expensive. Therefore we have set up a Facebook page that is linked to a fund raising site. All for the benefit of Tys.

To learn more about Tys and how you can help him go here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tysons-Fight-Against-Myelopathy/1511396484005

And here:
https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/5ViLc

And when you feel moved by Tys' courageous fight and by his desire to perform his duties as a service dog even under these most challenging circumstances you can just click on the donate button below and give Tys the gift of a more comfortable life.
All of us, Tys, his supporters and unnamed donors who have given so much over the past months thank you very, very much.

Can you really let a good looking Boxer man like this find an inglorious end?

PJJ