Page 178 - ShowSight - November 2019

Lines From Linda: Holiday Treasure BY LINDA AYERS TURNER KNORR continued Below: Diabetic-alert dogs, like these trained by Canine Hope for Diabetics in Southern California, can outperform sophisticated technology for detecting
diabetic lows and highs. When it comes to lining up for a photo, they can be like any other dogs.
(Photo courtesy of Maria Goodavage)
Right: Stewie, an Australian Shepherd who has been trained to detect cancer in laboratory samples, occasionally seems compelled to alert people— despite her trainer discouraging
this unscientific moonlighting. When Maria Goodavage, who has a family history of ovarian cancer, met Stewie, she steeled herself.
(Photo courtesy of Maria Goodavage)
(Photo courtesy of Maria Goodavage)
(Photo courtesy of Vivian Willis)
Above: Cindy Otto, DVM, PhD, gets some love from Foster, a dog on the forefront of ovarian cancer research. "If there's an odor, we can train (dogs) on it", says Dr. Otto, founder and executive director of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center at the University of Pennsylvania. "They're heroes without knowing how important they are."
Above: When Paul Willis is hospitalized his canine, Koira alerts
him that he is about to experience full-body paralysis or agonizing dystonia. Paul says that when Koira lies on his legs, it seems to help blood flow better to his brain and makes him improve more quickly.
autism, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and PTSD. With all the amazing technol- ogy available to today’s medical doctors, one of the most promising tools is surpris- ing familiar: a dog’s nose.”
The author traveled around the globe to learn firsthand the advancing technologies involving dogs and their their super noses. In Japan where the world’s first scientific cancer screening by canines is taking place, Maria spent days with the scientist in a remote village that has the highest mortal- ity rate for stomach cancer in the country.
She witnessed the awesome power and sensitivity of the canine nose, as dogs sniffed out cancer, malaria, and deadly bacteria at a research center in England, colorectal cancer in the Netherlands, ovarian cancer in Philadelphia, and the superbug C. dif- ficile at a hospital in Vancouver. In Rome, Goodavage interviewed a team that trains diabetic alert dogs. She spent time with a Croatian family and their daughter’s autism assistance dog, Bob.
During her extensive travels in the Unit- ed States, Maria uncovered riveting stories of the lifesaving power of highly skilled doctor dogs from canines who can sniff
out seizures in advance to dogs who help people cope with mental illness, including terrifying hallucinations.
With intimate interviews and meticu- lous research, infused with the author’s genuine enthusiasm and passion for her subject matter, Doctor Dogs offers a glimpse into a bright, exciting future working with highly trained dogs to detect deadly patho- gens and superbugs, which one day may lead to stabilizing or preventing pandem- ics. One doesn’t have to be a dog lover to be engrossed in and inspired by her narrative, as well as be charmed by the humor inher- ent in the warm stories of the dogs, who are performing life-saving tasks for the simple rewards of a treat, a toy or simply a pat on the head.
Other New York Times best sell- ing books by Maria Goodavage include Soldier Dogs, Top Dog and Secret Service Dogs. You may have seen her on numerous national television shows, including The Daily Show and Today. Maria has given talks about working dogs at the New York Stock Exchange, the National Museum of the United States Air Force as well as many other notable venues.
Those blessed to receive Doctor Dogs will be captivated by what they learn from this extraordinary book! Rumors from the North Pole are that after the Macy’s Parade, Santa will be heading to malls to hear what holiday treasure is on your wish list! It’s that time of year to light up the fireplace, sip a pumpkin spice latte and enjoy this great new book! Good luck to everyone in Philadelphia and Happy Thanksgiving!
Blessed with great beauty and talent, New York Times best selling author, Maria Goodavage lives in San Francisco. Her family includes a spoiled yellow Labrador Retriever named Gus.
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