Stalking a Killer: Cancer is Enemy Number one for Pets Best

Did you realize that cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs over the age of two? That's right. In fact, one out of four dogs will be killed by this horrifying disease. One out of every four.

Any animal lover would agree that these are truly frightening statistics. And for Jack Stephens and the rest of the team here at Pets Best Insurance, they're totally unacceptable. We decided, plain and simple, that we would do something to change them.

So two years ago we joined the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) in their mission to cure canine cancer in the next 10 to 20 years. And to put our money where our mouth is, we've committed $1 million to MAF's Canine Cancer Campaign make sure the mission succeeds.

Since April 2007, MAF has been working with elite universities and scientific institutions around the world to find the causes of canine cancer and develop cures. The Foundation funds studies at institutions such as the Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University, where "breakthrough research and treatments on behalf of dogs with cancer are taking place every day," according to Patricia N. Olson, DVM, PhD, president and CEO of MAF.

So far, MAF's Canine Cancer Campaign has made progress toward new treatments, such as testing a promising drug to fight bone cancer. The Foundation also helped fund creation of a tumor sample repository that will help scientists by providing access to many different types of canine cancers. In addition, they've funded long-term prevention studies and the training of the next generation of cancer researchers. And all that is just a start.

Today, the medical community is closer than ever before to finding the causes of, and cures for, canine cancer. And we're more committed than ever to our mission of catching and destroying this mass killer.

The Morris Animal Foundation says our million-dollar contribution makes us superheroes, but we disagree. We're just doing what anyone would do, if they could, to save the lives of their friends.