Longevity project and what you can do to help!

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

Hi All,

I realize most of you are not members of the GRCA (but you all should
join there is an application in your Brier Go Home Book)  I am
on a new crusade...  Last year it was supporting getting the Board
of Directors of the GRCA to look at Elbow Dysplasia and make the general
membership aware that we might have a problem.  Success was reached
with that as the board has now allowed the membership to advertise 
ED clearance.  Educational articles are being published in the
GR-News about ED and the possibility that we do have a problem in the
breed.   Many of you don't know that our own IIene Cook was a
driving force behind my vocalization and determination to see that ED is
not swept under the carpet.  IIene supplied me with several articles
and lots of support.  As were Linda and Perry Shipman were very
involved in helping along this project.  They lended so much support
on such a personal level as well as technical I can't list it all! 

Anyway the squeaky wheel gets grease right?  So it's time to
squeak.  What Ann Greenberg one of the members of the board of
directors of the GRCA has purposed is a longevity registry.  This
registry would aide breeders and puppy shoppers alike in looking for
lines of dogs that have longevity.  Most important is what this
brings to the breed a tool to use when planing breedings a tool to as
well make us accountable for what we do as keepers of the breed. 
The Golden Retriever is quoted at living 10.8 years on the average, this
is not long enough and I feel that we can increase the life span of the
dogs through breeding stronger dogs and feeding barf <smile>. 

The Longevity Registry would allow dogs including non GRCA member dogs to
apply for LR certificates once they reach the age of 10.5.  Each dog
will be given a number (and a certificate) which represents the date of
the dogs birth, the dogs number in the data base, sex of dog, the age of
the dog at demise or listed with an (L) if still alive and updated after
death.  This is a very valuable tool.  As those of us that do
breed or are considering it on this list will tell you, it's almost like
pulling teeth sometimes to get accurate information out of some one about
a dog your wanting to incorporate into a breeding program.  This
removes so much adds so much merit to a breeding program!  

So where do you come in?  Below is a note I wrote and sent out to
several list groups as well as individuals that are members of the GRCA
board (listed below) supporting the Longevity Project.  Please take
the time to: A) Join the GRCA.  B) write a note that you as well in
support of such a project.  



Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 16:55:41 -0700
From: Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>
Subject: Longevity registry project
Cc: ariell@coredcs.com, windsong2@blackfoot.net, vindage@ix.netcom.com,
Nancy Talbott GRCA, nancyjkelly@earthlink.net, wstmrchgrs@aol.com,
rhondahovan@aol.com, algreen@panix.com, cgoldens@aol.com,
GRNews@aol.com

Ann and List,

I received my GR-New yesterday the article on the Longevity project is
outstanding. The idea is outstanding. Can you imagine pulling up a data
base and being able to at the blink of an eye see at what age a dog died?
Or better yet is still alive! I am very excited about this project and
what it implies we can do for our breed. Where do I sign up? I am not
sure what I could offer the project as far as helping with the technical
end of things but you can put me on the press team or the stamp licking
team. 

If you have not received your GR-News yet I apologize for letting this
cat out of the bag, but I hope it also sends each of you to read the
article. It starts on page 12. 

In closing I hope this list and the membership of GRCA will voice to the
board of directors this is a good idea and let's get moving! I have
copied this to the board members I have on file and to Sylvia. Please
feel free to cross post this to any concerned individual or list. 

Gina Heitz 
brier@oregonsbest.com
gina@briergoldens.com