Reproductive problems:

DOG NEWS – "Veterinary Topics" by Connie Vanacor
Nov. 2, 2007

It is on the AKC Canine Health Foundation National Parent Club Health
Conference.
Page 90

"Some of the other speakers were Dr. Peggy Root Kustritz, who spoke on
canine reproduction:"

"Dr. Kustritz talked about diseases related to reproduction. Although
spaying and neutering have advantages, there are also dangers.

Advantages include the elimination of testicular cancer and of benign prostatic
hyperplasia.

On the negative side, males have a strong correlation to obesity after
castration, though there is no definite cause and effect. Castrated dogs have
twice the risk of developing prostatic adenocarcinoma as they age. They also
run a higher risk of developing osteosarcoma as the age. There is a
predisposition in large and giant breeds of this occurring. Neutered
Rottweilers
have a definite genetic predisposition to osteosarcoma. Acute Cranial Ligament
injury is seen in greater numbers with castrated dogs."

In bitches, spaying reduces or eliminates the risk of mammary cancer and
pyometra. However, it also increases the risk of osteosarcoma and
transitional cell carcinoma. It also causes incontinence in up to 20 percent of
females. Spaying before three months of age increases the risk of
incontinence.....There is a strong hormonal relationship between
spaying/neutering and the
diseases specific to each."

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Progressive car insurance adds pet coverage

For no additional charge $500 benefit will be paid if animal is hurt or dies

updated 12:15 p.m. ET, Mon., Nov. 12, 2007

CLEVELAND - Progressive Corp. is providing collision coverage for
customers' dogs or cats at no additional premium cost. It will pay up
to $500 if a customer's dog or cat is hurt or dies in a car accident.

"It's an unusual and interesting benefit," said Jean Salvatore, a
senior vice president for the New York-based Insurance Information
Institute. She was not aware of any other company offering a collision
benefit for pets.

"Auto insurance is a very competitive market, and companies are always
looking for ways to differentiate themselves. If this becomes popular,
I'm sure others may look into it as well," Salvatore said.

There are over 150 million pets in the U.S., and Americans spend over
$40 billion on their pets annually, according to a recent Insurance
Information Institute study.

The Progressive benefit has been in place since Sept. 6, and it's
still too soon to determine if the company's undetermined cost of
offering it will be offset by better sales, Progressive spokeswoman
Leah Knapp said.

Auto insurance generally provides property, liability and medical coverage.

Typically, an insured person's collision coverage pays for the damage
to the insured's vehicle in a collision or other kind of accident,
such as when a driver loses control and a car overturns. But usually
there's no payment for pets who may be in the car.

Liability coverage would kick in for any pets hurt in a car other than
the insured's.

The new Progressive benefit is not pet insurance, which some people
obtain to help them pay veterinarian costs.

A Progressive strategist said the company saw a pets benefit as an
auto insurance market opportunity.

"We found no coverage that was even similar to it," said Geoff Souser,
Progressive product manager for auto insurance. "We have pets, too,
and we know how important they are to our families. We are always
looking for new and different ways of delivering value to our
customers, and this seemed like a logical extension."

Progressive is the third-biggest auto insurer, ranking behind State
Farm and Allstate and slightly ahead of National Indemnity (Berkshire
Hathaway), which includes GEICO.

State Farm and Allstate confirmed a pets benefit is not in the
collision part of their policies. A message was left with a GEICO
spokeswoman.

Progressive's pet benefit is available in 46 states and the District
of Columbia; it's not yet available in North Carolina, New Hampshire,
New York and Virginia, but the company hopes to offer it in those
states soon.

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GBM Election Results

The the following changes resulted from the GBM elections.

Board of Inquiry/Alternate

Jim Ackerman (replaces Richard Quinn)
Email: racke45000@aol.com

Director at Large (new position to bring total number to five)

Frank Phillips (new)
Email: schh3fh2@comcast.net

Judges Committee/Member at Large

Mike Gardner (new)
Email: mgd675@gmail.com

Willie Ortner (delete)

Nominating Committee

Ravi Iyer (new)
Email: juneau@vmacnova.com

Charles Norton (new)
Email: cfn@pacbell.net

Nikki Banfield (delete)

Pam Hanrahan (delete)

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