Iams Collaborative Study Finds No Signs of Cancer in Canine Heroes of September 11 Rescue Missions, Four Years Into Study.

The University of Pennsylvania, The Iams Company, and the AKC Canine Health Foundation Set to Conclude Study of Search and Rescue Dogs in Spring 2007

DAYTON, Ohio, May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The devastating effects of the Asian Tsunami and Hurricane's Katrina and Rita in the past year have shed new light on little known heroes that put their own lives in harm's way to save another. For years, these specially trained heroes -- dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds -- have worked alongside their human teammates as they rescued victims of such natural and manmade disasters as train derailments, factory explosions, tornado and hurricane devastation, and the attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Without any regard for their own safety or the protective gear available to humans such as safety glasses and gas masks, these dogs put their nose to the ground in an attempt to find the missing and, hopefully, save a human life.

For the first responder -- both human and animal alike -- the long-term health effects of exposure to hazardous carcinogens and fine particles of soot and debris is a major concern. As a result The Iams Company, a division of Procter & Gamble , has partnered with the University of Pennsylvania and the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation to host a five-year study which utilizes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to look for early warning signs of health issues, primarily cancer, in canine first responders. The study, which launched in 2002, has been tracking the health of 12 search and rescue dogs that volunteered time in the rescue, recovery, and relief missions at Ground Zero and the Pentagon after the deadly terrorist attacks in 2001. At the conclusion of the fourth year earlier this month, the study yielded no signs of nasal or respiratory cancer that relate to missions completed before, during, or since September 11.

"Because of increased metabolic rates, dogs and cats often display early signs of disease when exposed to the same carcinogens as humans," said Dr. Dan Carey, a veterinarian with The Iams Company, who has tracked the health of the canine participants for the past four years. "While it's impossible to form concrete conclusions about human health, this study allows us to track physical changes in the dogs and may provide an early warning of problems that could show up in humans years later."

Search and rescue dogs rely on a heightened sense of smell to transcend the rubble and remains of manmade structures and lead human handlers to the missing. As a result, these animals are unable to use safety devices such as gas masks and safety goggles to protect them from the potentially hazardous carcinogens contained in debris. Through MRI technology available exclusively to animals at The Iams Pet Imaging Centers, veterinarians are able to identify and diagnose cancer-related diseases that may develop in these dogs as a result of unprotected exposure to potentially hazardous conditions. As part of their continued commitment to pet health and well-being, the Iams Company has provided free MRI services to the study's participants at Iams Pet Imaging Centers in Vienna, Va. (outside of Washington, D.C.), Raleigh, N.C. (at the University of North Carolina School for Veterinary Medicine), and Redwood City, Calif. (a suburb of San Francisco).

Study participant "Mizu," a 10-year-old German Shepard with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, has dedicated her life to humans, participating in life-saving search and rescue missions worldwide. After the devastating attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon in September 2001, Mizu put in 12 and 14-hour days scouring Ground Zero for signs of survivors and, eventually, victim remains. Without concern for her own life, she buried her nose deep into the shards and rubble using her finely tuned sense of smell to bring hope to millions.

"Leading a loyal companion into danger is the hardest part of the job," said Mizu's human partner, firefighter Billy Kidd of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's aviation unit. "Disaster dogs often die of cancer by age 7 or 8. But with the introduction of MRI technology into the veterinary field we are able to uncover early warning signs of disease and, hopefully, keep these talented animals safe."

In September 2002, The Iams Company and ProScan, a world leader in human MRI technology and education, opened the first Iams Pet Imaging Center housing technologically advanced, state-of-the art equipment that uses magnetic energy and radio waves to create detailed images of tissue. These centers, created especially for dogs and cats, allow veterinarians to more accurately determine the cause and location of diseases such as cancer in pets without invasive exploratory surgery. Based on more than 6,000 case referrals, Iams Pet Imaging Centers are the world leader in pet MRI scans.

For nearly 60 years, The Iams Company, a division of Procter & Gamble , has enhanced the well-being of dogs and cats by providing world- class quality foods and pet-care products. To learn more about Eukanuba(R) and Iams(R) Dog & Cat Foods and the Eukanuba Veterinary Diets(R) line of canine and feline therapeutic diets or general pet care and nutrition information, call the Iams Consumer Care Center at [phone]. You also can visit us on the Web at http://www.iams.com/ or http://www.eukanuba.com/.

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CONTACT: Kurt Iverson, The Iams Company, [phone], [e-mail]; Sean Lashley, Fleishman-Hillard, [phone], [e-mail]

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