Animal shelters and rescues across the United States have seen an increase in animals over the past several years, with 6.5 million cats and dogs entering shelters in 2023 alone.

 In the last 4 years, animal shelters and rescues have been experiencing an overcrowding crisis.

 According to Data from Shelters Animals Count, a national database for animal rescues and shelters, animals are remaining in shelters longer than they did in 2019, worsening the challenges shelters are facing, which include overcrowding, increased surrenders, rising costs, and lack of funding.

Recently, PetPlace and Pets Best—an online resource for pet owners and veterinary professionals, and a pet insurance provider, respectively—awarded 5 animal rescues with the Heroic Hearts Collective. Announced in February 2025, the Heroic Hearts Collective is an initiative that recognizes, celebrates, and rewards pet rescues across the United States.

“Pet rescues work tirelessly to save and rehome pets, often with limited resources. At PetPlace, we’re honored to support these organizations through the Heroic Hearts Collective, recognizing their dedication and providing meaningful aid to help them continue their lifesaving work,” Sam Watson, president of PetPlace, said in a news release.

The 5 winners of the award will each receive a donation of $1000 in cash, 50 standard microchips, 1 universal microchip scanner, and a feature story on Petplace.com. According to PetPlace and Pets Best, there were more than 15,000 nominations for the Heroic Hearts Collective award this year.

Located in New York and started by a group of volunteers helping pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina, AmsterDog Rescue has been serving the greater New York City area for more than 14 years. The rescue is run entirely by volunteers and is foster-based, focusing on dogs facing euthanasia, those with urgent medical needs, or dogs that have been passed multiple times.

The Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue Society(TGPR) is based in Spring, Texas, and is also a volunteer-run organization that focuses on rehabilitating and rehoming at-risk Great Pyrenees dogs. Every year, TGPR averages more than 500 rescues of these dogs, working to help Great Pyrenees that are neglected and/or have serious medical needs. The organization also conducts large-scale rescue efforts with multiple teams across different cities.

Founded in 2016, this organization in Kissimmee, Florida works with dogs that are at risk of euthanasia in county shelters. Foster-based and volunteer-run, The Pittie Party of Central Florida (TPPCF)aims to give dogs “a chance to thrive,” focusing on those that are seen as unadoptable.

 “TPPCF stood out not just for its rescue work, but for its focus on hospice care, behavioral support, and building a strong, reliable foster network. They’re not just saving dogs – they’re doing it with compassion, commitment, and the help of a deeply engaged community,” wrote PetPlace in a feature story.

Based in Pittsburg, California, Umbrella of Hope Rescue is dedicated to saving senior pets, pets with disabilities, and those with ongoing medical needs. “Umbrella of Hope began with one simple but powerful idea: animals with medical or age-related challenges still deserve a chance. The rescue was founded after seeing how often these animals were overlooked in shelters,” wrote PetPlace.

Whiskers N Wishes Sanctuary is located in Tucson, Arizona and specializes in rescuing cats. The organization places a special focus on seniors and cats with disabilities or chronic illnesses. At the sanctuary, volunteers get to know each cat’s behavior and needs, offering medical treatment for injuries, calm spaces for shy cats, and specialized routines for those that have lost their sight or mobility. According to PetPlace, the philosophy of Whiskers N Wishes is that cats who may be “deemed “unadoptable” still deserve the warmth of human kindness and the chance to live without constant fear or discomfort.”

Bautista-Alejandre A. New report reveals shelter pet adoption data. 

. July 29, 2024. Accessed April 15, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/new-report-reveals-shelter-pet-adoption-data

PetPlace and Pets Best Insurance honor five extraordinary pet rescues as “Heroic Hearts Collective” award recipients on national pet day. News release. PetPlace, Pets Best Insurance. April 11, 2025.

Rowlands R. AmsterDog Rescue: A Heroic Heart for NYC’s Forgotten Dogs. PetPlace. April 8, 2025. Accessed April 15, 2025. 

https://www.petplace.com/article/general/pet-care/amsterdog-heroic-hearts

Rowlands R. Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue: A Heroic Heart for Gentle Giants. PetPlace. April 8, 2025. Accessed April 15, 2025. 

https://www.petplace.com/article/general/pet-care/texas-great-pyrenees-rescue-heroic-hearts

Rowlands R. The Pittie Party of Central Florida: A Heroic Heart for At-Risk Dogs. PetPlace. April 8, 2025. Accessed April 15, 2025. 

https://www.petplace.com/article/general/pet-care/pittie-party-central-florida-heroic-hearts

Rowlands R. Umbrella of Hope: A Heroic Heart for Special Needs Animals. PetPlace. April 8, 2025. Accessed April 15, 2025. 

https://www.petplace.com/article/general/pet-care/umbrella-of-hope-heroic-hearts

Rowlands R. Whiskers N Wishes Sanctuary: A Heroic Heart for Cats in Need. PetPlace. April 8, 2025. Accessed April 15, 2025. 

https://www.petplace.com/article/general/pet-care/whiskers-wishes-sanctuary-heroic-hearts

Articles

The recipients of the Heroic Hearts Collective will receive $1000, 50 standard microchips, and more

5 animal rescues in the US receive award for their impact on pet lives

Kitten and puppy foods from Blue Ridge Beef are being recalled because of 

 contamination, which can affect animals ingesting these raw products. The recall is for 1080 lbs of 2 lb logs of Kitten Mix (lot number N26 0114) and 1230 lbs of 2 lb logs of Puppy Mix (lot number N25 1230).

Samples of the recalled products were collected on March 20, 2025, by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets in response to a customer complaint of animal illness. On April 1, 2025, Blue Ridge Beef was notified by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture that the products tested positive for 

. The recall was issued with FDA notification.

These recalled food products are packaged in clear plastic and were distributed between January 3, 2025, to January 24, 2025. The recalled items were primarily sold through retail stores in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. Lot numbers can be found stamped in the clips on the end of the product bags.

According to Katie Tolbert, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, a clinical associate professor in internal medicine and nutrition at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in College Station, 

is a [bacterium] frequently found in the gastrointestinal tract of many mammals and birds, but some species of 

 produce toxins that cause infections when the bacteria adhere to the lining of the gut, causing gut inflammation and damage,” Tolbert explained in a news release.

infection may include lethargy, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain also affect some patients, according to the FDA. Healthy pets can be carriers of infection and transmit 

Pet owners should be aware of the causes, symptoms and treatments of 

 and client education can help. The FDA is encouraging pet owners to contact a veterinarian if their animal has eaten a product included in the Blue Ridge Beef recall and is showing symptoms of possible infection.

The infection can travel to other sites of the body, such as the joints or heart, and if the infection is not recognized, it could lead to severe consequences, including death,” Tolbert said.

In cases with significant symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness, pet owners should visit their veterinarian as soon as possible, according to Tolbert. An appropriate treatment plan can be created if the illness is caused by 

 infection, and the earlier the treatment, the quicker the pet’s condition can improve.

“Warning signs that should prompt a pet owner to bring their dog or cat to be evaluated include prolonged reluctance to eat for longer than 24 to 48 hours; fever; persistent vomiting or diarrhea; lethargy for longer than 24 hours; signs of dehydration, such as dry or tacky gums; and signs of pain, shown through abnormal behaviors such as hiding or growling,” Tolbert said.

Veterinarians may hospitalize pets and provide them with intravenous fluids and supportive care if the illness is severe. However, mild cases of diarrhea, the most common symptom of a mild form of salmonella infection in pets, are often resolved on their own regardless of whether there is treatment.

disease is rare in canines and felines, despite when infection occurs. Pets showing signs of infection typically have mild gastrointestinal symptoms that may include diarrhea and vomiting. In more serious cases, fever, muscle pain, breathing problems and pregnancy loss may show as symptoms, and death can occur.

Canines and felines that consume contaminated pet food can be carriers of 

, even when there are no signs of listeriosis. Infected pets that appear healthy can shed 

 in their stool. Pet waste from infected animals, both sick and healthy, can be a source of infection for other animals as well as humans.

 infection to humans that handle contaminated raw food products. The FDA advises healthy people with 

 exposure to monitor themselves for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever, which are possible symptoms of infection. In rare cases, this type of bacterial infection can cause more serious ailments such as arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Humans exhibiting these signs of infection following exposure to the recalled products should contact their health care providers, according to the FDA.

The FDA is encouraging consumers who have purchased these products to return them to the place of purchase or destroy the food in a way that children and animals, including pets and wildlife, cannot access them. Pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers that have come into contact with the recalled products should be washed and sanitized. Human hands and exposed surfaces should also be washed and sanitized after handling recalled food or any utensils that come in contact with recalled food.

For more information about the recall, email blueridgebeefnc@yahoo.com or call (704) 873-2072 Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM EST.

Blue Ridge Beef issues voluntary recall of Blue Ridge Beef Puppy Mix and Kitten Mix due to Salmonella and Listeria contamination. News release. FDA. April 11, 2025. Accessed April 15, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/blue-ridge-beef-issues-voluntary-recall-blue-ridge-beef-puppy-mix-and-kitten-mix-due-salmonella?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#recall-announcement

The hidden dangers of Salmonella infections. New release. Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. March 30, 2023. Accessed April 15, 2025. 

https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/salmonella-infections/

Get the facts about Listeria. FDA. August 3, 2020. Accessed April 15, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/get-facts-about-listeria

Certain Blue Ridge Beef products were found contaminated with bacteria that can cause illness to pets

Kitten and puppy foods are voluntarily recalled

PetDesk Product360 with Mary Schwartz, CVT

PetDesk Product360

 Hey everyone! Dr Adam Christman, Chief Veterinary Officer here at DVM360. We're live here in Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and we are chatting with our friends here at PetDesk because it's Product360. We have PetDesk Scribe, the future of AI-powered veterinary note-taking. Joining us is Mary Schwartz, CVT, Manager of Sales Enablement at PetDesk. Thanks so much for being here.

 My pleasure. This is beautiful. Listen, AI is all the rage right now, and dictation software is around. I love that we're chatting about improving workflow. We have inefficiencies that are there, so can you introduce us a little bit to PetDesk Scribe and talk about its inception?

 You mentioned workflow and I think that’s really important. A lot of the tools that PetDesk offers are around workflow. They're here to make the day-to-day life and practice easier, but one thing that we want to focus on going forward is veterinarians as well, right? So, our communication tools—they help front desk, they help technicians, and they help veterinarians some. Scribe is here to really optimize veterinary workflows, get you out of the hospital on time, get your notes taken for you, and do it accurately, so you don't have to do a lot of edits.

So, how it works is very easy. You'll have the Scribe app on your phone. You'll be able to hit “Start Appointment” when you go in the exam room. It'll start recording your appointment right there in the room. It'll capture the entire dialogue and natural chat with the pet parents you’re working with. When you're done, you stop and finalize your appointment, and then it'll go right into our web browser. And then it's ready for your review as the doctor. So, by the time you wrap up in the room, talk to your techs about the checkout process, and go to sit down at your desk, your notes are done.

 And this does help you reduce some of that administrative burden, right?

 Yes, absolutely. I have plenty of friends who are veterinarians, and they absolutely are still doing notes at home. I had one last night who texted me that they couldn’t go out with their friends because they were sitting at home having to do notes after a long Friday, and I'm sure you know plenty of friends of your own that have that same problem.

 Yes, and you keep hearing these great stories about getting home on time, and how it's shaving two hours out of your busy day, so you can pick up the kids from school, do some of the things that are really important to your own personal life. It’s so important.

 Exactly. You spend so much time and effort becoming a veterinarian, and you invest so much of your life into it to begin with. You want, at some point, to have a little bit of that payback, where you can spend some time with your family and develop your personal life. We’re here to help.

 Walk us through this a little bit, getting started with PetDesk Scribe and integrating it into the existing workflow.

 You go in the room, you record the appointment—quick and easy. By the time you get back to your desk, your appointment should be ready to review, and it is lined out as a SOAP note—all ready to go, everything that you verbalized in the room. One thing that's really cool about this, just to differentiate between dictation tools and AI note-taking, is you don't have to dictate to this. You don't have to say, “Ear, nose, and throat are clear. The GI system is within normal limits.” You don't have to say those things. All you have to do is tell the pet parent, “Grover's tummy feels really good today. I'm not feeling any problems here. His ears look great. His eyes are nice and clear.” And this will automatically pick it up and turn it right into a note for you, and you can edit if you need to. But, that's one of the things we're working really hard on, making it so you don't have to edit much. Then you copy and paste them right into the medical note in the practice management software.

Look at this. It's got high-quality accuracy, too, which is incredible.

 That's our main focus: the accuracy and quality of those notes. It doesn't do us much good to send you back to your desk with something that you have to spend another 30 minutes editing.

 Yes, so this is going to be customizable. Our first premier product, which is going to be released in May of 2025 for all general customers, and then in April of 2025 for PetDesk customers, is going to have this format, so the typical SOAP format. But long-term what we're looking at is customizing templates and being able to add a lot more unique phrases or formats to how each practice does their medical notes.

 And there are some that are out there. What sets this from other ones that might be out there?

 The biggest thing for us is quality, right? I know I've been hounding on that, but it's so important, because we don't want you to have to sit down at your desk and edit. So, the goal here, and what we're finding a lot with our initial user group, is that the quality is already really high, but there's a little bit of room for improvement. So, by the time we get to our general launch in May, we're going to have really high-quality medical notes that don't require a lot of editing and allow you to get out on time and reduce your time spent charting.

 That's a nice, sweet spot right there, which is really good.

 PetDesk has so many different offerings within its umbrella. To those of you who are thinking about it, or think about making the decision…why PetDesk?

 So, one of the things that's going to make PetDesk Scribe powerful is the additional tools that we have, and the future integrations into those tools. Think about how AI note-taking could empower client communications, could do follow-up messaging for you—and even at our initial launch, we're going to have a client summary for you to send home with your pet parents of the entire appointment. If you start embedding this across different areas of our platform, it can be helpful with our phone system, our client communication system, and then being able to integrate into PIMS. So eventually, you don't even have to copy it. You just approve it and it's in your medical record, and you don't have to do anything else.

 The number one concern that we see with pet owners out there—I'm sure many of you know this—is miscommunication.

 “I wasn't told this. No one told me. This was miscommunicated.” This helps. This is what helps.

 I mean, this is what really, really helps to make sure everyone is aligned. This is incredible.

 Absolutely, and you think about how adults learn and retain. Verbal is very low, but now we send them home with something that's in their pocket. You can text it. You can email it. They're not going to set it on the counter and forget it as soon as they get home, or have it get swept into the recycling bin. They're going to have it to pull up. If they can't remember what happened with Grover's appointment, it's right there in their phone. They can glance through it, and then they can text you with any questions they might have.

 That's wonderful. Just thinking about it, too, my friends—how often is the primary caregiver in the exam room?

 How often is it the husband who hardly knows the animal's name?

 Right, because we know that sometimes they're just not there, so now everybody's aligned when we have these instructions that are being sent home with them. That way they know, “No, I wasn't told this. Oh, here it is. It's right here.”

 How many times is the primary caregiver not there, and then you as the doctor end up having to tell the person in the room what's going on and then contact the primary caregiver in addition? Now, it’s all in one place—easy and ready to go home.

 Mary, this has been fantastic, where can we learn more about this?

. Here we'll have a way for you to join our wait list. You can view a little bit more about how scribe works. Check it out, we've already got some testimonials from our initial users that you can look at and all of our benefits, how we're going to help you out. All you have to do is fill out this form right here, hit submit, and then when we release, we'll ship you an email and you'll get six months half off.

 Oh, wow, that's great. Thank you so much. Fantastic information. If you haven't checked out PetDesk, you really need to their portfolio is absolutely incredible, and this is what I love about veterinary medicine; it's how we advance together. So, thank you, Mary, and thank your friends at PetDesk for supporting this great conversation. And we'll see you next time right here on Product360. Take care, everyone.

Videos

How PetDesk is optimizing workflows with PetDesk Scribe, an AI-powered note-taking tool

PetDesk Scribe: the future of AI-powered veterinary note-taking

 In this interview taken during the 2025 WVC conference, Dr Courtney Campbell and Jonathan Wainberg, MBA, shared with listeners the positive impact offering simple financial solutions has on pet owners.

Video interview with Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA, and Jonathan Wainberg, MBA

During an interview with dvm360 at the 2025 WVC conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA, and Jonathan Wainberg, MBA, senior vice president and general manager of Synchrony, pets, share why it is important for veterinary teams to provide a variety of financial options to clients. Throughout the interview, the duo discussed wellness funds, pet insurance, and other offerings that can cater to the unique needs and situations of the patients and clients in the clinic, plus how having financial solutions can ease the stress on clients that comes from paying for treatments. 

Below is a partial transcript, edited for clarity.

: When you're discussing different financial options with pet owners, the one thing that's been in my experience, and I've seen this just throughout the board, is when you discuss those 3 easy steps, and you say, 'Listen, come in. You pay for it with your Care Credit credit card. You file a claim, and then you just get reimbursed directly to their credit card.' There are so many families who say, 'No, really?' They're almost blown away at the simplicity, they're almost blown away at the ease, and they're almost relieved, like there's a, I like to say relief is the cousin of happiness, right? Because if you drop your cell phone and it's on the floor and you're worried to see if it's cracked in that moment right before you see there's no cracks, just relief, that's happiness, right? It's cousin. And so you see that relief on their face, and I think that's where the real magic comes in, is having that discussion with them, providing them with an innovative financial solution, and seeing that relief on their face, like, Ah, I finally have a way to care for my family member without the struggle of going through it. That's been my experience, but I'd love to hear yours.

I think it's also, it's about choice, right? I think...there's not one solution that's going to work for everyone, right? We've put together what we think is a portfolio of ideas that will help create that safety net for when financial hardship comes up, or a bill that is there. So that is a Care Credit, is it Pets Best insurance? Is it a wellness fund? But you're going to be able to catch some of that stuff. 

So understand that there's not going to be one solution that works for everyone, but as long as you're giving them those tools and those options, they're going to be able to figure out a way to do it. And that's why, you know, we love what we're doing together with Pets Best, and that Care Credit [is] powering this, this solution behind it, because you're going to be able to have the variety of solutions that you have, and the ease to make it easier, whether it be for something that's routine or something that's an emergency. 

Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA, and Jonathan Wainberg, MBA, have a conversation on financial relief and flexibility for clients

Easing veterinary care costs

The immunotherapy OST-HER2 combined with palliative radiation has shown positive data in preventing or delaying amputation during primary osteosarcoma treatment in dogs with unresected appendicular osteosarcoma, according to a recent announcement by OS Therapies—a clinical-stage immunotherapy and antibody drug conjugate biopharmaceutical company behind the development of OST-HER2. Findings from a study suggest OST-HER2 could be used as a frontline treatment for osteosarcoma in humans, potentially reducing the need for chemotherapy, according to OS Therapies

“It has been my dream since founding the company that OST-HER2 could potentially change the standard of care in osteosarcoma, potentially limiting the need for amputation or surgical resection of the primary tumor,” Paul Romness, CEO of OS Therapies, said in a news release.

 “With today’s data, we believe we are taking the first steps towards this given that our comparative oncology approach, as a result of the 96% genetic homology between human and canine osteosarcoma, leads us to believe there is significant potential for this canine data to translate to humans in the treatment of frontline and primary metastatic osteosarcoma, similarly to how it has in recurrent, fully-resected, lung metastatic osteosarcoma.”

OST-HER2 is an immunotherapy that uses a bioengineered form of the 

 vaccine to trigger an immune response against cancer cells expressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).

 The therapy has received conditional approval from the US Department of Agriculture for the treatment of canines with osteosarcoma. It has also completed a Phase 1 trial in human patients with breast cancer and shown preclinical efficacy data in various models of breast cancer. According to OS Therapies, the treatment has also “demonstrated positive data” in its Phase 2b clinical trial in recurrent, fully resected, lung metastatic osteosarcoma.

Immunological responses and clinical outcomes in dogs with osteosarcoma receiving standard therapy and a Listeria vaccine expressing HER2—

 118 dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma were enrolled.

 Participants in this clinical trial received standard therapy followed by OST-HER2.

According to the study’s results, the OST-HER2 therapy did not significantly extend overall survival or disease-free intervals in all participants. However, immune responses in dogs after receiving the vaccine were stronger in long-term survivors—those with a disease-free interval of more than 490 days.

 Specifically, results showed that the therapy triggered strong innate and cytotoxic immune responses starting at the first dose of a 3-dose regimen, which was linked to the prevention of metastasis in dogs with resected primary osteosarcoma.

 According to OS Therapies, the study also found that short-term survivors had defective immune responses to OST-HER2 that improved with the second and third doses.

Currently, the study on OST-HER2 combined with palliative radiation as a therapy for unresected primary osteosarcoma in dogs is being prepared for publication.

 Unpublished data from the study shows the treatment resulted in clinical and radiographic arrest of the primary tumor in 5 of 15 dogs. Treatment also delayed pulmonary metastases in dogs that did not undergo surgery or chemotherapy and prolonged survival of greater than 500 days in these 5 participants.

According to OS Therapies, the data suggest that OST-HER2 could be used as a frontline treatment for human osteosarcoma, potentially reducing the need for chemotherapy and helping prevent or delay limb amputation, tumor resection, and lung metastasis.

 According to OS Therapies, the company plans to submit the new data from its to-be-published study and new information on its manufacturing process to the USDA with the goal of launching sales in 2025. Following this, OS Therapies intends to conduct a pivotal clinical trial with the aim of obtaining full approval in 2026.

In both studies, treatment with OST-HER was found to be safe and well tolerated. “Our newly published canine data and unpublished radiation combination canine data expands the potential use of OST-HER2 into delay/prevention of metastasis and PFS following resected primary osteosarcoma and raises the intriguing possibility of combination radiation therapy and OST-HER2 in the treatment of unresectable osteosarcoma,” Nicola J. Mason, BVetMed, PhD, DACVIM, the Paul A. James and Charles A. Gilmore endowed professor, at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia, said in a company release.

“We are laser focused on getting an accelerated approval for OST-HER2 in recurrent, fully resected, lung metastatic human osteosarcoma...by year-end 2025 and then using funds obtained from the sale of our pending Priority Review Voucher to expand the potential clinical uses of OST-HER2 throughout the human osteosarcoma treatment paradigm,” said Romness.

 “In parallel, we believe the data from these 2 studies support the use of OST-HER2 in all phases of canine osteosarcoma treatment and we are hopeful to obtain conditional approval with our newly improved, patented manufacturing for OST-HER2 later this year so that we can launch the product at specialized cancer centers and our 4-legged patients can begin getting treatment very soon.

OS Therapies announces positive data for OST-HER2 in the treatment of unresected osteosarcoma in dogs, opening the potential for use as front-line therapy in humans. News release. OS Therapies. April 10, 2025. Accessed April 14, 2025. 

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250410123762/en/OS-Therapies-Announces-Positive-Data-for-OST-HER2-in-the-Treatment-of-Unresected-Osteosarcoma-in-Dogs-Opening-the-Potential-for-Use-as-Front-Line-Therapy-in-Humans

Mason NJ, Selmic L, Ruple A, et al. Immunological responses and clinical outcomes in dogs with osteosarcoma receiving standard therapy and a listeria vaccine expressing HER2. 

. 2025;33(4):1674-1686. doi:10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.02.023

OST-HER2 could be a frontline treatment for dogs and humans

New immunotherapy treatment may  delay metastasis in dogs with osteosarcoma

The STAY study, a clinical trial investigating the developmental longevity drug LOY-002, has reached its goal of enrolling 1000 canine patients at 70 veterinary clinics across the US. According to Loyal, the biotechnology company developing LOY-002, this 4-year study may be the world’s largest veterinary clinical trial, and a new goal has been set for expanding the trial to include an additional 300 patients.

“The STAY study is our pivotal field trial. This is the key component in getting FDA approval for LOY-002,” Brennen McKenzie, VMD, MSc, MA, director of veterinary medicine for Loyal, said in a 

Winston, a 10-year-old miniature dachshund, is the 1000th enrolled patient in Loyal's STAY study.

LOY-002 is being developed to extend healthy lifespan in senior dogs by improving metabolic health to delay the onset and reduce the impact of age-associated diseases. Launched in December 2023, 

 an 11-year-old Whippet named Boo, was enrolled at the Animal Hospital of Dauphin County in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

 The milestone 1000th patient was Winston, age 10 years, a miniature dachshund receiving veterinary care at the Franklin Animal Clinic in Indiana.

The STAY study goes beyond investigation of longevity. It also measures quality of life based on pet owners’ assessments of their dogs, according to Ellen Ratcliff DVM, vice president of clinical and veterinary medicine at Loyal. “It doesn’t do anybody any good if their dog lives longer, but they live longer in that period at the end of their life where they don’t feel well, and they’re sick, having all kinds of degenerative and aging diseases,” Ratcliff said in an earlier 

With the STAY study, LOY-002 is being prescribed by veterinarians and administered to enrolled patients as a daily beef-flavored pill. Dogs age 10 years or older and weighing at least 14 pounds are eligible.

Over the study’s span, Loyal is collecting data on the drug’s potential impact on the lifespan and quality of life for dogs receiving LOY-002, compared to those receiving a placebo, as well as any adverse effects reported in the study population.

A total enrollment of 1300 canine patients would translate to an increase in the study’s sample size, providing even more scientific data for observing the drug’s effects.

 The additional 300 patients “is going to give us even more power to be able to look at the effects of our drug on lifespan and health and wellbeing in these dogs,” McKenzie noted.

“I'm excited because I'd like to see the drug made available to veterinarians and dog owners, but I'm [also] excited because it's going to be a treasure trove of data on canine aging and how they age, and what we can potentially learn that we could then use to develop other targets to do things to help them live longer, healthier lives,” he added.

Reaching the milestone of 1000 enrolled patients follows 

 that the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine granted acceptance of the Reasonable Expectation of Effectiveness (RXE) section of the conditional approval application for LOY-002.

Ratcliff noted that the RXE acceptance was an achievement that serves as a testament to the importance of the STAY study. Celine Halioua, CEO of Loyal, said RXE acceptance was important for advancing LOY-002.

“Everything we do is in service of helping dogs live longer, healthier lives,” Halioua said.

 “These 2 milestones represent our ongoing commitment to that mission through years of diligence and hard work. Proving efficacy is one of the most challenging parts of developing a novel drug. While we still have significant work to do, RXE increases the probability that dogs will soon have access to our longevity drugs.”

In the meantime, McKenzie advised veterinary professionals to never accept ‘old age’ as an explanation for a patient’s condition, and keep in mind there are likely things that can be done to help improve outcomes. “What you can do now is what you already know,” he said. “Keep them a healthy weight, keep them engaged and active. Keep up with your preventive medicine, and watch this space, because there's going to be new things that you can do that we didn't even think were possible a few years ago.”

Lee J. Breaking records: the STAY study enrolls 1,000 dogs. News release. Loyal. April 14, 2025. Accessed April 14, 2025. 

https://loyal.com/posts/stay-enrolls-1000-dogs

A clinical trial is launched for a novel drug that could extend healthy lifespan in senior dogs. 

. February 1, 2024. Accessed April 14, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/a-clinical-trial-is-launched-for-a-novel-drug-that-could-extend-healthy-lifespan-in-senior-dogs

Crossley KC. Second drug for canine healthy lifespan extension receives FDA support. 

. February 26, 2025. Accessed April 14, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/second-drug-for-canine-healthy-lifespan-extension-receives-fda-support

The STAY study is investigating LOY-002, a therapy designed by Loyal to extend healthy lifespans in canines