A portion of each purchase is being donated to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Syringomyelia DNA Research Fund and Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue. To find out more about these organizations click on the "About Our Donations" link on the right side of the page.

About the Organizations We Donate to

My decision to donate a portion of all Rainbow Paw's sales to the Syringomyelia DNA Research Fund was based on the very deep sense of hopelessness I felt when my 11-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was diagnosed with Syringomyelia. Because there is no cure for SM and treatment options are so limited I realized how vital it was for researchers to discover the gene responsible for the disorder and made up my mind to help with the research in whatever way I could. I became acquainted with Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue in the fall of 2006 when a Lucky Star volunteer who knew my husband emailed us about an energetic, one and a half year old tri-colored boy named Ray who was looking for his forever home. Ray came from an Amish puppy mill in Ohio and was rescued from being "put down" after he failed to be sold at a dog auction because of the condition he was in. Ray was emaciated, had lost his ears, had almost no coat to speak of, had rotting toenails on his rear legs, and pink scar tissue covering one of his hocks and paws. One week after we heard about him his foster mom brought him to meet us and Ray found his forever home. Today Ray is a happy, healthy, and loving canine companion—thanks to the very dedicated folks at Lucky Star, folks who give all they've got and then some to help save the lives of dogs trapped in puppy mills. There are many wonderful organizations and dedicated people helping to save the lives of animals in this world, but these two organizations have special meaning for me so I decided I would help them out in some small way by making a donation to each of them with a portion of the proceeds from Rainbow Paws. Scroll down for more information about these organizations.

Syringomyelia DNA Research Fund

Syringomyelia is a devastating condition caused by a congenital malformation of the occipital bone of the skull. Specifically it is described as an intraspinal disorder caused by the congenital malformation referred to as caudal occipital malformation syndrome (COMS), occipital hypoplasia (OH), or syringomyelia secondary to occipital hypoplasia (Chiari-like malformation). Essentially the skull is too small for the brain, which forces the cerebellum to protrude through the opening at the base of the skull (the foramen magnum) where the spinal cord enters. The cerebrospinal fluid (CFS) that normally circulates around the brain and down the spinal cord gets blocked, causing rising fluid pressure which in turn can result in an excessive accumulation of CFS in the ventricles of the brain, causing them to swell and compress the surrounding brain (hydrocephalus), and create pockets of fluid (syrinxes) in the spine. This damages the nerves of the spinal cord, has neurological effects, and can produce great pain. There is no cure for SM and treatment options are very limited. Medical management and surgery are the only means of treating a dog with SM, and in severely affected cases the dog can suffer so badly that euthanasia becomes the only option. The incidence of SM in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is widespread. Researchers estimate that up to 95% of Cavaliers have the Chiari-like malformation and that as many as 50% actually have SM. While it is less common the following breeds have been diagnosed with SM too: The project to collect and archive Cavalier King Charles Spaniel DNA to identify the mode of inheritance and genes responsible for Syringomyelia was initiated by Clare Rusbridge, BVMS, Dip ECVN, MRCVS, European and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology, Penny Knowler, BSc, and the Cavalier Club UK. Clare is currently collaborating with Dr Guy Rouleau, MD PhD FRCP(C), at the Centre for the Study of Brain Diseases, CHUM Research Centre, Montreal, and Dr Berge Minassian, MD CM FRCP(C), Centre for Applied Genomics at the Hospital for Sick Kids, Toronto, Canada, on the Syringomyelia DNA Research Project or Genome Project as it is also known. The aim of their research is to identify and characterize the genetic factors that predispose to Chiari 1 malformation in an attempt to increase the understanding of the pathophysiology of SM for better diagnosis, clinical management and ultimate prevention. If you'd like to read the article "Inherited Occipital Hypoplasia/Syringomyelia in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Experiences in Setting Up a Worldwide DNA Collection" that was written by Clare Rusbridge, Penny Knowler, Guy A. Rouleau, Berge A. Minassian, and Jan Rothuizen and published in the Journal of Heredity click on this link at the Oxford Journals website:

  http://jhered.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/96/7/745

To find out how you can help with this ongoing research click on the following link at the CKCS Syringomyelia Infosite: 

  http://sm.cavaliertalk.com/research/research/donate.html

Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue

Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue, Inc., has rescued over 800 Cavaliers since becoming incorporated in January 2000. The organization's goal is to rescue breeding age Cavaliers from the horrors of puppy mills. Nearly everyone is familiar with the puppies sold in pet stores. Most of these puppies are acquired from wholesaler brokers who purchase their "stock" from people who mass-produce many different breeds of puppies for profit. In an effort to provide a happier, healthier existence for the breeding dogs from these puppy mills who have spent their lives confined to filthy cages, and in an attempt to help limit the chance of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies ending up in pet stores, a fund was created to purchase any breeding age Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that may come up in the various auction sales that are held throughout the United States.

Lucky Star has begun to see more and more young puppies at auctions, usually those who were rejected by the puppy brokers for some reason. But because selling puppies at auctions has become a very lucrative business for some of the commercial breeders, Lucky Star will not contribute to their profit by purchasing a puppy as it will only condemn the parents to continued breeding and suffering. It is therefore stated in Lucky Star's Policies and Procedures that they will only purchase dogs of breeding age—and they always try to get the oldest dogs, those who have already suffered the most and deserve a soft bed, good food, and some kindness. The process of rescuing, transporting, fostering, and providing veterinary care for Lucky Star rescues is a challenging and expensive one. All rescued Cavaliers are immediately transported from the auction to a licensed veterinarian for boarding and examination. There the dogs are tested for brucellosis and receive a thorough physical exam. The vet will check the condition of the teeth and gums, eyes, ears, patellae, heart, skin and coat. Treatment for coccidea and other intestinal parasites is begun and vaccinations are given. All rescues are spayed/neutered. They will be boarded for 10 days or more (depending on the needs of the individual dog) and given any additional treatment or procedures determined necessary by the veterinarian. Upon the dog's release from veterinary care, he or she is placed in a carefully screened and approved foster home. Rescues receive a minimum of two weeks in a foster home, but foster care may sometimes be needed for up to a few months, depending on the emotional and physical needs of the dog and in the interest of finding him or her the perfect home. Occasionally, the foster home will need to continue ongoing veterinary care. The foster family serves as the newly rescued dog's mentor as he or she begins his/her transition to a new life, which includes housebreaking, basic training, and assessment of temperament and behavior. The assessment provided by the foster family is fundamental to finding the dog his or her perfect match for a forever home. The foster home is the vital link between the deplorable puppy mill situation and a "normal" life. Interaction with family members and good socialization skills are developed with an eye toward a bright future. Once Lucky Star is certain that they understand the needs of a particular dog, they then begin looking for the perfect, permanent home for him or her.

Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue, Inc., is a nonprofit, charitable organization. Their mission is to rescue and protect the breed they love so dearly. Because of all the expenses involved in rescuing these dogs, restoring them to health, and re-homing them, donations are always needed and always very much welcomed. All donations will be used to purchase breeding age Cavaliers at auctions and to provide for their health care needs after they've been rescued.

To find out more about Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue or to see the dogs they currently have available for adoption, please click on this link to the Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue site:

http://www.luckystarcavalierrescue.org/