Sales of Custom Designed Collars Raise Money for Canine Cancer Cure

2 Hounds Design and artist Xan Blackburn team up to raise money and awareness for canine cancer research through Hope for Hounds.

Indian Trail, NC (PRWEB) March 5, 2008 -- It's an annual occurrence. 2 Hounds Design - creators of distinctive, custom made martingale dog collars - develop and sell limited-issue collars in support of Hope for Hounds. The goal is to raise both money and awareness in the fight against canine cancer.

According to Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University, "Approximately 80-85% of all canine skeletal tumors are diagnosed as osteosarcomas (OSA). Canine OSA occurs most often in dogs 7-9 years of age. Large breed dogs are at 150 times greater risk of OSA. Highly aggressive, over 90% of all clinically significant OSAs have already micrometastasized by the time of diagnosis."

2 Hounds Design owner, Alisha Navarro, recalls, "I have watched too many dogs lose their battles to cancer. I wanted to do something to help find a cure for this horrific disease before it claims the lives of any more helpless pets. I am excited about the progress Dr. Couto has made with his research and am delighted to be able to support his efforts."

To help further the cause, each year 2 Hounds Design releases limited-issue, custom-designed collars. This year, the collaboration between 2 Hounds Design and artist Xan Blackburn has produced an entire line of fashions for hounds and humans.

The ribbon for 2008 (created exclusively for 2 Hounds Design) depicts the words "hope, believe, and love" separated by silhouettes of hounds play bowing and standing. The ribbon is layered atop 10 different colors of grosgrain and handcrafted into Martingale collars, buckle Martingale collars, side-release collars and leashes for pooches. Their pet parents can purchase matching headbands and key fobs.

From now until March 31, 2008, 2 Hounds Design will double their donation to $10 for each collar sold, $6 for each leash, $5 per headband, and $3 for each key fob sold. To purchase items for charity, visit Hope for Hounds Collars.

Dr. Couto is grateful for the added contributions, saying, "The Ohio State University Greyhound Health and Wellness Program is actively engaged in clinical cancer research. Hope For Hounds and 2 Hounds Design have been instrumental in providing support for studies on osteosarcoma in Greyhounds. With their help and additional funding from the Morris Animal Foundation we have completed a clinical trial of a new chemotherapy combination that has resulted in excellent survival times in Greyhounds with bone cancer." To date, 2 Hounds Design has helped raise in excess of $18,000 for canine cancer research by hosting two charity auctions and by donating a portion of proceeds from special release collars.

2 Hounds Design is a woman-owned company that provides high-fashion, designer Martingale and side-release dog collars for all breeds, with a special focus on large breeds such as Great Danes and sighthounds such as Greyhounds, Whippets and Afghan Hounds. More information on Dr. Couto's work can be found at http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/GuillermoCouto.htm.