The overall purpose
of the Duchess Fund is to enlarge the amount and
enhance the quality of data available to the
individual practitioner relative to the care and
needs of potbellied (and other miniature) pet
pigs as a long term companion animal. It is
expected that the fund will promote, encourage
and support research that leads to an extended
life as well as optimal quality of life. Specific
objectives include:
- Establish
and maintain a repository for existing
and new data that is both
conveniently accessible and supportive of
research efforts.
- Collect
existing data that is currently held by
individuals, practitioners and
universities and incorporate into the
central database.
- Promote
orderly data collection efforts such as
surveys of breed characteristics and
health conditions and integrate results
into the database.
- Fund
diagnostic studies and necropsies that
have a high probability of adding to the
available store of knowledge and might
not otherwise be affordable for some pet
owners.
- Support
projects that have a high probability of
enhancing our ability to extend and
improve the quality of life for pet pigs.
- Organize
and support conferences that bring
researchers together to share new data on
quality of life management for miniature
pet pigs.
- The
medical records are completely
confidential and only a case number is
used for identification purposes. The
Duchess Fund retains access to the owners
and veterinarians names should future
follow up be required on certain cases.
Veterinarians world-wide may search
on-line for specific cases using criteria
such as "symptoms" and
"diagnosis" in the database.
We will be
offering a video tape on the website illustrating
routine veterinary care of potbellied pigs
including neuters, spays, hoof trims, tusk trims,
vaccinations and blood withdrawal among a few.
Our Medical Library will have a host of articles
pertaining to diseases and conditions of
potbellied pigs as well as links to other
resources. We will continue to enlarge the
library.
The
contribution of your pet pig's medical records
enables us to fulfill the goals of the medical
database. Please print out a release form and
forward to your Veterinarian so that we may
obtain and add your pet pig's medical records to
our confidential medical database. We appreciate
records on both living and deceased pet pigs.
Your
monetary donations to this Fund empowers us to
financially contribute to various medical
projects and research which are aimed at
fulfilling the goals of the Duchess Fund. Make
check payable to "Duchess Fund"
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