It is official, the DNA test for Neonatal Cerebellar Ataxia for Coton de Tulear is now available.
This is wonderful news since this is a serious fatal disease. Fortunately it is not common in Cotons and now that we have a DNA test, we could conceivably eliminate it from the breed entirely.
Please go the link below for further information please go to:
Ataxia DNA Testing

Make sure you tune in or TIVO!
The ACC's mission is to protect the Coton de Tulear by educating the public on ethical breeding and exposing abuse and exploitation.
Keep in mind as you're viewing this program that the Coton is a "rare breed". If they do not remain a "rare breed" and become recognized by the AKC you WILL see many many more Cotons living under the brutal conditions of puppy mills because more and more people will profit from their breeding the Coton.
Please help us keep the Coton de Tulear safe from puppy mills, Petland and pet stores.

Animal Planet's program on Petland and Puppy Mills

Good news! They have located the DNA marker in Coton for Banderas Syndrome. More information will be coming soon. Please read below:

It has taken a while, but if you keep walking you get there eventually. We have found the mutation responsible for Bandera’s syndrome in Coton de Tulears. It is quite an interesting gene that explains a lot about why we see the signs we do in the Bandera’s pups. We will be offering a DNA test for the mutation shortly so breeders can identify carriers of the trait and avoid any Bandera’s pups in the future. My colleague, Dr. Gary Johnson, is the one who does the real work on these studies and he will be getting in contact with you to let you know the details about testing.

Dennis O'Brien DVM PhD
Professor of Neurology
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Missouri

Bad news for premium dog foods, Natura has been bought out by P&G which means the quality will tank and will go down in quality and probably will no longer be a recommended dog food. Natura makes these following dog foods:
Innova
Healthwise
Evo
California Naturals
Karma
Mother Nature
Watch very closely for the ingredients to change and if it does, please do not buy and feed to your beloved dogs.
Natura bought by P&G

These Springtime beauties are from Cotton Blossom Cotons. Miss Jade has outdone herself with these gorgeous girls. The boys are gonna love them, look out!
www.cottonblossomcotons.com

PERMISSION GRANTED TO POST AND CROSS-POST

CALIFORNIA--Medical Exemption Bill AB 2000 ACTION ALERT!

California Assembly Member Curt Hagman has filed a bill which will insert a Medical Exemption Clause into California's Rabies Law. Assembly Bill AB200 http://www.leginfo.%20ca.gov./pub/%2009-10/bill/%20asm/ab_1951-%202000/ab_2000_%20bill_20100217_%20introduced.%20html

"This bill would exempt from the vaccination requirement the owner of a dog that a licensed veterinarian determines, on an annual basis, may have a potentially lethal reaction to the vaccination."

The bill has gone to the Agriculture Committee, concerned pet owners should call the Committee Secretary (Mona Wood) at 916-319-2084 and/or contact the Committee members at the phone numbers or e-mail addresses below and leave a message for the Committee that you want them to recommend passage of this bill. Feline owners should request that cats be included as well.

Cathleen Galgiani - Chair
Dem-17 (916) 319-2017 Assemblymember.Galgiani@assembly.ca.gov

Tom Berryhill - Vice Chair
Rep-25 (916) 319-2025 Assemblymember.Berryhill@assembly.ca.gov

Connie Conway
Rep-34 (916) 319-2034 Assemblymember.Conway@assembly.ca.gov

Jean Fuller
Rep-32 (916) 319-2032 Assemblymember.Fuller@assembly.ca.gov

Jerry Hill
Dem-19 (916) 319-2019 Assemblymember.Hill@assembly.ca.gov

Fiona Ma
Dem-12 (916) 319-2012 Assemblymember.Ma@assembly.ca.gov

Tony Mendoza
Dem-56 (916) 319-2056 Assemblymember.Mendoza@assembly.ca.gov

Mariko Yamada
Dem-8 (916) 319-2008 Assemblymember.Yamada@assembly.ca.gov

New warning on topical flea/tick products! Please Read!
Link:
Flea/Tick product warning!

The American Coton Club has a new Youtube channel where you can post all your Coton de Tulear videos. Please check out all the Coton fun:
ACC Youtube Channel

Here are some angels from Connie at Cotton Blossom Cotons. The newborns at 4 days old, a girl and boy. Gorgeous pigment all ready coming in. And then we have the happy smiling Lulu.

To:mailto:acc@cotondogs.com

Subject: Thank you from The HSUS puppy mills campaign

Dear Mr Hiskes,

I am writing to thank you for posting the update about the Petland lawsuit on your Blog last week, and especially to thank you for your support of our efforts to combat puppy mills and also for being a humane breeder!

The HSUS wholeheartedly supports responsible dog breeders, we publish several guides for the public to help them find and identify a good dog breeder, including our Puppy Buyer’s Guide and our Good Breeder Checklist. These are available for free on our website or by mail. You can see the Puppy Buyer’s Guide at http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/tips/finding_good_dog_breeder.html%20and%20download%20our%20Good%20Breeder%20Checklist%20at%20http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/pets/puppy_mills/how_find_good_dog_breeder.pdf
The more good breeders that start coming forward to say “I am against puppy mills,” and say it loudly and proudly, we have an even greater chance at helping the animals in the facilities providing substandard care!

If you would like to know more about our work with breeders, please do not hesitate to contact me. We would be delighted to stay in touch with you!

Sincerely,

Beau

Beau Archer

Outreach Coordinator, Puppy Mills Campaign

barcher@humanesociety.org

t 301.258.3150 f 301.721.6414

The Humane Society of the United States

2100 L Street NW Washington, DC 20037

humanesociety.org/puppymills

Lawsuit against Petland-Please read

Good news for the fight against puppymills and petstores!

For further links and information visit the UCARE (United Coton de Tulear Association for Rescue and Education) web site at http://www.cotonrescue.us/and talk to the people who see firsthand the condition and care of Cotons and other breeds in the puppymills. These puppymills, also called "large volume breeders", are the source of pet store dogs. The dogs are shipped across the country in large trucks stacked to the ceiling with crates containing puppies. Sometimes these puppies are torn away from their mothers before they are weaned. The puppies that survive are cleaned up to make them presentable in the pet stores.
You can make a difference! The puppymills feed the pet stores. No reputable breeder ever places puppies in a pet store to be sold to someone they haven't carefully interviewed. If the pet stores in your home town sell puppies, kittens and other live animals, don't shop at that pet store and let the owner know why. Write to your local newspaper, find other concerned people through your local humane society, picket the pet store and find other ways to let them know their business will improve if they stop selling puppies. Join the growing number of pet lovers throughout the U.S. Counties like Santa Cruz and Santa Clara in California have convinced pet stores, including chains like Pet Smart, that it is not smart to sell puppies. If the pet stores stop selling puppies, the puppymillers will go out of business. Pet stores are their major outlet.

Puppies under the tree at Cottonball Cotons. They're ready for their sleigh ride.

Here are a festive Lana and Love all dressed for Santa. Lexus prefers the train.
Then we have the festive 4 week old puppies, so cute.