(directions follow)

• A first step relative (sire, dam, littermate) of an affected Aussie;

• Other close relatives;

• Dogs who appear further back in the pedigrees of more than one affected Aussie?

If so, we would greatly appreciate your participation! UMo is very close to having enough DNA to start serious genetic screening. The faster we can get the rest of the DNA they need, the closer we’ll be to a marker and a screening test for this awful disease.

• There is no cost to the owner or breeder.

• Each dog participating must be accompanied by a pedigree and completed registration

form (attached).

• You can also DNA your dogs at the same time! (You will be personally responsible for that expense and shipping.)

held in conjunction with ASCNE's blood draw for U of M0

If anyone would like to have their dogs profiled through the ASCA DNA

Program, please e-mail Linda Gray at LMGray@meganet.net or phone

401-625-5926. Since we are doing a blood draw, we have two choices of

samples to use. Blood cards can be used for parentage verification and only

require about eight (8) drops of blood. The second choice is the blood tube for

parentage verification and storage for the ASCA Gene Bank.

If you are interested in donating your dog's blood to the Gene Bank, please

go to the ASCA website at asca.org, download the form, fill it out and

bring it with you. When you call Linda, please be sure you tell her you will need the blood tube kit.

From the West: Take the MA Pike to Exit 10A (Rte 146 South towards Providence, RI). Once past the toll booth, turn right at the first light and then another immediate right (no more than 50 ft) onto Rte 146 South. Follow Rte 146 to Rte 16 (Douglas/Uxbridge) exit. At stop sign at end of ramp, turn left and follow Rte 16 into Uxbridge Center. At first light, turn right and at following light turn left (you will still be on Rte 16.) As you leave downtown, you will go roughly one to two miles and you will see an old yellow mill on your right hand side with the Encore consignment shop located inside. Just beyond the mill, turn right onto Blackstone St. Follow Blackstone St to 2nd street on left, which is Hollis St. Turn left onto Hollis and go to 2nd driveway on right. Driveway looks like another street and it heads up a steep hill. At the top of the hill turn into driveway on the right. Exact address is 9 Hollis St. and it's a blue colonial with red and white trim.

From the Cape, Boston, NH, and ME: Take I-495 to the Rte 85 (Milford) exit, which is the second exit south of the MA Pike. Head south on Rte 85 to the end, where it intersects with Rte 16. Turn right onto Rte 16 and follow through the towns of Milford, Hopedale, Mendon, and finally into Uxbridge. Shortly after entering Uxbridge, you will see the Italian American club on your right; follow Rte 16 around a bend and you will see a large green highway sign for Rte 122 on your left. Just before that sign, Blackstone St. will intersect on your left. Turn left onto Blackstone St. and follow directions above.

From the South, CT: Take I-395 to Exit 2 (Webster/Douglas) in MA. Turn right and head East on Rte 16 through the town of Douglas and into Uxbridge Center. Follow directions above for points East and West for additional directions.