Animal Welfare Professionals

Wanted to share this exciting news and press release:

The Inner Pup, a New Orleans-based nonprofit dedicated to improving the health and well-being of dogs in underserved communities, is part of a team that has been awarded a $567,000 grant from Maddie's Fund^®, a national family foundation established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals.

The Inner Pup's role is to be the clinical arm of the One Touch Study, a 2.5-year research study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a cost-efficient, easy-to-administer alternative protocol for treating heartworm disease in dogs. The study aims to broaden access to lifesaving care and expand the spectrum of treatment options in veterinary clinics and community-based programs.

"Thanks to Maddie, this grant will allow us to confront the heartworm crisis where it hits hardest-right here in New Orleans, where year-round mosquitoes make heartworm disease an endemic threat," said @genie goldring, Heartworm Treatment Co-Manager at The Inner Pup. "This study has the potential to expand the spectrum of care, bring national awareness to the realities of heartworm disease, and offer a practical, affordable treatment path that more pet owners can follow. That means more dogs get tested, more get treated, and more lives are saved."

The One Touch Study is led by Dr. Linda Jacobson ( @Linda Jacobson ) of the Toronto Humane Society and Dr. Julie Levy ( @Julie Levy ) of the University of Florida. The study team includes local veterinary consultant Dr. Mike Greenberg ( @Mike Greenberg )and on-site veterinary associate Dr. Hannah Hegwood, who will oversee daily clinical operations. Since 2016, The Inner Pup has hosted 136 heartworm prevention clinics and continues to pioneer accessible care models for underserved communities.

Formal enrollment of dogs in the study will begin on August 1, 2025, with plans to enroll over the course of the first year. Each enrolled dog will be followed for up to 21 months to track treatment outcomes, compliance, and overall health. The Inner Pup encourages community members and veterinary professionals to stay connected for updates and opportunities to participate.

Full release

#AccesstoCare

------------------------------
Brittany Ransonet
Marketing Communications Project Manager
Maddie's Fund
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Our team has been meeting weekly for a few months, preparing for training that begins this weekend and formal enrollment in August. TIP has conducted successful soft kill heartworm treatment since 2018, and we are hopeful to have renowned heartworm researchers who have designed a double blind study to Study the efficacy of a protocol that holds great hopes for heartworm positive dogs everywhere. Thanks to Maddie's Fund, we are one step closer to this huge milestone!

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genie goldring
VP
The Inner Pup
LA
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-25-2025 07:42 AM
From: Brittany Ransonet
Subject: New Orleans-based One Touch Heartworm Treatment Study to Test Affordable, Accessible Heartworm Treatment Launches with a $567K Grant from Maddie's Fund

Wanted to share this exciting news and press release:

The Inner Pup, a New Orleans-based nonprofit dedicated to improving the health and well-being of dogs in underserved communities, is part of a team that has been awarded a $567,000 grant from Maddie's Fund^®, a national family foundation established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals.

The Inner Pup's role is to be the clinical arm of the One Touch Study, a 2.5-year research study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a cost-efficient, easy-to-administer alternative protocol for treating heartworm disease in dogs. The study aims to broaden access to lifesaving care and expand the spectrum of treatment options in veterinary clinics and community-based programs.

"Thanks to Maddie, this grant will allow us to confront the heartworm crisis where it hits hardest-right here in New Orleans, where year-round mosquitoes make heartworm disease an endemic threat," said @genie goldring, Heartworm Treatment Co-Manager at The Inner Pup. "This study has the potential to expand the spectrum of care, bring national awareness to the realities of heartworm disease, and offer a practical, affordable treatment path that more pet owners can follow. That means more dogs get tested, more get treated, and more lives are saved."

The One Touch Study is led by Dr. Linda Jacobson ( @Linda Jacobson ) of the Toronto Humane Society and Dr. Julie Levy ( @Julie Levy ) of the University of Florida. The study team includes local veterinary consultant Dr. Mike Greenberg ( @Mike Greenberg )and on-site veterinary associate Dr. Hannah Hegwood, who will oversee daily clinical operations. Since 2016, The Inner Pup has hosted 136 heartworm prevention clinics and continues to pioneer accessible care models for underserved communities.

Formal enrollment of dogs in the study will begin on August 1, 2025, with plans to enroll over the course of the first year. Each enrolled dog will be followed for up to 21 months to track treatment outcomes, compliance, and overall health. The Inner Pup encourages community members and veterinary professionals to stay connected for updates and opportunities to participate.

Full release

#AccesstoCare

------------------------------
Brittany Ransonet
Marketing Communications Project Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------