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Join the world's largest pet
community science projectTogether, we can discover new ways to help pets and their people live happier, healthier lives.
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Darwin’s Ark lets ordinary pet owners become scientific partners. Our projects, such as Darwin’s Dogs, combine genetics and behavior to advance the understanding of complex diseases. We’re a non-profit that subscribes to the open science model. This means we do not own and will never sell your pet’s data. You contribute to an open source database and we share all the new discoveries we find freely with you and researchers around the world. Together we can advance health care for pets and their humans. For details on our process, see our Frequently Asked Questions. Dog owners know their dogs. We’re asking dog owners to contribute their knowledge of their pets to help us learn more about how genetics influence health and behavior. Join us on this exciting journey! Ticks are a serious health issue for pets and people alike. By studying the ticks participants send in, we’re learning about the diseases and discovering possible remedies and solutions to this modern-day scourge. Cats have been our companions for centuries, yet we’ve just begun to unravel (like a ball of yarn!) the complex and diverse genetics that contribute to their health and behavior. We need cat owners’ understanding and expertise to launch this project! Join the mailing list below. We’re studying everything from behavior to food allergies. Our research depends on the support of our partner organizations. -Dr. Ian Dunbar, Animal behaviorist, and writer -Victoria Stilwell, Star of Animal Planet’s hit TV series It’s Me or the Dog -Ally Phel. & Reilly, Participant When I first brought Dashiell home, people who met him regularly exclaimed “What a confident... When you get a new dog you’re instantly inundated with advice from pretty much everywhere…... Training a dog is about way more than teaching them to sit on cue or...
The “Science” of Community Science
DOG CANCER PROJECT
By studying cancer in dogs, we’re working to help both people and dogs survive cancer.
Dogs get many different types of cancer, and a lot of these cancers look and behave like human cancers. Canine cancers are also treated with many of the same drugs and treatments that humans receive. Additionally, some cancers that are very rare in people are more common and easier to study in dogs.
WORKING DOG PROJECT
Working together to develop new genomic tools for working dog programs
Working dogs fill countless, critical roles, from ensuring our national security to helping people with disabilities live more independently. While demand for working dogs and service dogs is steadily increasing, the supply of these talented dogs hasn’t kept pace, with 50-80% of dogs failing to complete training programs.
MEASURING THE EFFECT
42,230
DOGS REGISTERED
3,056,323
ANSWERS COLLECTED
DOGS
TICKS
CATS
OUR PARTNERS
OUR COMMUNITY
“Thank you Darwin’s Dogs for delving into the wondrous and ineffable Mystery of Mutts.”
“Darwin’s Dogs is giving us insight to the most precious science of all – the science of discovery, health, and relationship.”
“What I like most about the Darwin’s Dogs project is that it celebrates mutts and the people who love them.”
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Darwin’s Ark is a non-profit scientific research project seeking answers to common health and behavioral issues. We can’t succeed without your help. Please join us as a valued contributor. Thank you!
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