Dr. Benitez Sets an Example for Her Clients
Dr. Marie Benitez has always loved and owned Golden Retrievers. She enrolled her current dog, Flynn Rider, in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study in part to set an example for her clients. Governor Animal Clinic in San Diego, where she practices, has a large Golden Retriever base, and Dr. Benitez wanted to urge her clients to become an integral part of history: participating in one of the longest and largest studies in veterinary medicine!
Her plan worked. Wilson, Syrah, Boomer and Kaia joined Flynn as the first dogs from Governor Animal Clinic to enroll in the study.
Dr. Benitez knows all too well the pain of losing a pet to cancer. She was inspired to join the study in 2012 after one of her patients, a handsome 2½-year-old Golden Retriever, was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. His family was heartbroken when they had to make the painful decision to euthanize him at such a young age. Dr. Benitez hopes that with the support and involvement of her clients and other veterinarians, this study will help to uncover the secrets behind the causes of cancer.
“This is a groundbreaking study! I’m so excited to see what we learn from this study—not just about Golden Retrievers, but about all dogs,” she says. “The study has been very easy to participate in, both as a dog owner and as a veterinarian.”
She urges owners and fellow veterinarians to join her, ultimately helping all breeds and making a difference in the canine world.
To learn more about Morris Animal Foundation and our other programs please visit morrisanimalfoundation.org.