Frightening New Canine Cancer is Contagious

Scientists in England recently announced that their preliminary genetic study of Sticker's Sarcoma in canines resulted in the discovery that the tumor cells are actually clones of one another. The study contained 40 dogs from 5 continents with the disease. Researchers believe that the parent tumor cell probably arose in a domesticated Asian dog more than 1,000 years ago. The disease spread as a contagiously over time through dogs biting or licking one another but primarily through sex.

To me, this sort of transmissible cancer is just one more reason why spaying and neutering is so important. Prevent overpopulation. Prevent disease. Prevent unnecessary death.