Dogor, my ancestor frozen in time

Watson here and I’m happy to report that scientists have discovered an 18,000-year-old frozen pup in Siberia. He was two months old at the time of his death and so well preserved that scientists can use his DNA. They named him Dogor, which means friend, and he may be the missing link between dogs and wolves. That means I have a new greater, great-grandpa.

We won’t know for a while because they are testing his DNA, and recent analysis hasn’t confirmed if Dogor is a wolf or dog. Dogor may be an entirely different species that dogs descended from, the beginning of dogs as we now know them. It may take several tries to pin point the data. Dogor may tell us when dogs became domesticated.

Domesticated dogs have been around for quite a while. In fact, there is no real proof when dogs appeared. In a recent study published by Nature Communications, it was suggested that modern dogs were domesticated from a single wolf population 20,000 years ago.

The wolf population lived continuously in Europe for thousands of years but went extinct, leaving a cold trail and many questions. With the discovery of Dogor, there is a chance that part of the story will become clearer. We may actually find out when dogs became man’s best friend.

I’m not too sure I can trace my family tree back to my greater, great-grandpa, but I don’t really have to, I have another family besides the Canis familiaris, and that is Homo sapiens, mom and dad for short. I guess you could call them my Dogors.

IN NEED OF

Pine shavings for guests’ kennels.

Bleach to clean guests’ kennels.

Aluminum cans: we are still taking them. If you have cans to pick up, give us a call (775-423-7500), and we’ll come get them.

Folks who need their animals spay/neutered for free. This is a limited time offer until the funds run out. Apply soon or you will miss your chance.

SHOUT OUT TO

To all the folks who supported us at Walmart. A big pooch smooch to you!

Audrey Mondhink for the bag of cans. Paws applause to you!

COME SEE US

CAPS will be at Walmart in January with the Kissin’ Booth and a puckered-up pooch. Come by for a pooch smooch. Be sure to check out our merchandise after you get a pooch smooch! Don’t forget to get a CAPS 2020 calendar.

Christmas on the Farm (Saturday) at Lattin Farms. Please come by and see us and vote for our booth. All funds for this event will be donated to a local nonprofit.

DON’T FORGET

December Pet Holiday: National Mutt Month. Take your mutt for a strut!

Christmas for CAPS: please sign up for Amazon Smiles so we can get monetary support from your purchases. You can also donate directly on Facebook by just hitting the donate button. You are our Santa Claus, and we thank you for your support!

To register in the AmazonSmile program, a website operated by Amazon. Customers enjoy the same selection of products, low prices and shopping features as on Amazon.com. The only difference is that, when you shop on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organization selected by you.

CAPS 2020 calendars are now available call: 775-423-7500.

CONTACT CAPS

CAPS’ mailing address is P.O. Box 5128, Fallon, NV 89407. CAPS’ phone number is 775-423-7500. CAPS’ email address is caps@cccomm.net. Please visit the CAPS website (www.capsnevada.com) and Facebook page (Churchill Animal Protection Society). Be sure to “Like” CAPS on Facebook because we are really likeable.

CAPS is open to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kathleen Williams-Miller is a CAPS volunteer. Contact me, jkwmil@outlook.com.