12/29/18 The DNA test reveals Shorty you are......

….... an island village dog. More specific, you are a Southeast Asia Island Village dog.

You say - you needed a DNA test to tell you that?  He was born on an island in a village. And that was my response as well, Really? An  island village dog? I gave them that information when I registered Shorty for his DNA analysis. I wrote back and told them the obvious and really wanted to know what mix of breeds might carry genetically. There is a history of German shepherds and Japanese Akitas on the island, did he have any of that DNA? I also told him he did not look like most dogs there - they have short hair and are tall, Shorty is, well, short, and has long thick hair. He is not typical, although there are a couple more short dogs of various coloration in the area. Interesting, none are as handsome or as friendly as Shorty. There is one particularly short black dog in the next village, and when Shorty sees him there is really little attraction. Go figure.

The response from the company in response to my disappointment was pleasant and complemented Shorty with phrases like: 

• Shorty is actually an exceptionally interesting dog, genetically. (He is an exceptional dog. Period.)
• These dogs aren't mixes of purebred dogs at all, but descendants of dog populations that existed before pedigreed breeding (which largely arose in the last century).
• These dogs have 0% ancestry from any of the breeds in our database (and have a very extensive list of breeds), so we can safely say Shorty is not technically a mixed breed dog. 

• Shorty is a really, really interesting dog (I know.). He could be hugely helpful in advancing the understanding of dog population history and the colonization of the Pacific-- something a mixed breed dog wouldn't be able to.
• He even has a mitochondrial haplotype (A9a) that we've never observed in a purebred or mixed breed dog. Rather, it only pops up in Asian village dogs, which are the most diverse population of dogs on Earth (at least genetically).
• ….. the village dog designation isn't a breed result of exclusion (we're not saying we don't know what breeds are in Shorty), but rather a definitive result.
  
• If we can get more genetic signatures from Micronesian dogs on more islands, we might be able to see whether these Asian genetic signatures are ancient (they descend from the first dogs that colonized these islands) or whether these dogs' ancestors came to the islands more recently. 

On the good news side he carries no serious genetic predisposition to any disease or illness except he is a carrier of a recessive allele for skeletal dysplasia. That means his offspring might be short and that this is not enough for him to have the condition. Except he is short, so he does have the medical condition. Hence his name, Shorty, of course.

      Report: Carrier
      System: Skeletal
      Condition: Skeletal Dysplasia 2 (COL11A2)
      A disease of skeletal development, this causes dogs to have abnormally short legs but similar     body lengths compared to unaffected dogs, and can be observed by the time dogs reach 5 to 6 months of age. This has been best characterized in certain lineages of Labrador Retrievers. Other than their height, affected Labradors suffer no ill effects from their condition. However, affected dogs almost never meet breed standard.

So maybe on my next trip I may try to work out a deal with the DNA company to get more village dog DNA swabs to help veterinary medicine learn more about migration of dogs to Yap, Micronesia. This could be Shorty's contribution to society. I was thinking maybe I can brainstorm about helping in the quest to learn more about the origin of dogs on the island Yap.

Until then, Shorty is Yapese. No more will I call him a rescue or mixed or mutt. He is Yapese. Pink and black tongue and all. Shorty is truly my Yapese dog.

In reviewing his DNA relatives, he does share about 2% of his DNA with German Shepherds. Not surprised as he does have herding instincts, especially in the morning when it is time to get out of bed. He rounds us all up and escorts us outside!

They tested one other dog from a Pacific island that may be Shorty's second cousin - they share 7.8% of their DNA. I asked them to let me know more about that dog.  I am going out on a limb and say the  name of the dog may be Bear based on the information they sent me of other Southeast Asia Island Village dogs (that info changed from when I first viewed it to today). Bear's owner was also in the Peace Corps. Would be nice to be in touch.

There was one dog named Roxy that most closely resembled Shorty, but I now cannot find her to get her picture. There is no picture for Bear. If any reader can help me locate the possible cousin, I would be very appreciative. I suspect she is in the USA and not on Yap, but not certain. 

And by the way, Fionnegan and Gunnarr are also doing great. We know they are bichon frise and there is no reason to test them. Doesn't matter if they weren't. I love them all.

Here are a few recent photographs of the boys.

 

They all are also very happy dogs and love running around outside in the yard. Right now they are all wrestling behind my chair as I try to type. Working from home has become much more challenging lately. It seems that every 5 minutes Shorty barks to go outside - to chase squirrels. Or rather to protect the bird feeders from the squirrels! I respond for the first few times just in case it is a nature call, after that they get the settle command and a request to go to sleep.

Fionnegan wears the blue collar, Gunnarr wears the red collar.

Hope you all are doing well as we wind down 2018 and look forward to 2019.

07.12.15 Green Boat Men update - please send English books

We went to visit the men from the green boat early this afternoon. They all were interviewed by the UN refugee association representatives and were allowed to call home. (Yes!)  No real news just yet.

There are a couple of men who don't feel well and they have been taken to the Outpatient Department to see the doctor and were prescribed medications. It has to be very difficult to stay here all day with nothing to do. The governing body in Pohnpei will not allow the men to work - which is most unfortunate as work or doing something productive would keep up morale. The stress and pressure of  being in an environment where they are cold and wet when it rains is hard on them. And there is little for them to do. They were told thet may be moved, but no one is certain yet.

A while ago I asked if they wanted books and they didn't. I think that was because they thought they would be leaving soon and because they thought their English was not good enough. Today they asked if we could send them books in English.  And I just sent an email to IOM asking if they can go to the library.

If any one anywhere is reading my blog and you have a reading book or two or three in English that you can donate to the men, here is the address:

Dr. Rosemary
Peace Corps Micronesia - YAP
PO Box 190
Colonia, Yap 96943 FM

I will be certain to deliver them as soon as I receive them.

Here is a picture from today. You will notice Hope and a new puppy Ali that they  have adopted. Shorty is not in the picture as he was keeping cool under a table. Not all are in the picture as some were resting in the back and I did not go back there.

Someone likes dogs as much as I do. See the new puppy Ali under the table?

Shorty keeping cool.

Ali runs a lot. White tip on tail not seen. She is probably about two months old. All three dogs get along. Hope has an injured left back leg, appears to be at the hip or knee level. He jumped down a long distance and hurt his leg. He can still get around but puts no weight on the leg. The men checked his foot and no cuts or thorns. I did check him and no broken bones, so a little physical therapy might help. The men will do a few passive range of motion exercises for him.