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7 new breeds have just become eligible to compete at the Westminster dog show.

The dogs are unique and adorable, but is all of this OK?

The Westminster Kennel Club dog show is a 140-year-old annual competition that draws in over 3,000 dogs from all 50 states.

Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images.


Held at Madison Square Garden in New York, it's a competition to essentially compare various dogs against their "breed standards," measuring and quantifying things like eye shape, tail carriage, and color.

They are also judged on merits of companionship as well as agility (a category added in 2014), and obedience (a category added this year).

If all that sounds a little weird and questionable to you, well you're not alone. The Westminster dog show is not without controversy.

Organizations like PETA have spoken out against the show and its practices, which, they argue, can be unnatural and harmful to dogs.

But still, the show goes on.

This year, seven new dog breeds have become eligible to compete.

The seven new eligible dog breeds in 2016. Photo by Eduardo Muno Alvarez/AFP/Getty Images.

According to officials, that's the most breeds to have been added to the competition since 2000.

Before you see them prancing down the felt runway on Feb. 16, you can get a first look here:

1. The Spanish Water Dog

Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.

Originally bred in Spain, they were versatile farm dogs herding sheep and goats and also acting as loyal companions to farmers and fishermen and women. They excel in training because of their loyalty and eagerness to please.

2. The Miniature American Shepherd

Photo by Jaime McCarthy/Getty Images.

Bred in the American west in the 1960s, the miniature American shepherd is a highly active farm dog. It comes in several different colors and is incredibly versatile.

3. The Lagotto Romagnolo

Photo by Jaime McCarthy/Getty Images.

This curly guy is the world's foremost truffle hunter. Which means exactly what you think it means. The breed has a storied career searching through forests to find delicious (and expensive) truffles deep underground. Its curly coat keeps it warm in the winter and protects it from thorns and brambles.

4. The Cirneco dell'Etna

Photo by Jaime McCarthy/Getty Images.

This Anubis lookalike is affectionate, friendly, and an amazing hunter of small mammals. Its short hair makes grooming minimal and it's an excellent family dog.

5. The Boerboel

Photo by Jaime McCarthy/Getty Images.

Originally developed in South Africa, these bruisers are reliable, intelligent, and strong watchdogs. They're protective, fearless, and reasonably social — though not the dog for everyone.

6. The Berger Picard

Photo by Jaime McCarthy/Getty Images.

Star of the film "Because of Winn Dixie," this medium-sized pup is perfect for families, as it is people oriented and loyal. According to Westminster officials, it's one of the oldest French herding breeds.

7. And, finally, the Bergamasco

Photo by Jaime McCarthy/Getty Images.

This unmistakable sheepdog is an ancient breed from the Italian Alps. Its unique dreadlock-esque coat is hypoallergenic and non-shedding. It's also thick and protective, while still soft to the touch.

All these breeds are unique, beautiful, and charming. But here's the thing...

The language used to describe these new Westminster eligible breeds is a little off-putting, to say the least. Learning about where dogs were "developed" or "invented," or what colors they "come in," or what they can be best used for: it feels like you're reading about used cars or iPhones — not living animals.

Some critics of dog breeding take it a step further. PETA routinely protests the dog show, arguing that the propagation and celebration of purebred dogs adds to the millions of dogs who die in shelters every year. Many more have argued that professional breeding leads to the deaths of shelter dogs and contributes to the staggering pet overpopulation problem.

A protester who interrupted 2010's Westminster dog show with a sign that read "Mutts Rule." Photo via nyatheart/YouTube.

And then there are the alleged health problems that come with essentially inventing new animals bred for cuteness or toughness or some specific look.Pugs and bulldogs are often cited as animals that have been bred for their aesthetic qualities but have experienced crippling health defects.

Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images.

All this is to say that dog breeding is ... a little weird, when you think about it.

The Westminster dog show claims to love all dogs equally. But it's not hard to see how placing value on one breed over another based on specific physical attributes genetically engineered into it by humans, sometimes to the detriment of the breed's overall health, not to mention proclaiming one breed to be "the best" each year, could be causing problems for all the non-purebred dogs in shelters who need loving homes too.

So whether or not you watch the dog show, take a minute to consider how the dogs in the show are portrayed and treated. There's no doubt their owners love them and, sure, the dogs in the show are probably happy. They're dogs! (And they've been bred that way!)

The important thing to remember is this — if you're looking to get a dog, consider all breeds. Check out your local shelter too. Dogs of every breed need a home, and I can guarantee you'll love them all equally.

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Three women, three MS journeys: How multiple sclerosis looks different for everyone

Gina, Nathalie and Helga share their reactions to being diagnosed with MS and how they stay informed and positive in the face of ever-changing symptoms.

Courtesy of Sanofi

Helga, Nathalie and Gina all have MS, and their experiences show how differently the disease can manifest.

True

It’s been 155 years since neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot gave the first lecture on a mysterious progressive illness he called “multiple sclerosis.” Since then, we’ve learned a lot. We know MS causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue, including damaging the brain and spinal cord. Resulting symptoms can be debilitating and include fatigue, blurred vision, memory problems and weakness. Huge advancements in our understanding of MS and its underlying causes, as well as treatment advances, have been made in the past few decades, but MS remains a complex and unpredictable reality for the 2.8 million+ people diagnosed around the world.

Ironically, the only real constant for people living with MS is change. There’s no set pattern or standard progression of the disease, so each person’s experience is unique. Some people with MS have mild symptoms that worsen slowly but sometimes improve, while others can have severe symptoms that drastically alter their daily lives.

All people with MS share some things in common, however, such as the need to stay informed on the ever-evolving research, find various lines of support and try to remain hopeful as they continue living with the disease.

To better understand what navigating life with MS really looks like, three women shared their MS stories with us. Their journeys demonstrate how MS can look different for different people and interestingly, how the language used to talk about the disease can greatly impact how people understand their realities.

woman with horse, woman riding horseGina loves riding her horse, Benita.Courtesy of Sanofi

Gina—Hamburg, Germany (diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis in 2017)

When her youngest son was 4 months old, Gina started having problems with her eye. She’d soon learn she was experiencing optic neuritis—her first symptom of MS.

“Immediately after the diagnosis, I looked up facts on MS because I didn’t know anything about it,” Gina says. “And as soon as I knew what could really happen with this disease, I actually got scared.”

As her family’s primary income provider, she worried about how MS would impact her ability to work as a writer and editor. Her family was afraid she was going to end up in a wheelchair. However, for now, Gina’s MS is managed well enough that she still works full-time and is able to be active.

“When I tell somebody that I have MS, they often don't believe me the first time because I don't fulfill any stereotypes,” she says.

Overwhelmed by negative perspectives on living with MS, Gina sought support in the online MS community, which she found to be much more positive.

“I think it’s important to use as many positive words as you can when talking about MS.” It’s important to be realistic while also conveying hope, she says. “MS is an insidious disease that can cause many bad symptoms…that can be frightening, and you can't gloss over it, either.”

To give back to the online community that helped her so much, Gina started a blog to share her story and help others trying to learn about their diagnosis.

Though she deals with fatigue and cognitive dysfunction sometimes, Gina stays active swimming, biking, riding horses and playing with her sons, who are now 11 and 6.

Cognitive dysfunction is common in MS, with over half of people affected. It can impact memory, attention, planning, and word-finding. As with many aspects of MS, some people experience mild changes, while others face more challenges.

Gina says that while there’s still a lot of education about MS needed, she feels positive about the future of MS because there’s so much research being done.

woman in wheelchair holding medal, woman rowingNathalie is an award-winning rower with multiple international titles.Courtesy of Sanofi

Nathalie — Pennes Mirabeau, France (diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in 2002)

Nathalie was a teenager and a competitive athlete when she noticed her first symptoms of MS, but it would take four years of “limbo” before she was diagnosed.

“Ultimately, the diagnosis was more of a relief, than a shock,” she says. “Because when you have signs and you don’t know why, it’s worse than knowing, in the end, what you have.”

However, learning more about the disease—and the realities of disease progression—scared her.

“That glimpse of the future was direct and traumatic,” she says. Her neurologist explained that the disease evolves differently for everyone, and her situation might end up being serious or very mild. So, she decided to stop comparing herself to others with MS.

She said to herself, “We’ll see what happens, and you’ll manage it bit by bit.”

By 2005, Nathalie’s MS had progressed to the point of needing a wheelchair. However, that has not dampened her competitive spirit.

Nathalie began her international rowing career in 2009 and has won multiple world titles, including two Paralympic medals—silver in London and bronze in Tokyo. Now, at 42, she still trains 11 times a week. Fatigue can be a problem, and sometimes hard workouts leave her with muscle stiffness and shaking, but she credits her ongoing sports career for helping her feel in tune with her body’s signals.

“Over the years, I’ve learned to listen to my body, letting my body guide when I need to stop and take breaks,” she says.

Nathalie explains that she used to only look backwards because of the initial shock of her diagnosis. In time, she stopped thinking about what she couldn’t do anymore and focused on her future. She now lives in the following mindset: “Even when doors close, don’t miss out on those that open.” Instead of focusing on what she can’t do, she focuses on the opportunities she still has. Right now, this includes her training for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, where she will compete for another rowing medal.

“I only go forward,” she says. “Well, I try, anyway…It’s easy to say, it’s not always easy to do. But that’s what I try to do.”

woman exiting water after swimming, woman with great daneHelga's Great Dane has become a helpful and beloved companion.Courtesy of Sanofi

Helga—Johannesburg, South Africa (diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis in 2010)

When Helga first started having balance issues and numbness in her feet, she chalked it up to her training as a runner. But when the numbness moved to her face, she knew something was wrong. She never guessed it was MS.

“When I was diagnosed, I felt completely overwhelmed and clueless,” Helga says. “I felt that I had nowhere near enough information. I did not know anything about the disease…I had no idea that it was going to be a process of continually monitoring and adjusting your lifestyle.”

In the beginning, Helga’s symptoms developed slowly, and she didn’t appear ill to others. She was even able to run for a few years after her diagnosis, but she couldn’t do marathons anymore, and she began to fall frequently due to balance issues and right-foot dragging. Then her cognition issues became more problematic, especially in her job as a trainer in a printing company.

“My executive function, decision-making and short-term memory were affected to the point that I was eventually medically unfit for work,” she says. She stopped working in 2017.

However, she didn’t stop living life. Even though she could no longer run, she continued to swim competitively. She got a Great Dane puppy and trained him as a service dog to help her walk. She also serves as vice chair of the patient support organization Multiple Sclerosis South Africa, and she advises others who have been diagnosed to join a patient advocacy group as soon as possible to get reliable information and meet others with MS.

Helga says she is “hopeful” about the future of MS. “I must say that I am so grateful that we have all the new medications available, because my life would not be the same if it wasn't for that,” she adds.

Part of how she manages her MS is by looking at the positives.

“If I could tell the world one thing about MS, it would be that MS is an incurable disease of the nervous system, but it's also the greatest teacher of valuing your health, family, friends, and managing change in your life,” she says. “My life is diversified in a way that I never, ever thought it would, and MS has been honestly the greatest teacher.”

Each MS journey is unique – with each person impacted experiencing different struggles, successes, and feelings as they manage this unpredictable disease. But the common thread is clear – there is a critical need for information, support, and hope. We are proud to participate in World MS Day and share these incredible stories of living life while living with MS. To learn more about MS, go to https://www.sanofi.com/why-words-really-matter-when-it-comes-to-multiple-sclerosis.

MAT-GLB-2301642-v1.0-05/2023

This article was sponsored by Sanofi. Participants were compensated when applicable.

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