Our nonprofit, science-based mission is to end the #1 cause of suffering and death for dogs and cats worldwide – overpopulation – by developing a one-dose Cookie that, when completed, will spay or neuter a stray, without surgery.
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When we rescue a stray, in addition to caring for her or him, we also feed her or him a single trial Cookie. The stray then becomes an official Pilot Pup.
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We also cover the associated costs such as veterinary care, food, housing, transportation, adoption.
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The first birth control food we are developing are the Spay and Neuter Cookies.
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They are being designed to be species- and gender-specific, and we expect the first Cookie that will be completed will be for female dogs.
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Our approach is to modify known ingredients so that they will safely sterilize a stray without surgery.
Pilot Pup Maggie - Histology Slide
Maggie’s ovarian follicles under a microscope. In our current study, 30 days after each rescued Pilot Pup is given a trial One-Dose Spay and Neuter Cookie, the dog undergoes routine spay or neuter surgery. The reproductive tissues that are removed as part of the surgery – ovaries in females, testes in males – are preserved rather than discarded. This allows scientists to analyze the effectiveness of the Cookie.
Pilot Pup Foxy
A 600 team member received a call from a family who had made a very painful decision. On the advice of their doctor, they gave up their dog, Foxy, because their newborn baby suffered from a severe allergy to dogs. Foxy was very depressed and reluctant to part with them. Thankfully, when she met the other Pilot Pups, she became much happier and is doing fine now.
Pilot Pup Maggie
Maggie was found on a construction site after some workers called to report a dog who sat there all day. A 600 team member found Maggie, an unhappy-looking dog, lying in the sun. Maggie was given food and water, and was brought to the vet for a checkup. Now she gets all the love and care she deserves!
Pilot Pup Haven - Histology Slide
A microscopic image of Haven’s ovaries, removed during routine spay surgery. We are investigating multiple different compounds known to impair ovarian follicles, in order to determine what is most effective for producing infertility.
Pilot Pup Haven
Haven was found sniffing through piles of garbage, looking for food. She trusted her rescuers immediately and was brought to safety. She was given a bath, food, and water. Haven is a playful and active dog who loves to play with others!
For the safety of the Pilot Pup, to study variations in formulas, we only increase key ingredients by very small, controlled amounts, one tiny step at a time.
Pilot Pup Dana - Histology Slide
Dana’s ovarian follicles under a microscope. Approximately one month after a Pilot Pup eats a trial Cookie, the veterinarian performs routine spay or neuter surgery, and the Pup goes to their foster or permanent home.
Pilot Pup Dana
A group of kids called a 600 team member to report a dog near a local sports field. There, the 600 team member found Dana. It was getting dark and cold out, and her rescuers quickly brought her inside for warmth and safety. Dana was given food and love, and is a calm and alert dog!
Pilot Pup Axil - Histology Slide
A microscopic image of Axil’s ovaries, removed during routine spay and neuter surgery.
Pilot Pup Axil
It was a dangerously hot day when Axil was rescued – well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. A 600 team member found her panting and looking for shade. The team member immediately offered her water and brought her to the vet. She is a friendly and active dog who loves the company of others!
Pilot Pup Ali - Histology Slide
A microscopic image of Ali's ovaries. One of the compounds we are examining to produce infertility is VCD: Vinylcyclohexene dioxide, CAS. No. 106-87-6, C8H12O2. As a multiple-dose formula, it has been studied for years, and it is already approved for use in the U.S. by the EPA to produce infertility in rodents.
Pilot Pup Bruni - Histology Slide
Bruni’s ovaries were removed during routine spay surgery. Her ovarian follicles will be analyzed to determine how many were rendered non-viable by certain compounds in the Cookie that cause infertility. Once enough viable follicles become non-viable, permanent infertility is the result. In adult human females, this is a safe and natural condition that occurs at menopause.
Pilot Pup Ali
Ali was found on the streets, very skinny and afraid of humans.
At first her rescuers thought she was suffering from some disease.
She was brought to the vet clinic for a bath and an exam, and it turned out she was fine. Now she is healthy and safe.
Pilot Pup Bruni
Bruni was found wandering around a construction site.
Her rescuer described Bruni immediately running towards her, as if she were grateful to have been found!
She was brought to the vet for a checkup. She is a happy and playful dog!
Evidence also shows, thus far, that eating multiple doses (of the ingredients of the Cookies) does not harm the animal.
Thus far there have been no negative side effects for animals or people. We suspect a key reason for the lack of negative side effects is that the Cookie is designed as a rare “only one dose over a lifetime” product, unlike traditional birth control products that are ingested daily.
After the Pilot Pup eats the single trial Cookie, the Pup usually stays at the veterinary clinic for approximately one month to ensure that he or she is in good health. The veterinarian then performs a spay or neuter surgery.
As soon as they get the green light from the veterinarian, they go home to their foster or permanent home.
If a home is not readily available, the Pup stays in a foster home or in an animal adoption center run by compassionate people who provide daily care, affection, and exercise, until a permanent home is found.
Pilot Pup Stacy - Histology Slide
Stacy’s ovaries under a microscope. For the safety of the Pilot Pup, we only increase key ingredients by very small, controlled amounts, one tiny step at a time.
In a standard spay or neuter surgery, the veterinarian discards any tissue that is removed, such as the ovaries or testes.
In our case, the veterinarians keep these now-treated tissues, and we provide them to other specialists to histologically process them physically, chemically and digitally for microscopic examination.
Once the slides are digitized, we have them microscopically examined by other specialists.
This examination is a painstaking process, and it allows us to determine if the Pilot Pup is sterile as a result of eating the single trial Cookie.
This in turn allows us to learn if the trial formulation worked.
Pilot Pup Stacy
A 600 team member received a call from a nearby residence about a dog barking constantly. Stacy was found hiding in the bushes, suffering from a leg injury, a leg injury, and her hind legs were very weak. She was also emaciated. Her rescuer gave her food and water and brought her to the vet for treatment. She is now a happy dog.
At this time, we are actively pursuing opportunities to carry out the work humanely, cost-effectively, and with the best scientists and technology available in the U.S.
Pilot Pup Bo - Histology Slide
Ovaries of Pilot Pup Bo. The more follicles that are impaired, the better, since that means the dog is closer to being infertile.
Pilot Pup Avery - Histology Slide
A microscopic image of Avery's ovaries, removed during routine spay and neuter surgery.
Pilot Pup Bo
A 600 team member received a call from a motorcyclist who nearly hit a dog in the road. The team member arrived on the scene to rescue Bo, who at first was terrified and very hungry. Her rescuer slowly earned her trust. She was treated for a skin infection that had caused her to lose some of her fur. Now she is a very playful dog who loves going on walks!
Pilot Pup Avery
Avery is a very alert dog. One of the 600 team members went to assess Avery when they were told where to find her. The team member was told that people were keeping the local dogs regularly dewormed, but Avery was a newcomer and they were concerned that she would infect the others. The team member rescued her and took her straight to our vet. Avery was evaluated and diagnosed with a skin condition which has since been treated.
How do we know if the Cookie worked?
It's a long and important answer.
These are the basics of what we refer to as the count, our nickname for the percentage of various types of ovarian reproductive follicles that are impaired.
The more follicles that are impaired (the higher the count) the better, and the closer the dog is to being infertile.
For example, a high count occurs naturally through aging in humans and dogs -- which is why elderly humans and dogs naturally become infertile.
Our scientists review, analyze and quantify these follicles under a microscope, and one of the things we’re trying to do is cause as many of these follicles as possible to become impaired -- without harming the animal, of course.
Our scientists then provide us with a report on each tissue, including the percentage of impaired follicles.
A count of 20% means 20% of a certain type of follicle were found to be impaired.
Again, the higher the count the better, and the closer the dog is to being infertile.
Conducting accurate counts is not easy, and we send the same digital slides to various specialists in order to secure second and third opinions.
In the past, three of our best cumulative counts (the counts for all follicle types found to be impaired, combined) were 41%, 45% and 69%. Currently the best cumulative counts are above 75%, produced by eating only one Cookie.
However, we cannot get too excited yet. We still need to replicate these results and replicate them consistently – among many other things that are required of all proper studies, before the data can be deemed reliable for use in the field.
In short, these are surprisingly high numbers and good news for the animals.
Some additional good news:
Three of our best individual counts (the counts for individual types of follicles) are higher than the cumulative counts.
The best news is that each of these results have come from their own single trial Cookie formulation -- produced on a minuscule budget, with scientists working on our behalf in their spare time.
At this point, our budget is around $270,000.
Pilot Pup Chase - Histology Slide
Chase’s ovarian follicles under a microscope. In our current study, 30 days after each rescued Pilot Pup is given a trial One-Dose Spay and Neuter Cookie, the dog undergoes routine spay or neuter surgery. The reproductive tissues that are removed as part of the surgery – ovaries in females, testes in males – are preserved rather than discarded. This allows scientists to analyze the effectiveness of the Cookie.
Pilot Pup Chase
A 600 team member received a call about children throwing rocks at a dog who was terrified and trying to hide. The team member arrived on the scene to find Chase. At first she was too scared to trust anyone, but her rescuer gave her treats and affection and slowly earned her trust. She had some minor bruises. She was brought to the vet and given first aid, and now enjoys spending time with other dogs.
When will we discover the winning formula and how much will it cost?
As with most scientific endeavors, no one can answer this question with certainty -- just as no one can predict the future with certainty.
A team of scientists formulated projections for the time and cost that would be required to complete the work, including the studies needed to submit the data to the FDA and initiate the FDA approval process so that the product can be used in the U.S.
They reached the following conclusion:
With a budget of $3 million per year for 3 years, the Cookie could be developed within those 3 years, including the studies needed to initiate the FDA approval process.
These funds would go toward hiring scientists, allowing them to devote themselves full-time to the project.
As you know, we are not waiting for the $3 million.
Our plan is to continue our research and development to find the winning formula -- without applying for FDA approval at this time.
Instead of waiting for FDA-level funding, we intend to continue at the grassroots level, find the winning formula -- and put it to work in field trials in parts of the world where the need is the greatest and where the suffering is the most severe.
Despite the obstacles, we are pushing forward to make the Spay and Neuter Cookie a reality.
At this time, we are actively pursuing opportunities to carry out the work humanely, cost-effectively, and with the best scientists and technology available in the U.S.
In the meantime, we cannot thank you enough for your support.
Do you want to read more updates about our science?
Download the documentation below!
