My name is Alex. I’m a 13-year-old student-athlete who loves to play basketball even when it’s raining outside, a mathematician who loves geometry, and, more than anything, an animal lover. Yes, a die-hard animal lover. I live with my parents, grandparents, a younger sister, and an adorable dog. Our dog, Dongdong, came into my life when I was just 9 years old. 

 

Dongdong used to be the most energetic dog I’ve ever seen in my life. Every day, when I came back from school, my dog ran up to our door to jump on me. Coming home to his welcome was always a treat! One day, however, I heard horrifying news from my dad that Dongdong was diagnosed with PRA(progressive retinal atrophy), which is a common genetic disease in Bichon Frises. This caused my dog to gradually lose sight. This caused him to bump into walls and pieces of furniture, making home no longer a safe haven for him. This caused him to become less lively. Seeing my best friend, an extremely enthusiastic, outgoing life-lover, slowly losing energy was heartbreaking. To think that hundreds and thousands of bichon frises out there were suffering from the same disease, even more heartbreaking.

 

This was when I started to delve deeply into the matters of canine genetic diseases. What I found most devastating is that canine genetic diseases stem from human greed. Our 

obsession with profit and aesthetics has led to irresponsible gene manipulation. Pet breeders often prioritize creating the most popular, visually appealing dogs to maximize profit. This practice is both morally and ethically unjustifiable. Take a look at Bichon Frises and Labrador Retrievers, for example. To us, pet owners, they are adorable companions. Yet, their DNA has been selectively engineered to emphasize appearance over health. The result? Countless dogs suffer from inherited conditions that could have been prevented.

 

Some of the most common genetic diseases diagnosed in dogs are: hip dysplasia, Brachycephalic(bray-kee-ce-phalic) Syndrome, luxating patella, degenerative myelopathy, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). These conditions can severely diminish the quality of life of our canine companions, yet many remain unaware—or unwilling to acknowledge—their impact. This is where the PawMatters Project comes in. I founded PawMatters to raise awareness and invite others to join the effort to help our canine friends live healthier, happier lives. The project focuses on educating people about breed-specific genetic diseases and exploring how, together, we can make a difference.

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With all my heart,

Alex (Dongyeon) Kang

Founder of the Paw Matters Project