My name is Jerold Theis, DVM, PhD, and I am Professor of Medical Parasitology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.  I am attempting by this web site to contact dog owners in Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties to inform them of my interest in directing a pilot control project in those 3 counties.  Without research support the necessary data to start and monitor the control program cannot be obtained. 

I have been unsuccessful so far in obtaining support from the 3 major veterinary pharmaceutical companies that market heartworm preventive medicine. Likewise, the California Veterinary Medical Association is financially incapable of funding such a project. Even though this worm does infect humans, the public health agencies have too many more important diseases to control and are not interested in controlling the infection in dogs. So, the only group left to fund the program is the dog owning public.

The University of California has a gift donation program by which citizens may contribute funds that are tax deductible to professors in support of their research. In 1996, according to the dog license sections of the 3 counties the dog population in Napa, Sonoma and Lake Counties was 50, 787. A donation of 2 dollars per dog would provide a nuclear fund to begin the data collection program. I would still have to seek support from other agencies to keep the program going, but a demonstrated interest by the dog owning public in the study area will help me to show the veterinary pharmaceutical industry that dog owners are prepared to participate in preventive health care for their pets. If you wish to make a donation, make your check out to The Regents of the University of California and send it to: 

Dr. J.H. Theis
Dept. of Medical Microbiology
School of Medicine 
One Shields Avenue
University of California
Davis, CA 95616-8645

Please include a written statement that the donation is an irrevocable gift to support a heartworm control program. 

There is no administrative overhead on gifts, so all the funds will go to the control program. The cost of setting up and maintaining this web site is paid for by my personal funds. If you have any questions you may write to me at the above address, e-mail me at jhtheis@heartworm-hotline.org or call 530-752-3427.

Thank you!