Tick season is every season. Even in the chill of the winter, adult blacklegged (deer) ticks remain active and search for hosts as long as temperatures stay above freezing. While we bundle up, our dogs are out there with far less protection — leaving them at risk of acquiring tick-borne diseases.
Many tick bites can sicken both people and dogs, but some disease agents affect only dogs. In New Jersey, we currently have no statewide data on these dog-specific agents, so we don’t know how common or widespread they are.
That’s why we are launching our end-of-year fundraiser. Our goal is to raise $10,000 so Rutgers’ NJ Ticks 4 Science! can begin testing ticks removed from dogs for these veterinary disease agents. Your donation directly supports the chemicals, reagents, and lab supplies needed to start this vital work.
Every dollar matters — and every test will help protect New Jersey’s dogs.