At the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), pets are a big part of what we do. But they’re also a big part of who we are. 

Yankee — a unique doberman-corgi mix — has become something of an icon at the CVM’s Clinical Investigation Center (CIC), where his “mom” Sara Pracht is a lead research study technician specialist. She’s worked at the CIC since 2006. 

Until recently, Yankee was another “office dog” (of which the CVM has many). But in late February, Pracht noticed a bump on Yankee’s hind right leg while in a meeting with her colleagues. Antonella Borgatti, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA, director of the CIC, took one look at Yankee’s leg and ordered a biopsy. From there, it was all hands on deck for Yankee. 

Yankee's surgical team was led by Wanda Gordon Evans, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACVSMR, associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS) at the CVM. Plus, right now, the CIC is offering a clinical trial to develop a less invasive blood test to diagnose cancer, led by Amber Wolf Ringwall, DVM, PhD, assistant professor in the VCS. Pracht immediately enrolled Yankee. 

“How cool is it that this guy — who everyone here knows and loves, who has donated blood on occasion and now he has his own problem — gets the care he needs from people who know him?” says Pracht. Not only that, but Pracht is also proud that he had the chance to help other dogs by participating in the trial. She says the whole experience was a perfect example of the ways the Veterinary Medical Center, where the CIC is located, marries research and specialty care. “Where else would I ever be able to do this and have this kind of support?”

February was already a special month for Yankee before his most recent medical “adventure” — Pracht adopted him on Valentine’s Day in 2016. Yankee was a stray found in Oklahoma, and Pracht adopted him through a local rescue here in the Twin Cities. 

“My coworker found him on the web,” Pracht recalls. “I had just lost my other dog, which was devastating, and she found his picture and it was the funniest. Turns out, his foster parents included a woman I knew from my daughter’s dance class. So, it was so meant to be, it's ridiculous. When I adopted him, I found out he had a BB shot in his chest, so he has really been through a lot.”

Yankee recovered well from his recent surgery. And it turned out not to be cancer, but the lump formed as a result of a virus. Now, after a few weeks of wearing a cast and a cone, Yankee is back to cruising around the CIC offices on his four short legs. And the team is just happy to have their friend back in full force.

“And who knows,” Pracht says, “maybe there’s another doberman-corgi mix somewhere that will benefit from Yankee donating his tumor and blood.”