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By Jack Beresford
Senior Reporter
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When a woman decided to get her rescue dog a DNA test, she could never have predicted the heartbreaking turn it would take.
Dimyana Hanna, from Los Angeles, had never planned on adopting a dog. That was, until she met Squish two years ago. "I had done some photography and filming for this rescue, I Stand with My Pack," Hanna told Newsweek. "One of the ladies at the rescue saw how much I loved the dogs and suggested I foster."
Hanna resisted at first. Whenever someone from the rescue got in touch to ask if she could foster, she found a reason to say no. A year and a half passed, then one night they reached out again, and Hanna found herself saying yes.
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"I had left a really bad relationship and was having a rough time," Hanna said. "The lady from the rescue asked me if I'd watch Squish for one night. Her foster family had to leave for and, if they didn't find someone, she would have to stay in a kennel."
After all those times saying no, Hanna figured it would be mean not to help out for just one night. "I was home alone doing nothing," she said. "I never wanted a bully breed; I didn't think there was any chance I would keep her."
One night soon turned into several days, and then multiple months. In truth, though, Hanna said "within hours of meeting her I knew she was my dog."
Squish had escaped a life of abuse. Scared and underweight, Hanna nursed her back to full health with walks, home-cooked meals and cuddles on the couch.
"When I worked, she would hop up on the couch behind me and just watch me all day," she said. "Every night, we would share an apple and peanut butter on the couch. When my alarms went off in the morning and I let them ring, she'd paw my face until I got up."
Squish became a popular figure on walks around the neighborhood with her adorable 3-inch legs and cartoonlike tongue raising smiles among even the most miserable of people passing by. "People in my neighborhood knew her name before mine," Hanna said. "Vendors introduce her to people for me. She gets stopped all the time and she loves the attention."
Hanna found people constantly asking her about Squish's age and breed. So, she decided to find out by getting her a DNA test.
Pet DNA testing is an increasingly common practice as owners seek to find out more about their animal companion's breed and origins.
The value of the global pet DNA testing market was thought to be at around $365 million, according to a report by the business consulting firm Grand View Research. That figure is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.45 percent from 2024 to 2030.
Hanna chose an additional option to have Squish undergo genetic screening as she knew she was a product of backyard breeding. "I didn't spend a lot of time looking at what was screened or what Squish could be at risk for." she said.
Nothing prepared Hanna for what the tests revealed: Squish carried both copies of a gene variant that causes Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 4A or NCL4A. "It is passed on autosomal recessive, meaning dogs with one copy aren't affected, but dogs with both copies will develop the disease," Hanna said. "I was absolutely shocked. Not only was I not expecting it, but it is incredibly rare and fatal."
NCL4A is a mutation that causes impairment of the part of a cell called a lysosome, which is responsible for breaking down cell waste. Over time, due to this deficiency, Squish's nerve cells will accumulate waste, impairing cell function and potentially leading to death.
"The practical implications are she will develop neurological symptoms. What seems to be the most-common early signs are mobility and gait problems, wobbliness, and, further down the line, seizures and cognitive decline," Hanna said.
When she first found out about Squish's condition, she struggled to find much more than a handful of webpages on the subject. That is what made her decide to post about it on TikTok, under the handle @thedailysquishhh, in the hope she might find other dog owners going through the same.
"I was lucky enough that someone responded," Hanna said. "She added me to a very small group of around 30 people, who either had or currently have a dog with NCL. They gave me more hope that Squish can still live a good life."
Hanna is still waiting to hear from a veterinary neurologist about what Squish may face, but she's optimistic and eager to make the most of their life together.
"Squish doesn't seem to be exhibiting symptoms yet," she said. "Thankfully, she has the version of NCL that is slow progressing, but it varies depending on the dog and there just is so limited research it's hard to predict. The longer it takes for these symptoms to appear, the better her outcome will be so we're hopeful!"
Though it may have brought heartbreaking news, Hanna has no regrets about getting Squish a DNA test and would encourage others to do the same.
"A lot of people spend thousands of dollars trying to find out what's wrong with their dog," she said. "I hope it encourages people to get genetic testing for their dog and informs people that these genetic tests can tell you more than a vanity metric or breed."
Hanna said Squish's story highlights the "evil" of backyard breeding. He wouldn't have had both copies of the fatal gene variant without it. "Squish will end up paying the price because of someone trying to make a dime off of her," Hanna said. "Nonetheless, I'm so happy she came into my life and we're going to give her the best life possible."
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