By 1996, the surviving dogs of the late 1980s were of an age when ophthalmological examinations would be informative about prcd-PRA.   Diagnoses made in 1996 told me that I had both affected and carriers of this disease among my breeding stock.

Major decisions had to be made.  I am deeply indebted to my vet, Dr Marilyn Gill, for her advice, support and encouragement in 1996, and ever since. 

An early decision was to write to Dr Greg Acland at Cornell University.  Dr Acland phoned me a few days later and we discussed ways in which I might support his research.  As a result, I began a search for elderly ACDs in pet and obedience homes, whose owners were prepared to have their dogs ophthalmologically examined and bled for research.  A few breeders also contributed to the project.

Dr Gill advised: Look for an elderly dog with healthy eyes.  I knew of one, only.  Aust Ch  Baiamul Bushmans Book.   Bushy had been withdrawn from outside stud, because of his age, but Steve Jones and Kath Williamson sent me Austrax Hidden Agenda, aka Higee, in late 1996.  Higee made himself useful during 1998 and I kept or placed the best of his offspring.

I later used the services of Rokeglen Raging Rip.  This dog had never been ophthalmologically examined, as far as I knew, and nor had any of his progenitors.  Pedigree study suggested to me, however, that the dog might be prcd-PRA unaffected.  Again, I kept or placed the best of the offspring.

Then came the wait, for OptiGen to release the prcd-PRA test for Australian Cattle Dogs.

The prcd-PRA test was released on 1 May 2002 and eight dogs from my kennels were tested:
                        Pattern A - 1
                        Pattern B - 5
                        Pattern C - 2

For me, an excellent set of results.  Later,  Cornell released the results for dogs bled for research.

Austrax Hidden Agenda aka Higee      prcd-PRA test: Pattern B      BAER-test:  normal      Coat colour genotype: BBEE [DNA tested]

Tirlta In Memorium aka Josie       prcd-PRA test: Pattern C      Coat colour genotype: BBEE       BAER-test:  normal Tirlta In Memorium -  for my Godmother, Norah McManus.  Norah died, just short of her 96th birthday, three days after the pups were born.  As always, Norah inspected the new litter.

Tirlta Secret Strategy aka Tidge      prcd-PRA test: Pattern C      Coat colour genotype: BBEE      BAER-test:  normal

Tirlta Ripping Memories aka Mulga      prcd-PRA test: Pattern B      Coat colour genotype: BBEE [DNA tested]      BAER-test: normal

Tirlta Sage aka  Kauri      prcd-PRA test: Pattern B      Coat colour genotype: BBEE [DNA tested]      BAER-test:  normal

Tirlta Daybreak aka Bulla      prcd-PRA test: Pattern A      Coat colour genotype: BBEE [DNA tested]      BAER-test:  normal