The news item is about: In 2015, the College introduced the world to seven very special puppies: They were the first dogs born as the result of vitro fertilization. Three separate pairs of beagle and cocker spaniel parents contributed embryos, which were transferred to a fourth female. Genetic testing confirmed that all three breeding pairs contributed at least one puppy to the litter, but the surrogate mom did not. The keys to successful canine IVF eluded scientists for decades because of unique features of canine reproduction. It took a team of veterinary researchers from Cornell and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute to crack the code. The process can now be used to rebuild populations of endangered canine species.