December 15, 2008 — Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) today unveiled the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (UHVRC), a nonprofit program that will provide equine vaccines to qualified equine rescue and retirement facilities across the United States.
“At Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, we are committed to helping unwanted horses across America by providing struggling equine rescue and retirement facilities with the equine vaccines they need to improve the health and welfare of the horse,” says Cynthia Gutierrez, DVM, Equine Technical Services Veterinarian for Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. “We have chosen to demonstrate this commitment by teaming up with the AAEP to establish the UHVRC to help make unwanted horses more adoptable and the rescues less burdened.”
Through the UHVRC, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health will donate equine vaccines to qualifying equine rescue and retirement facilities to provide healthcare so they can rehabilitate, revitalize and, ultimately, re-home America’s unwanted horses.
Equine rescue and retirement facilities will be selected to receive complimentary equine vaccines based on the completed application, compliance with the AAEP Care Guidelines for Rescue and Retirement Facilities, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, their need, the potential impact on horses’ lives and the professional manner in which the facility is managed.
AAEP-member veterinarians can work with equine rescue and retirement facilities to receive complimentary Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health equine vaccines. The AAEP-member veterinarian and equine rescue and retirement facility work together to submit an application, the facilities checklist and the equine vaccine order form. Only facilities that follow the AAEP Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities and have a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status will qualify for the program. Equine rescue and retirement facilities or veterinarians can download an application form, the AAEP Care Guidelines, and learn more at www.UHVRC.org.
Three of Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health’s equine vaccines are available through the UHVRC program: PreveNile® West Nile Virus vaccine; EquiRab™ rabies vaccine; and Prestige® V (KY93, KY02 and NM2/93 Flu Strains, EHV-1, EHV-4, EEE, WEE and Tetanus).
“The horses and rescues need help. Through the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign, veterinarians now have the opportunity to make a difference by working with equine rescue and retirement facilities to receive complimentary vaccinations for the unwanted horses in their care,” says Eleanor Green, DVM, DACVIM, 2008 AAEP President. “This program exemplifies the AAEP’s ongoing commitment to issues that surround the care of unwanted horses in the United States.”
A portion of all Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health equine vaccine sales beginning December 1, 2008, will support the program. The UHVRC will accept qualified applicants beginning January 1, 2009.
