Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign Aids More Than 2,500 Horses In First Year
01/22/2010 10:23AM
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Roseland, NJ — The Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (UHVRC) is now accepting 2010 applications. Established in December 2008, the UHVRC provides qualifying equine rescue and retirement facilities with complimentary equine vaccines for horses in their care. More than 2,500 horses across the nation received life-saving vaccines in the program’s inaugural year.
“It is wonderful to see larger organizations that haven’t forgotten the smaller efforts taking place throughout the country,” Michael Russell, D.V.M. and director of veterinary services for The Grace Foundation of Northern California, a 2009 UHVRC rescue facility, wrote in a thank-you letter to UHVRC founders.
2010 spring applications due Feb. 1
Equine rescue and retirement facilities wishing to apply for spring 2010 vaccinations should visit www.UHVRC.org and submit an application by Feb. 1.
“The 2010 application deadlines are one month earlier than last year,” says Dana Kirkland, Industry Education and Development Coordinator for the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). “Rescues have two opportunities to apply: Applications for spring vaccinations must be submitted by Feb. 1 and applications for fall vaccinations must be submitted by Aug. 1.”
Kirkland notes that all equine rescue and retirement facilities must submit a new application each year to be considered.
In addition to the changes in the application deadlines, beginning in 2010 all approved UHVRC vaccine orders will be shipped directly to the supporting AAEP-member veterinarian. Qualifying equine rescue and retirement facilities will be notified in writing when vaccines have shipped so they can make the appropriate delivery/pick-up arrangements with their veterinarian.
How to apply
To qualify, equine rescue and retirement facilities must work with an AAEP-member veterinarian to complete and submit an application, facilities checklist and vaccine request form. Rescue and retirement facilities must also follow the AAEP Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities and have a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. To download an application and the AAEP Care Guidelines or to learn more about the UHVRC, visit www.UHVRC.org.
Vaccines available through the UHVRC include PreveNile® (West Nile virus vaccine), EquiRab® (rabies vaccine) and Prestige® V (equine influenza, equine herpesvirus, eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE), western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) and tetanus). All approved vaccine orders will be shipped directly to the supporting AAEP-member veterinarian. The AAEP and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health highly recommend that all vaccinations be administered by a licensed veterinarian.
“Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health and AAEP are very proud to support America’s equine rescue and retirement facilities,” says Cynthia Gutierrez, D.V.M., Senior Equine Technical Services Veterinarian for Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. “The program received a tremendous response in 2009 and we hope to provide vaccines for even more unwanted horses in 2010.”
Want to Help?
A portion of all Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health equine vaccine sales support the UHVRC. To learn more about Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health’s full line of innovative, high-quality equine health products, visit www.intervetusa.com or contact your veterinarian.
UHVRC Fast Facts
• UHVRC applications must be received by Feb. 1 (spring vaccinations) and Aug. 1 (fall vaccinations)
• To qualify, equine rescue and retirement facilities must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, follow the AAEP Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities and work with an AAEP-member veterinarian to submit an application
• All approved vaccine shipments will be sent to the veterinarian
• The UHVRC provides qualifying equine rescue and retirement facilities with all AAEP-recommended core vaccines (West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE), western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE), rabies and tetanus), as well as equine influenza and equine herpesvirus
• More than 2,500 horses were helped by the UHVRC in 2009
• Rescues from 35 states received vaccines through the UHVRC
• The UHVRC was established in December 2008 by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP)
• For more information on the UHVRC and to apply, visit www.uhvrc.org, www.facebook.com/unwantedhorse or www.twitter.com/unwantedhorse
UHVRC Program Feedback
• “We hope you know that it is people like you that have helped us find wonderful homes for over 500 horses and foals.”
- Annie Delp, Executive Director/Founder of Eagle Hill Equine Rescue
• “The peace of mind we are experiencing, knowing all of our horses are vaccinated and protected against disease is totally indescribable and refreshing.”
- Noreen B. Carayas, President/Director of New Dawn Livestock Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc.
• “Your generosity and support is greatly appreciated and enables us to continue to provide a safe haven for unwanted, neglected and abused horses.”
- Susan Kreutter, President of Phoenix Rising Equine Rescue
• “It is a wonderful program you have to help the retired, rehabilitating and rescued horses. It is so nice to see a joint effort program from which the horses reap the benefits.”
- Pam Berg, President of GEVA, Inc.
About AAEP
The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its nearly 10,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.
About Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, based in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, is focused on the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of animal health products. The company offers customers one of the broadest, most innovative animal health portfolios, spanning products to support performance and to prevent, treat and control disease in all major farm and companion animal species. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is a fully owned business unit of Merck & Co., Inc., based in Whitehouse Station NJ, USA. For more information about Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health visit: www.intervet.com and www.merck.com.
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About Merck
Today's Merck is working to help the world be well. Through our medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer and animal products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching programs that donate and deliver our products to the people who need them. Merck. Be Well. For more information, visit www.merck.com.