Taking a Bite Out of Rabies: Merial Provides Rabies Awareness and Prevention Training...

Taking a Bite Out of Rabies: Merial Provides Rabies Awareness and Prevention
Training to Noah's Wish Pet Disaster Relief Organization

1,000 Volunteers Trained Across the US and Canada

DULUTH, Ga., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its commitment to the welfare
of animals and raising public awareness about rabies, Merial Pet Vaccines has
partnered with Noah's Wish, an international, nonprofit pet disaster relief
organization, to provide rabies awareness and prevention training to its
volunteers. As part of this effort, Merial technical service veterinarians are
traveling to nine training sessions in the US and Canada to educate
approximately 1,000 volunteers.

"Thanks to Merial's support, we are able to educate our volunteers about the
signs and symptoms of rabies and the importance of rabies prevention when
caring for animals affected by natural disasters," said JoEllen Cimmino,
director of Animal Health Services and Education, Noah's Wish. "Our volunteers
need to know this information, not only for the animals' sake, but also for
their own health and safety. We're glad that Merial has joined our efforts in
this program."

Noah's Wish volunteers are trained in an outdoor environment, set up to mimic
the conditions they would experience during a natural disaster. Volunteers go
through an intense, multiple in-field training program to prepare them for the
physical and emotional challenges of doing disaster relief work.

"Merial is the leader in rabies prevention, providing injectable and oral
vaccines for domestic animals and wildlife," said Vincent Krogmann, US
marketing director, Pet Vaccines. "Sponsorship of Noah's Wish further
strengthens our ongoing efforts in helping pets affected by natural disasters
as it dovetails with our Paws to Save Pets(SM) program, which helps fund
emergency relief for pet victims of disasters."

The mission of Noah's Wish is to save animals during disasters with its rescue
and recovery services and to mitigate the impact of disasters on animals
through its educational outreach programs. Noah's Wish was created in 2002 to
expand upon the often fragmented efforts to help animals during disasters such
as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. The training runs through
June.

About Noah's Wish
Noah's Wish, headquartered in El Dorado Hills, Calif., is a nonprofit animal
welfare organization with a straightforward, singular focus: to save the lives
of animals affected by disasters. Services include an inventory of equipment
and supplies needed for the first 72-hours of mobilization; rapid disaster
response team mobilization of volunteers to disaster sites; functional
operation of temporary animal shelters; and veterinary care for animals who
become sick or injured as a result of a disaster. For more information, please
call 916-939-9474, or visit www.noahswish.info.

About Paws to Save Pets
Paws to Save Pets, through its partner agencies, Petfinder.com Foundation and
the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, provides emergency relief to pet
victims of disasters. Since its inception in 2005, the Paws to Save Pets
program has raised over $3 million in cash and products for emergency
medications, disaster preparedness, treatments and shelter for pets injured or
displaced during times of crisis. The program also helps reunite pets with
their families.

About Merial
Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing
a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and
performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,400
people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2008 sales were
over $2.6 billion. Merial Limited is a joint venture between Merck & Co., Inc.
and sanofi-aventis. For more information, please visit www.merial.com.

(R)MERIAL is a registered trademark and (SM)Paws to Save Pets is a service
mark of Merial.

(C)2009 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Merial

Natasha Joseph, Merial, +1-678-638-3690, natasha.joseph@merial.com