Winners of America's Best Vet Contest To Be Honored at Western Veterinary Conference...

Winners of America's Best Vet Contest To Be Honored at Western Veterinary
Conference in Las Vegas February 19;
One national and four regional winners recognized; more than 1,000
veterinarians nominated

DENVER and DULUTH, Ga., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Winners of the first-ever
"Thank Your Vet for a Healthy Pet" contest will be honored at the Western
Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas on Feb. 19, 2008. The award ceremony will
take place at the Four Seasons at 11:30 a.m. The nationwide essay contest
honors veterinarians for the outstanding work that they do on behalf of pets
and their owners. More than 1,000 pet owners submitted essays. The contest was
sponsored by Morris Animal Foundation, Merial Limited and BowTie, Inc.,
publishers of Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy and Veterinary Practice News. Guest speaker
Dr. Marty Becker, renowned human-animal bond expert and
co-author of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, will discuss the important
role veterinarians play in strengthening and maintaining the bond people have
with their pets.
(Logo: here)
"Merial is committed to the pursuit of excellence in veterinary medicine,"
said Robert Menardi, DVM, technical spokesperson at Merial. "We are fortunate
to partner with an organization such as Morris Animal Foundation to
acknowledge veterinary leaders that honor their profession."
University of Missouri veterinarian James L. Cook, DVM, Ph.D. will be
recognized as the grand-prize national winner. Cook, who is the director of
the Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory at the University of Missouri, was also
the Midwest regional winner. Four regional winners will be honored: James
Thomas, VMD, of Eagle Veterinary Clinic, Havertown, Pa., for the Northeast;
Bob Encinosa, DVM, of Boyette Animal Hospital, Riverview, Fla., for the
Southeast; Tim R. Stone, DVM, Rittiman Road Animal Hospital, San Antonio, for
the Southwest; and Thomas R. Nickerson, DVM, of Trinity Animal Hospital,
Weaverville, Calif., for the West. A full list of nominees is available at
www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.
Veterinarians are consistently ranked as one of the most trusted
professions, but they rarely receive recognition. This contest allowed pet
owners to show their appreciation for these deserving individuals. Nominees
were judged based on outstanding care and treatment to clients, commitment to
the human/animal bond, community service and devotion to the veterinary
profession.
"These five veterinarians, and all of those who were nominated, exemplify
how committed our profession is to strengthening the human-animal bond and
making the lives of animals healthier and longer," said Patricia N. Olson,
DVM, Ph.D., president/CEO of Morris Animal Foundation. "We are delighted to
sponsor this contest and honor these veterinarians for their work."
Media interested in attending the event should contact Heidi Jeter, Morris
Animal Foundation, at (303) 790-2345 or e-mail
hjeter@MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.
About Morris Animal Foundation:
Morris Animal Foundation, established in 1948, is dedicated to funding
research that protects, treats and cures companion animals and wildlife. MAF
has been at the forefront of funding breakthrough research studies benefiting
animals in some 100 countries, spanning all seven continents on earth. MAF has
its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The Foundation has funded nearly 1,400
humane animal health studies with funds totaling more than $51 million. One
hundred percent of annual donations go to fund health study programs. For
more information, call (800) 243-2345, or visit
www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.
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 5,000
people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2006 sales were
nearly $2.2 billion. Merial Limited is a joint venture between Merck & Co.,
Inc., and sanofi-aventis. For more information, please see
www.merial.com.
About BowTie, Inc.:
BowTie, Inc. is the leader in special interest pet magazines, trade
magazines, books and websites dedicated to pet-loving consumers, pet-supply
retailers, veterinarians, breeders, and pet professionals worldwide. Divisions
of BowTie, Inc. include BowTie Magazines, BowTie Press, BowTie News,
Thoroughbred Times Company, Global Distribution Services, and
AnimalNetwork.com.
Media Contacts: Heidi Jeter
Morris Animal Foundation
(303) 790-2345
hjeter@MorrisAnimalFoundation.org

Kelle Straw
Merial Limited
(678) 638-3690
kelle.straw@merial.com

SOURCE Morris Animal Foundation

Heidi Jeter of Morris Animal Foundation, +1-303-790-2345,
hjeter@MorrisAnimalFoundation.org; or Kelle Straw of Merial Limited,
+1-678-638-3690, kelle.straw@merial.com