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For Immediate Release

April 25, 2018

Contact: Sally J. Baker

sbaker@aaep.org or (859) 233-0147

In the 10th year of partnership between the American Association of Equine Practitioners and Merck Animal Health, the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (UHVRC) provided 3,500 doses of vaccines. The donated vaccines are to protect horses from eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), western equine encephalitis (WEE), equine rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1 and EHV-4), tetanus, West Nile Virus and rabies. Since its inception, the UHVRC has delivered more than 28,000 doses of core vaccines to protect horses in need.

Day’s End Farm Horse Rescue, which rehabilitates and rehomes horses seized from animal protection authorities in Maryland and surrounding states, is among 226 nonprofit equine rescue and retirement facilities to receive free vaccines in 2018 through the UHVRC.

“Veterinary expenses as well as medications, de-worming and vaccinations are our largest annual expenses in our equine programs,” said DeEtte Hillman, equine programs director for Day’s End Farm Horse Rescue in Woodbine, Md. “Receiving UHVRC vaccinations is a huge help to our horses and helps relieve the financial burden that comes with maintaining a healthy equine program.”

“The UHVRC would not be possible without the tireless commitment of the AAEP and its member veterinarians,” said Ron McDaniel, Merck Animal Health director of equine sales and program co-founder. “This program epitomizes so much of what we believe in as an organization and equine team, which boils down to doing the best we can every day to protect the health and wellbeing of the horse.”

To qualify for donated vaccines, 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.

The program distributes vaccines once per year; the next application deadline is Feb. 1, 2019. To learn more about the program or download the application, visit www.uhvrc.org.

About AAEP

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.

About Merck Animal Health

For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals™, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter at @MerckAH.

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