BATAVIA, Ill., March 1, 2007
The American Heartworm Society (AHS) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) have announced the beginning of the KNOW Heartworms Veterinary Hospital Awareness Contest, which will run through May 1, 2007.
KNOW Heartworms is a public awareness campaign, sponsored by the AHS and AAFP, and funded by an educational grant from Pfizer Animal Health, to promote awareness of the serious danger of feline heartworm disease and the importance of prevention. The veterinary hospitals that successfully implement their own KNOW Heartworms campaign are eligible to enter the KNOW Heartworms contest online at www.knowhearworms.org.
A judging panel representing the AHS, AAFP and Pfizer Animal Health will select the winning practices. The winners will be featured in a press release that will be distributed to veterinary trade publications and their local media.
Criteria used to evaluate each hospital’s campaign will be how successful it was in educating clients about feline heartworm disease and Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (H.A.R.D.).
Prizes will be rewarded to the top three veterinary practices. The first-place winner will receive a $1,500 stipend toward attending either the 2007 American Heartworm Society Symposium in conjunction with the American Veterinary Medical Association convention in Washington, D.C., July 13-15, 2007, or the Fall AAFP Meeting in Austin, Texas, November 11-13, 2007, as well as a complimentary one-year membership in both organizations. The second-place prize is a $500 stipend toward the AHS or AAFP meeting, and the third-place prize is complimentary memberships in both organizations. Winners will be announced June 1, 2007.
Visit www.knowheartworms.org to register for your free clinic kit and to download materials to support the campaign in your practice.