Heroic canines honored at event celebrating the bond between humans and animals


For the second consecutive year, Pfizer Animal Health sponsored the Therapy Dog category at the American Human Association's Hero Dog AwardsTM. This year's category finalist, Stella, a licensed therapy dog, was among eight finalists honored during the event in Beverly Hills, California. Stella dedicates her time to bringing love and joy to developmentally disabled adults and children residing at not-for-profit Richmond Community Services in New York.
Pfizer Vet logo
Through Pfizer's sponsorship, Stella and her team received $5,000 to donate to Angel On A Leash, a unique organization that supports therapy dogs working in health care facilities, schools, rehabilitation, hospice, extended care, correctional facilities, and crisis intervention. Through advocacy, education, research and service, Angel On A Leash promotes the role of the human-animal bond in enhancing human health and quality of life.

"Seeing the positive impact that Stella's presence has on the residents of Richmond Community Services has been truly heartwarming," said Stella's guardian Marissa Levy. "I am thankful that the Hero Dog Awards and Pfizer's sponsorship are going to allow for more people to have the opportunity to interact with therapy dogs like Stella."

As a company dedicated to the health and wellness of animals, Pfizer Animal Health has taken an active role in supporting research and causes that highlight and support the human-animal bond. Recently, Pfizer Animal Health collaborated with the American Humane Association on a comprehensive literature review to affirm the specific medical, behavioral, and mental health benefits animal-assisted therapy (AAT) may have for children with cancer and their families.

"The healing power that animal-assisted therapy offers is astounding, and supporting causes that facilitate human-animal interaction is very important to us at Pfizer," said Vanessa Mariani, Director of Academic and Professional Affairs, U.S. Operations at Pfizer Animal Health. "We stand behind events like the American Humane Association's Hero Dog Awards that help to spotlight the power of AAT and increase the reach of its impact."

The sponsorship is a part of Pfizer Animal Health's Commitment to Veterinarians™ platform-which offers support through training and education, research and development, investing in the future of the veterinary profession, and philanthropy. Pfizer Animal Health previously demonstrated its commitment to this particular research with a grant to AHA in 2011.

Learn more about Commitment to Veterinarians™:
• Web: www.pfizeranimalhealth.com
• Twitter: @Pfizer_Animal
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/pfizeranimalhealth

About Pfizer Animal Health
Pfizer Animal Health, a business unit of Pfizer Inc., is a global leader in the discovery, development, manufacture and commercialization of animal health medicines and vaccines, with a focus on both livestock and companion animals. For more than 60 years, we have been committed to enhancing the health of animals and bringing solutions to our customers who raise and care for them. To learn more, visit www.pfizeranimalhealth.com.

The American Humane Association Hero Dog AwardsTM
Now in its second year, the Hero Dog Awards competition searches out and recognizes America's Hero Dogs – often ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things, whether it's saving lives on the battlefield, lending sight or hearing to a human companion, or simply the tail-wagging welcome a pet owner relishes at the end of a hard day. Dogs compete in eight categories for the Hero Dog Awards: Law Enforcement & Arson Dogs, Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Military Dogs, Guide Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs, Hearing Dogs and Emerging Hero Dogs (the category for "ordinary" dogs).

11.09.2012