'Thank Your Vet for a Healthy Pet'

DENVER, Oct. 29 - Every day, veterinarians provide our pets with the special, personalized care they need to stay healthy, happy and living longer. Through the nationwide "Thank Your Vet for a Healthy Pet" essay contest, more than 1,000 animal lovers expressed their appreciation for veterinarians who show their commitment to animals every day. New York was in the top 10 states with 36 veterinarians nominated. To see a full list of nominees, visit www.morrisanimalfoundation.org


The contest is sponsored by Morris Animal Foundation, Merial Limited and BowTie, Inc. (publisher of Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy and Veterinary Practice News magazines). The national and regional winners will be posted at http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/ on Nov. 6, 2007, and highlighted in the December issues of Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy, Veterinary Practice News and also on DogChannel.com and CatChannel.com. Winners also will be honored at the February 2008 Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas.


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 http://www.merial.com/.


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, unrestricted contributions support animal health studies, not administration or the cost of fund raising. For more information, call (800) 243-2345, or visit http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/.


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.