HomeAgain® PetRescuers Rally on Facebook to Help Keep Pets Safe on July 4th

SUMMIT, N.J., June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The fireworks and revelries of the Fourth of July often turn happy, contented pets into scaredy cats and petrified pooches - leading to more pets going missing than any other single day of the year. HomeAgain® PetRescuers are rallying across the internet to raise awareness of this problem and help protect pets.  

"Not Lost on You" is a social media campaign alerting pet parents to the steps they should take to keep their four-legged family members safe.  By posting the "Not Lost on You" flag on their Facebook wall, supporters demonstrate to their online community that pet safety awareness is vitally important on Independence Day.  A "Not Lost on You" pet protection quiz is also featured on the HomeAgain PetRescuers Facebook page to help users learn pet safety facts.  Twitter users are invited to spread the word and increase awareness by using the hashtag #NLOY.

"HomeAgain assists with approximately 120,000 pet reunions every year.  July 4th is the number one day for pets to go missing," said HomeAgain General Manager Gary MacPhee.  "We are asking the volunteer HomeAgain PetRescuers to spread the word through the 'Not Lost on You' campaign so families can celebrate with peace of mind knowing all members, including pets, are safe."  

HomeAgain reminds pet parents of the following tips to ensure pet safety during July 4th festivities and all year round:

• Keep pets safely at home and away from fireworks festivities
• Find a quiet place to keep your pet while fireworks displays are taking place
• Turn on a radio, fan or television to distract pets from outside noise
• Ensure windows and doors are securely closed to prevent pets from running off in the event they become startled by unexpected sounds
• Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with visible ID tags
• Microchip your pet and keep your contact information up to date in a national database, like HomeAgain

About HomeAgain

HomeAgain, offered by Intervet / Schering-Plough Animal Health, goes beyond microchipping.  The national HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service reunites over 10,000 lost pets each month with their families.  Once enrolled, a pet's microchip is registered in the HomeAgain National Pet Recovery Database for its lifetime. In addition, the annual HomeAgain membership includes:

• Live Pet Recovery Specialists always available at 1-888-HomeAgain
• Lost Pet Alerts with a Lost Pet Poster sent to veterinary clinics, shelters and PetRescuers
• 24/7 Emergency Medical Telephone Assistance
• Travel expenses of up to $500 for dogs or cats found more than 500 miles from home.

HomeAgain memberships are renewable annually for a fee of $16.99.  For more information, visit www.homeagain.com.

About Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, based in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, is focused on the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of animal health products. The company offers customers one of the broadest, most innovative animal health portfolios, spanning products to support performance and to prevent, treat and control disease in all major farm and companion animal species. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is a fully owned business unit of Merck & Co., Inc., based in Whitehouse Station NJ, USA. For more information about Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health visit: www.intervet.com and www.merck.com.

About Merck

Today's Merck is working to help the world be well. Through our medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer and animal products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching programs that donate and deliver our products to the people who need them. For more information, visit www.merck.com.

SOURCE HomeAgain