Hero Is A Four-Legged Word: The Maker Of NexGard® (Afoxolaner) Presents Hero Tails Video Series To Help Pair More Assistance Dogs With People In Need

Merial, the Maker of NexGard® (afoxolaner), Will Donate $1 - up to a Total of $175,000 - to Canine Companions for Independence® for Every Video View or In-Clinic Purchase; TV Host, Musician and Philanthropist Nick Cannon Joins the Effort

News provided by

Merial

Jun 08, 2016, 08:00 ET

DULUTH, Ga., June 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the maker of NexGard^® (afoxolaner) launched its Hero Tails "dog-umentary" video series that celebrates the stories of five Canine Companions for Independence^® graduate pairs. Each video highlights how NexGard and Canine Companions for Independence are making lives easier, one dog at a time.

Dog lovers are invited to watch the Hero Tails series, narrated by TV host, musician and philanthropist Nick Cannon, and for every video view or in-clinic purchase of NexGard until Oct. 31, the maker of NexGard will donate $1, up to a total of $175,000, to Canine Companions for Independence. For more than 40 years, Canine Companions for Independence has provided highly trained assistance dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities, completely free of charge.

The first video shares the story of graduate pair Steven Toyoji and his service dog, Ringo.

"Assistance dogs tremendously increase the quality of life for their owners," said Cannon. "The Hero Tails video series highlights just how much of an impact these assistance dogs have. By watching, you can help Merial in its effort to sponsor the training of assistance dogs to support more people living with disabilities. I hope you will join me in supporting this mission."

No matter what the task may be, Canine Companions for Independence assistance dogs are trained to make their partners' lives easier. All dog owners – including assistance dog owners – look for ways to make life easier with their dogs, from baths and meal times to veterinary visits. By choosing a flea and tick control product like NexGard, dog owners can help protect their furry friends with a delicious, beef-flavored chew that is easy to give¹, and can feel good about the protection it provides.

More than 60 different types of disabilities are served by Canine Companions for Independence assistance dogs. The Hero Tails dog-umentary series features an athlete, an imaginative young girl and her parents, an active young mother, a deaf woman navigating a world of sound and a U.S. military veteran.

The five-video Hero Tails series will introduce viewers to the following Canine Companions for Independence assistance graduate pairs:

Video Release Date	Graduate Pair	Bio
June 8	Ringo & Steven	Ringo is living life in the fast lane. He is by Steven's side to help him navigate the hills of San Francisco and lend a paw when Steven needs to retrieve hard-to-reach items.
July 7	Emily & Brianna	Emily is always there when Brianna needs a little help cleaning her room or taking off her shoes. She does it all with a wagging tail and a sparkly collar.
Aug. 4	Bright & Alex	Bright adds a little sunshine everywhere she goes. Whether it's with laundry or picking up a pacifier, Bright assists Alex in every stage of life, including motherhood.
Sept. 8	Turf & Cara	Cara's day doesn't start without Turf. He's her nose-nudging alarm clock, making sure she doesn't miss a beat.
Oct. 6	Gottlieb & Steve	A faithful friend is hard to find, but with Gottlieb around, Steve never has to worry. Gottlieb's comforting presence gives Steve the confidence to explore the world outside his home.

"It's our priority to provide all dog owners with products that make caring for their pet's health easy," said Mike Hutton, executive director of U.S. pets marketing for Merial. "In the case of assistance dogs, helping protect against fleas and ticks means they can spend more time supporting their partners. The Hero Tails program is an incredible opportunity to share the stories of exceptional dogs paired with exceptional people."

NexGard is a mess-free way to control fleas and ticks and gives dog owners the confidence to know their furry friends are protected.

For more information about the Hero Tails program, visit www.HeroTails.com.

ABOUT NEXGARD
NexGard is the number one veterinarian-recommended flea and tick control product.²NexGard is the first soft, beef-flavored chew that kills both fleas and ticks for a full 30 days. Plus, dogs love it!¹ NexGard contains a revolutionary active ingredient, afoxolaner, which kills fleas and ticks by over-stimulating their nervous systems.

NexGard is prescribed by veterinarians and is safe and effective for dogs when used as directed. It is available for oral administration to dogs and puppies according to weight. NexGard is approved for use in puppies and dogs eight weeks of age or older weighing four pounds or more.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
NexGard is for use in dogs only. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, dry/flaky skin, diarrhea, lethargy and lack of appetite. The safe use of NexGard in pregnant, breeding or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures. For more information, contact your veterinarian or see the prescribing information.

ABOUT MERIAL®
MERIAL is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products that focus on disease prevention and overall health and wellness in animals. MERIAL has three main business areas: pets, farm animals and veterinary public health, and our health solutions target more than 200 diseases and conditions across a variety of species. MERIAL employs 6,900 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide with over €2.5 billion of sales in 2015. MERIAL is a Sanofi company.
For more information, please see www.merial.com; @Merial.

ABOUT CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE®
Canine Companions for Independence provides highly-trained assistance dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities. Established in 1975, Canine Companions has six training centers across the country and has trained over 5,000 assistance dog teams. Canine Companions is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. The result is a life full of increased independence and loving companionship. For more information, please visit cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.

Sources:
¹ Data on file at Merial.
² Data on file at Merial.

Video - http://youtu.be/bQso6tMIgBw
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160607/376547
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160607/376549
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160607/376551

SOURCE Merial