Merck Animal Health HomeAgain® Announces Hero of the Year Award Winner

SUMMIT, N.J., Nov. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- HomeAgain^® Pet Recovery Service, a product from Merck Animal Health, today announced Theresa Strader, founder of Colorado-based National Mill Dog Rescue, as the winner of its Hero of the Year Award. She was chosen because of her outstanding dedication to companion animals and the significant impact she has made in her community. 

As founder of National Mill Dog Rescue, Strader has rescued nearly 8,000 dogs from puppy mills across the United States. Not only does she save the dogs, but also rehabilitates and finds homes for them across the country.  Dedicated to creating a greater awareness of the commercial dog breeding industry and advocating for animals in need, Strader uses social media and speaking engagements, as well as educational programs and materials, to get her message out. In honor of her service and commitment to companion animal health and welfare, HomeAgain will make a $10,000 donation in her name to the National Mill Dog Rescue.

"Our communities are filled with people who make a difference in the lives of animals but so many of their efforts go unsung," said Linda Block, marketing director for HomeAgain. "HomeAgain is proud to be able to recognize Strader and help shed a light on the tremendous animal well-being efforts being carried out every day throughout our country. Strader is an outstanding example of the impact one person can make on the lives of animals, and we are honored to call her a hero."

Strader, one of five finalists, was selected as the winner by a public vote conducted on the HomeAgain website. The four remaining finalists will each have a donation of $1,000 made in their name to one of the following animal organizations: Petfinder Foundation, Winn Feline Foundation, Assistance Dogs International or Morris Animal Foundation.

"It truly humbles me to know that I was chosen to be the recipient of this very generous award in the company of such wonderful, dedicated people," said Theresa Strader. "The work is tireless and never ending but the rewards we reap in animal rescue are unparalleled."

About HomeAgain
The national HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service reunites more than 10,000 lost pets with their families each month and has brought more than one million lost pets home. HomeAgain is more than just a microchip. Once enrolled, a pet's microchip is registered in the HomeAgain National Pet Recovery Database for its lifetime and members receive additional services such as Lost Pet Posters and Alerts, a 24/7 Pet Emergency Hotline and travel reimbursement of up to $500 for dogs or cats found more than 500 miles from home. HomeAgain memberships are renewable annually for a fee of $17.99.  For more information, visit www.homeagain.com.

About Merck Animal Health
Today's Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com.

Merck Forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. 

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; Merck's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of Merck's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Merck's 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov).

SOURCE HomeAgain