Zoetis Employees Lend Support to Communities Impacted by California’s Valley Fires

Following four years of extreme drought conditions, California's vulnerability to wildfires fires has drastically increased.  In mid-September, the Valley fires of Northern California destroyed an estimated 1,238 single-family homes and hundreds of other structures, making it the third most destructive wildfire in California history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.  Sadly, hundreds of residents have been displaced including some of our customers, pet owners and the animals in their care.

Over the past month, Zoetis employees have been doing everything they can to lend support on the ground.  From fundraising and promoting product donations to providing comfort and counsel, members of the Zoetis field force have informally partnered with customers to help facilitate recovery – particularly in regards to fostering and caring for animals injured or displaced by the fires. 

"The Middletown and Lake County area is still dealing with the aftermath of the fires.  I recently visited a practice and it was truly heartbreaking to see the devastation to this community," said Mike Hartman, Territory Business Manager at Zoetis.  "I've been trying to help these customers in any way I can like coordinating requests for product donations. I’m proud to work for an organization that encourages us to operate with a strong moral compass."

Grant Miller, DVM and Director of Regulatory Affairs at the California Veterinary Medical Association, said the following about his relationship with Zoetis: "I am an equine practitioner by trade but in relation to the Valley Fire emergency response, I am functioning to provide logistical support to area animal hospitals.  Thanks to support from Zoetis employees, we are actually adequately meeting the needs of an entire displaced population - quite an endeavor, but it is happening!  [Zoetis’] response efforts in this situation reflect that same high level of professionalism and commitment to the community which you serve, and it does not go unnoticed by the tight-knit profession."

Zoetis is committed to serving the communities where we live and work, especially in times of need. To learn more about our community efforts, visit http://www.zoetis.com/making-difference-our-communities.