Zoetis Launches Healthcare Program to Benefit Retired Military and Police Dogs

RIMADYL K-9 Courage Program™ provides medical assistance for dogs who served us

Zoetis announced on January 20 the RIMADYL K-9 Courage Program, a new program to provide veterinary medical support for retired military and police dogs.

The RIMADYL K-9 Courage Program will help with annual healthcare costs for as many as 500 retired military and police dogs in the U.S. Each recipient will receive $300 on a debit card annually that can be used for services offered at their veterinary clinic such as wellness exams, vaccinations or grooming. The program is sponsored by the Zoetis product RIMADYL® (carprofen), the most prescribed canine nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Zoetis also has joined with The Sage Foundation for Dogs Who Serve and the National Police Dog Foundation (NPDF) to help spread the news about the RIMADYL K-9 Courage Program and verify applicants. The company is donating an additional $10,000 to both of these partner organizations to support their general work for service dogs. The overall contribution from Zoetis for the healthcare costs of the retired dogs and the donations to the partner organizations will total up to $170,000.

Steve Leder, Senior Vice President, U.S. Companion Animals, Channel and Diagnostics at Zoetis, presented a check to Diane Whetsel, Board Chair of The Sage Foundation for Dogs Who Serve, during a launch event on January 20 at the North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC) in Orlando, Florida. NPDF will be recognized at a ceremony to be held during the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) on Tuesday, February 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Military and Contract Working Dogs (MWDs and CWDs) have saved countless lives by detecting explosive devices, locating weapons caches and alerting to enemy locations in war zones around the world,” Whetsel said. “Yet, when their service is no longer needed, their future becomes uncertain. Unlike human soldiers, these canine heroes receive no retirement benefits or health insurance. The Sage Foundation for Dogs is excited to partner with Zoetis to support healthcare for these valiant dogs.”

“The relationship between military and police officers and their canine partners is a prime example of the human-animal bond in action,” said J. Michael McFarland, DVM, DABVP, Group Director of Companion Animal Veterinary Operations at Zoetis. “These dogs have risked their lives and served courageously to help keep us safe at home and overseas. We are pleased to help support their veterinary care so these brave dogs can remain comfortable in their retirement years.”

For more information about the how to apply for the RIMADYL K-9 Courage Program or how to help these special dogs, visit www.k-9courage.com/.

About RIMADYL

RIMADYL is indicated for the relief of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and for the control of postoperative pain associated with soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries in dogs. RIMADYL pioneered today’s standards of canine pain management 20 years ago and remains the No. 1 NSAID prescribed by veterinarians. RIMADYL is the most trusted NSAID in terms of overall value and support with more than 24 million dogs treated. Studies have shown that continuous long-term RIMADYL treatment is safe and provides progressive improvement in pain and mobility for dogs with osteoarthritis.^1,2

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

As a class, NSAIDS may be associated with gastrointestinal, kidney and liver side effects. These are usually mild, but may be serious. Pet owners should discontinue therapy and contact their veterinarian immediately if side effects occur. Evaluation for pre-existing conditions and regular monitoring are recommended for pets on any medication, including RIMADYL. Use with other NSAIDS or corticosteroids should be avoided. For more safety information on see the Full Prescribing Information.

About The Sage Foundation for Dogs Who Serve

The mission of The Sage Foundation for Dogs Who Serve is to promote the welfare of dogs who have faithfully served—often in harm’s way—in wars, police work, crime prevention and rescue efforts. The Sage Foundation for Dogs Who Serve provides medical funding through donations and strives to educate the public about the value of these four-legged soldiers once their tours of duty are complete. For more information, go to http://sagefoundationfordogs.org/.

1 Innes JF, Clayton J, Lascelles BD. Review of the safety and efficacy of long-term NSAID use in treatment of canine osteoarthritis. Vet Rec. 2010;166(8): 226-30.

2Autefage A, Gossellin J. Efficacy and safety of long-term oral administration of carprofen in the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs. Revue Med Vet. 2007;158(3): 119-127.