WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, January 28, 2016 — For millions of Americans, animals are not just their best friends, but their heroes. Whether they are lending eyes to the unsighted, ears to the deaf, protection to the sleeping family and the soldier, or providing a welcoming kiss at the end of a hard day, animals affect us in so many different ways. And behind almost every hero pet (and millions more animals) is a hero veterinarian or hero veterinary technician. These benefactors save and improve the lives of our two- and four-legged best friends in many ways, and for the past two years, one awards ceremony has honored the tremendous achievements of America’s veterinarians and veterinary technicians.
American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization, recognizes the hard work these professionals put in day-in and day-out in the name of helping animals, and is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the third annual American Humane Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Technician Awards™, presented by Zoetis. Pet owners and animal lovers alike are invited to visit www.herovetawards.org between now and March 31 to nominate their favorite veterinary professionals who are dedicated to the betterment of the health and welfare of animals and the promotion of the human-animal bond. The winning veterinarian and veterinary technician will be flown to Los Angeles to be honored as part of the sixth annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards® on September 10, which will air nationwide as a two-hour special on Hallmark Channel this fall.
Last year, after a nationwide search and tens of thousands of public votes, Annette Sysel, DVM, MS, the president of the Bauer Research Foundation in Vero Beach, Florida, was named 2015’s American Hero Veterinarian, and Julie Carlson of Pima Medical Institute in Phoenix, Arizona was declared 2015’s American Hero Veterinary Technician.
These awards are not limited to companion animal veterinarians. Professionals from all fields of veterinary medicine are eligible for entry including, but not limited to those who work in: research, emergency services, shelters, and those who work with large and exotic animals. The five finalists in the American Hero Veterinarian and American Hero Veterinary Technician categories will be selected by a special blue-ribbon panel of judges consisting of celebrities, veterinary professionals, and animal care professionals. Beginning May 12, the American public will be invited to vote online for their favorite veterinarian and veterinary technician.
“Zoetis is proud and honored to support America’s veterinary community, and the American Humane Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Technician Awards are our way of saying ‘thank you’ to these tireless individuals,” said J. Michael McFarland, DVM, DABVP, group director of Companion Animal Marketing at Zoetis. “They are the ones in the forefront of the effort to keep America’s animals happy and healthy, and they deserve recognition.”
“The world’s animals depend on veterinarians and veterinary technicians, and we thank Zoetis for helping recognize their achievements in saving lives, conducting groundbreaking research, and working on the front lines of animal welfare,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane’s president and CEO. “To us, all vets and vet techs are heroes and these awards help us shine a bright spotlight on the best of the best.”
Key dates for the 2016 American Humane Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Technician Awards™ contest include:
- January 28-March 31: Nominations period
- April 7-April 28: First round voting by judging panel
- May 12-July 12: Second round public voting
- September 10: Winning Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Technician announced at 2016 Hero Dog Awards in Los Angeles
To nominate a veterinarian or veterinary technician between now and March 31, and for complete contest rules, please visit www.herovetawards.org. To nominate a Hero Dog in your life for the 2016 American Humane Hero Dog Awards®, please visitwww.herodogawards.org between now and March 2.
