AVMA launches pet public service campaign

Schaumburg, Ill. - 9/4/07 - "Being a Pet is Risky Business" campaign, sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association, aims to raise awareness about common pet disease risks and how to protect against them.

Campaign television and radio advertisements use humor to call attention to a pet's typical, routine daily activities that can create real threats of exposure to disease-causing organisms. The public service announcements (PSAs) inform consumers that diseasae risks can be reduced through individual pet risk assessment and twice-a-year wellness exams from a veterinarian.

"The 'Risky Business' PSA campaign is a good example of how the AVMA fulfills its mission of improving animal and human health by bringing important information to the public's attention," says AVMA President Gregory Hammer, DVM.

Supported by an educational grant from Fort Dodge Animal Health, the program offers consumer brochures and other informative materials to pet owners at any of the almost 15,000 clinics participating in National Pet Wellness, an educational initiative sponsored by the AVMA and Fort Dodge.