NAVC 2013: Heska announces winners of 2012 Inspiration in Action contest

Three organizations that are putting their names on the map with innovative projects that not only make significant contributions to veterinary medicine but also greatly impact the human-animal bond were recognized by Heska at the North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC) in Orlando, Fla.

Out of six finalists, the public voted for three projects that they felt were most deserving of the honors of inspired action in veterinary medicine, not to mention the bonus of funding to continue their work.

The grand prize of $25,000 was given to the Peter Emily International Veterinary Dental Foundation, an organization devoted to providing dental care for exotic animals in sanctuaries. With these funds, the foundation will purchase dental equipment, establish a teaching resource at the Oquendo Training Facility in Las Vegas and fund future veterinary teaching missions. Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP, a dvm360 contributor, accepted the award on behalf of the Peter Emily foundation.

The second place award of $10,000 was given to Kindred-Canines in Motion Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping assistance and service animals stay active through general wellness care and regenerative medicine technology. This award will help Joyce Gerardi, DVM, founder of Canines in Motion, create the first mobile veterinary clinic to meet the needs of these service animals and help disabled individuals with social and career skills.

The final prize of $5,000 was given to Christian Veterinary Mission’s Navajo Nation Veterinary Shuttle. Started 10 years ago by a group of veterinarians and veterinary students in North Carolina who recognized a need for veterinary care in a severely underserved area, the team has returned on a yearly basis to provide basic medical care for the animals of the region and educate the people about ways to improve the health of their animals. The free and low-cost services provided by the group are funded solely by donations and thanks to the contest will continue for years to come.