CSR selection: The human - animal bond

Free vaccine support for assistance dogs
Assistance dogs greatly improve the quality of life enjoyed by their owners, so maintaining the health of these animals is crucial. Since several years Merck Animal Health UK makes a valuable contribution to those efforts, donating all of the vaccines required by assistance dogs trained and provided by five key charities involved in the sector. This benefits not only the dogs and their owners, but also the charities, which would otherwise have to meet all preventative healthcare costs.

“Un DoGtor para la salud de tu Mascota”
Across Mexico abandoned companion animals roam wild, lacking proper care. The transfer of diseases between these animals, humans, livestock and wildlife is a constant risk, especially where hygienic conditions are poor. To improve this situation the Animal Health country organization in Mexico established several years ago a project to disseminate information on
- companion animal care, including nutrition and parasitic control;
- how to avoid the spread of zoonosis;
- the importance of early socialization and accurate vaccination for companion animals.

Promote respect for animals at schools
In Turkey Merck Animal Health is working to promote respect for animals through an education program, targeted at children aged between five and 12 years. Additionally this initiative aims to improve their knowledge of the veterinarian’s role with regard to the supply of safe and affordable food, animal health and welfare, and public health by the prevention of zoonotic diseases. Both sales reps and invited veterinarians, who accepted the challenge to communicate this message to an unfamiliar audience, were rewarded with the full attention of the children.