Vaccines donated to horse rehab facility

The Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals thanks the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Intervet/ Schering Plough Animal Health, the Unwanted Horse Coalition, and Dr. Rachel Flaherty of Maine Equine Associates.  All these played an important part in securing, at no cost to the Society, a significant number of vaccines for spring shots.  One of the many expenses that make up the Society’s annual budget is the cost of purchasing and administering the myriad of vaccines that horses must receive in order to maintain good health.  We are pleased to accept the thoughtful donation by these professionals and businesses that have joined together in an effort to reduce the number of unwanted horses, while working to improve their welfare through education and improved health, safety, responsible care and disposition of these horses. 

In March 2010 the Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC) announced its newest member, Intervet Schering Plough Animal Health (ISPAH), one of the country’s largest animal health companies. ISPAH is a global leader in research, development, manufacturing and sales of veterinary medicines and offers a broad range choice of vaccines and disease control methods for equines, farm animals and companion animals. Along with the American Association of Equine Practitioners, ISPAH helped to create the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign, a nonprofit program that donates vaccines to qualifying equine rescue and retirement facilities. As a sponsor of the American Horse Council for 2 years, ISPAH has aided the organization in various important projects, most recently the widely used brochure, Rehabilitating the Neglected Horse: A Caregiver’s Guide.

Dr. Flaherty, who serves as the Society’s equine veterinarian, facilitated the Society’s application to participate in the free vaccines program.  Using her extensive knowledge of the Society, its programs, and its animals, together with her membership in the AAEP, Dr. Flaherty worked with Society staff to develop a successful request for vaccines manufactured by Intervet Schering Plough Animal Health.

Now more than ever, the MSSPA is depending upon its members and supporters to help keep the barn doors open.  As the number of horses requiring state intervention increases and the Maine economy continues to stumble along without significant recovery from the recession, the Society’s costs have increased substantially.  Without the financial help or in-kind donations of individuals, organizations, and businesses, the MSSPA would be in real danger of losing some capacity to serve horses seized by Maine law enforcement officials.  The Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1872.  Since its creation, the Society has continuously served, de facto, as Maine’s large animal shelter.  It receives no local, state or federal funding and is dependent upon members and donors to fund its farm and program operations.