Hundreds of Pet Owners Nominate Veterinarians in Nationwide Contest to Find America'...( 'Thank Your Vet for a Healthy Pet...),Health

'Thank Your Vet for a Healthy Pet(R)' contest sponsored by Morris Animal Foundation, Hill's Pet Nutrition and BowTie, Inc.

DENVER, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Veterinarians provide our pets with the special, personalized care they need for long, healthy and happy lives. To recognize their efforts, hundreds of animal lovers nominated their pet doctors for the "Thank Your Vet for a Healthy Pet(R)" contest (http://www.thankyourvet.org).

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Denver-based Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) created the "Thank Your Vet for a Healthy Pet(R)" contest to raise awareness of the work veterinarians do and the lives they enhance. Pet owners, technicians, shelter workers and community members nominated veterinarians from nearly all 50 states. From these nominations, MAF awards one national and five regional awards.

Now in its second year, the contest provides a venue for pet owners to show appreciation for the high-quality care veterinarians provide. Some doctors search high and low for treatment options, others delve into medical research for answers, they volunteer at shelters, participate in community activities, create close relationships with their clients and the list goes on.

"Our goal is to recognize the outstanding efforts of veterinarians, who play a vital role in the health of their patients, and positively impact their communities," said Patricia N. Olson, DVM, Ph.D., president and CEO of MAF.

Four veterinary professionals, including last year's prize-winner Dr. James Cook, director of the Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory at the University of Missouri-Columbia Veterinary School, judge the contest entries.

"I want my work to make a difference in people's lives and animals' lives," said Cook. "This award helps me always remem
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