HERO is a Four-Legged Word: Hero Tails Video Series to Help Pair More Assistance Dogs with People in Need

June 22, 2016

Article

Advertisement Dog owners look for ways to make life easier with their dog – but sometimes it's the dog that makes the owner's life easier. This summer, the NexGard® (afoxolaner) team, has joined forces with Canine Companions for Independence® to create five video “dog-umentaries” as part of the Hero Tails Program to recognize the countless assistance dogs that make their owners' lives easier every day.

For more than 40 years, Canine Companions for Independence has provided highly trained assistance dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities, completely free of charge. The Hero Tails program features five video "dog-umentaries" that celebrate the stories of graduate pairs, including an athlete, an imaginative young girl and her parents, an active young mother, a deaf woman navigating a world of sound and a U.S. military veteran. Each video highlights how the NexGard team and Canine Companions for Independence are making life easier, one dog at a time.

Photo by Martin Klimek, courtesy of Merial

Dog lovers are invited to watch the Hero Tails series, narrated by TV host, musician and philanthropist Nick Cannon, and for every video view or in-clinic purchase of NexGard until Oct. 31, Merial, the maker of NexGard, will donate $1, up to a total of $175,000, to Canine Companions for Independence.

"Assistance dogs tremendously increase the quality of life for their owners," said Cannon. "The Hero Tails video series highlights just how much of an impact these assistance dogs have. By watching, you can help Merial in its effort to sponsor the training of assistance dogs to support more people living with disabilities. I hope you will join me in supporting this mission."

"It's our priority to provide all dog owners with products that make caring for their pet's health easy," said Mike Hutton, executive director of U.S. pets marketing for Merial. "In the case of assistance dogs, helping protect against fleas and ticks means they can spend more time supporting their partners. The Hero Tails program is an incredible opportunity to share the stories of exceptional dogs paired with exceptional people."

NexGard is a mess-free way to control fleas and ticks and gives dog owners the confidence to know their furry friends are protected.

For more information about the Hero Tails program, visit www.HeroTails.com.

ABOUT NEXGARD

NexGard is the number one veterinarian-recommended flea and tick control product.1 NexGard is the first soft, beef-flavored chew that kills both fleas and ticks for a full 30 days. Plus, dogs love it!2 NexGard contains a revolutionary active ingredient, afoxolaner, which kills fleas and ticks by over-stimulating their nervous systems.

NexGard is prescribed by veterinarians and is safe and effective for dogs when used as directed. It is available for oral administration to dogs and puppies according to weight. NexGard is approved for use in puppies and dogs eight weeks of age or older weighing four pounds or more.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

NexGard is for use in dogs only. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, dry/flaky skin, diarrhea, lethargy and lack of appetite. The safe use of NexGard in pregnant, breeding or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures. For more information, contact your veterinarian or see the prescribing information.

ABOUT MERIAL®

MERIAL is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products that focus on disease prevention and overall health and wellness in animals. MERIAL has three main business areas: pets, farm animals and veterinary public health, and our health solutions target more than 200 diseases and conditions across a variety of species. MERIAL employs 6,900 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide with over €2.5 billion of sales in 2015. MERIAL is a Sanofi company.

For more information, please see www.merial.com; @Merial.

ABOUT CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE®

Canine Companions for Independence provides highly-trained assistance dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities. Established in 1975, Canine Companions has six training centers across the country and has trained over 5,000 assistance dog teams. Canine Companions is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. The result is a life full of increased independence and loving companionship. For more information, please visit cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.

Sources:

Data on file at Merial.

Data on file at Merial.

®NexGard is a registered trademark of Merial.

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