The AAEP Foundation, Inc., has donated $50,000 to aid Gulf Coast horses affected by Hurricane Katrina. Donations of $25,000 each have been made to the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA) and the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA). The AAEP Foundation created its Equine Disaster Relief Fund in early September to aid horses affected by Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.

"The Foundation is delighted to donate a portion of our disaster relief funds to such worthy and respected organizations as the LVMA and MVMA," said Nathaniel White, DVM, Chairman of the AAEP Foundation Advisory Committee. "These organizations have been at the forefront in helping horses during both hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and with the support of their equine practitioner members, both will continue providing immediate and long-term help to horses that are most in need."

Due to generous contributions from AAEP members, their clients and other organizations within the equine industry, the fund has received over $100,000 in donations. The Foundation remains in contact with veterinarians and other equine organizations in the affected areas in order to continually assess long-term needs. Additional funds will be dispersed as specific needs are identified that involve treating, housing, transporting and/or feeding horses affected by natural disasters.

Donations to the Equine Disaster Relief Fund are still being accepted. Additional information and a donation form are available on the AAEP website at www.aaep.org/foundation.php. Contact Amelia Geran, coordinator for the AAEP Foundation, at (800) 443-0177 or [email protected] for more information.

The AAEP Foundation was created in 1994 as the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the world's largest professional association of equine veterinarians. The AAEP Foundation's mission is to improve the health and welfare of the horse through support of research, education, benevolence and the equine community.


~~~