PEDIGREE® “VACCINATE FOR LOVE”

Bangkok - Pedigree® and the Department of Disease Control, the Ministry of Public Health is proud to be hosting "Vaccinate For Love" open to be held in Bangkok, Chonburi, Nakorn Ratchasrima, and Chiang Mai. The opening ceremony will be held at Major Cineplex Ratchayothin, on Saturday March 12, 2005 between 2pm and 6.15pm.

Organized especially to stop the spread of rabies during the summer, Pedigree® and the Department of Disease Control plan to educate the public on how to take care of pets and provide free vaccination at the events. A mobile vaccine unit will also provide free service for the community, starting from Bangkok and continue to Chonburi, Nakorn Ratchasrima, and Chiang Mai.

The on-site activities include consultation on dog raising, demonstrations on dog training and dog massage, dog show, and celebrity appearance with their lovely pet dogs -including ‘Kob’ Pimolrat Pisalyabus, ‘Jah’ Natthaveeranuch Thongmee, ‘Jeab’ Phuchong Yothapithak and ‘Guitar’ Siripit Krisanaseranee.

Mr. Amphol Nirutnapaphan, Market Director of Effem Thailand Inc., a leading manufacture of quality pet foods, explains "Pedigree® has continually committed itself to increasing responsible pet ownership and supporting society where we can. This campaign is a part of our community activities to educate the public how to raise pets with love and care and to make vaccination easily accessible. When we raise them with love and care, problems such as dog attacks or violence issue will be diminished."

Dr. Sirisak Varintravart, Director of the Bureau of General Communicable Diseases, Department of Disease Control, supports the statement "The Department of Disease Control takes a great responsibility on people’s health care. As the summer is approaching, we are concerned that rabies might become a major problem. We appreciate that Pedigree® agrees to organize this beneficial event."

Rabies is a disease occurring in certain animals, particularly the canine species, and liable to be communicated by them to other animals and to man. The transmission from one animal to another takes place through inoculation. The symptoms have been divided into three stages, the transition from infection to stage one and two is almost imperceptible (could take up to 60 days), and at the last stage patient will be true or furious rabies. So far, no medicine could cure the symptom and prevention is the most important step.
Rabies could be simply protected by having your pets vaccinated every year, discipline your pets and never leave children alone with strange dogs. In case of a dog attack, immediately wash the wound with running water, and get medical advise.

The opening ceremony of "Vaccinate For Love" campaign will be held at Major Cinplex Ratchayothin, on Saturday March 12, 2005. The same activities and free services will be provided as follow:

Saturday March 19, 2005 at Lan Po Park, Pattaya, Chonburi
Saturday March 26, 2005 at Suan Rak, Nakorn Ratchasrima
Saturday April 2, 2005 at Anekprasong Plaza, Patutapae, Chiangmai

For additional information regarding the campaign, please call Pedigree®’s careline toll-free at 1800-738-227.

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For further press information please contact:
Pannawat Khlongnakrob / Patra Chartnilbandh
Spark Communications Co., Ltd.
Tel: 662-653 2717-9
Email: pan@spark.co.th / emi@spark.co.th
http://www.spark.co.th

Issued by Spark Communications, the leader in Thai PR.