- Over 30 million dogs live in Valley Fever hotspots.
- Pet owners in CA and AZ currently spend over $200 million on Valley Fever Treatments.
- The partnership seeks to raise awareness and ultimately
prevent Valley Fever in pets.
LONG
BEACH, Calif., Aug. 30,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, national nonprofit Petco
Love, Anivive Lifesciences, and former NFL superstar Rob Gronkowski announced a groundbreaking
partnership focused on bringing awareness to the growing threat of
Valley Fever. With increasing temperatures and drought
conditions impacting the West, this collaboration focuses on
awareness to save more pet lives.
In regions identified as Valley Fever hotspots, it's alarming to
note that over 30 million dogs are potentially at
riski, with many residing in these endemic
states. Pet owners in California
and Arizona have faced
skyrocketing financial strains, with treatment costs surpassing a
staggering $200
millionii.The impact on the pet parents can be
devastating as many may have to elect euthanasia if they cannot
afford ongoing treatment.
Saving pets impacted by valley fever involves a combination of
awareness, environmental management, and proper care.
- Raising Awareness: Valley Fever is more common in arid
and desert areas, such as the southwestern United States. For the 30 million dogs at
risk, this partnership informs pet parents, veterinarians, and the
general public about Valley Fever and its wide-reaching
consequences.
- Environmental Management: If you live in or are
traveling to these areas, it's crucial to take preventative
measures. Keep pets indoors during dust storms and windy days, as
these conditions can stir up fungal spores from the soil.
Maintaining good hygiene with regular baths and grooms can help
remove dust and spores that may cling to their fur. Clean pets
bedding, toys, and other belongings to reduce the accumulation of
spores.
- Proper Care: Early detection and treatment is key to
better outcomes for impacted pets. Symptoms include persistent or
worsening cough, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss,
lameness or joint pain and breathing difficulties. Regular
veterinary check-ups are important for detecting changes in your
pets' conditions and seek immediate veterinary care should your pet
experience any of the above symptoms.
Building on these pillars, Petco Love's Vaccinated and Loved
campaign adds another dimension to the fight against preventable
pet diseases. Launched in August of 2021 with the ambitious goal of
vaccinating one million pets, the campaign has reached its initial
target and is currently on track to vaccinate another one million
pets. This initiative enables Petco Love's network of animal
welfare partners to host complimentary vaccination clinics, with a
special focus on helping pets most in need. Pending regulatory
approval, through a donation of Anivive's groundbreaking Valley
Fever vaccine—poised to be the world's first fungal vaccine for man
or animal— offering the Valley Fever vaccine in impacted areas will
serve as a cornerstone for these continued efforts. The integration
of this pioneering vaccine will mark a critical milestone in
transforming pet healthcare and aims to set a new standard for
proactive disease prevention.
"It's rough seeing what Valley Fever does to animals. I'm
psyched that Petco Love is teaming up with Anivive and me. We're
about to change the game for our pets!" enthused Rob Gronkowski.
Susanne Kogut, President of Petco
Love, reflected on the collaboration, saying, "No pet owner should
face the agony of losing their pet due to diseases like Valley
Fever. Our alliance with Anivive Lifesciences and Rob Gronkowski is a testament to our unwavering
commitment to ensuring pets thrive, shielded from the shadows of
such ailments. We look forward to helping combat this disease even
more in the future for those pets most in need."
Central to this partnership is the importance of raising
awareness of Valley Fever among both pet owners and the medical
community. Collaborating on this ongoing endeavor has been a
consortium of over 60 esteemed researchers, veterinarians, and
PhDs. With a solution on the horizon, their unified goal remains
clear: to devise an accessible, affordable, and effective
preventive solution against Valley Fever.
Dylan Balsz, Founder and CEO of
Anivive Lifesciences, stated, "Valley Fever represents more than
just a challenge; it's a call to harness the best of science,
resolve, and unity. Our commitment extends beyond mere research; it
reaches every pet and every family touched by this disease. We're
not just working to contain it; we're on a mission to end it."
Uniting in this vital cause, Petco Love, Anivive Lifesciences,
and Rob Gronkowski call upon
communities, veterinarians, and pet enthusiasts to mobilize against
Valley Fever, envisioning a future of healthier and happier lives
for pets and the people who love them. To learn more visit
anivive.com/valley-fever
About Anivive Lifesciences
Anivive is a pet health
company at the intersection of biotech, AI, software, and
veterinary medicine. Focusing on three key therapeutic platforms:
Fungal, Oncology, and Infectious Disease, our proprietary software
platform accelerates the delivery of new, affordable treatments for
various life-threatening diseases in pets. For more information,
please visit www.anivive.com and follow us on Facebook,
Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About Petco Love
Petco Love is a life-changing
nonprofit organization that makes communities and pet families
closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999 as the
Petco Foundation, we've empowered animal welfare organizations by
investing $370 million in adoption
and other lifesaving efforts. We've helped find loving homes for
more than 6.7 million pets in partnership with Petco and
organizations nationwide.
Our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating
tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with
passion, inspiring and mobilizing communities and our more than
4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside
us. Join us. Visit petcolove.org or follow
on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn to be
part of the lifesaving work we lead every day.
Media Contact:
Crystal Bugary
media@petcolove.org
i https://azcir.org/news/2021/10/28/valley-fever-vaccine-dogs-promising-humans-next/
ii Cost of Diagnosis and Treatment of
Canine Coccidioidomycosis in Arizona and California - By Christine D. Butkiewicz and Lisa F. Shubitz - Valley Fever Center for
Excellence, The University of Arizona,
Tucson
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SOURCE Petco Love
